Mayor Marvin Rees calls for Bristol's biggest rally

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees has called for a rally next month which is expected to draw thousands of people. Some 17 organisations have backed the rally and will join the protest on September 9th 2017 in College Green, starting from 12 noon. Among them will be the parents groups and teachers’ unions which helped organise the biggest protest in Bristol this year, drawing thousands.

It comes ahead of Mr Rees’ lobby of the Government as he and other cities’ leaders prepare to present a Green Paper to ministers in Westminster on September 12. The paper will reflect why the Core Cities are the drivers of modern economy and should be invested in, and will also set out alternatives to Government cuts.

Mr Rees said: “said: “Cities are at breaking point when it comes to council provided services.

“Across the UK there are Adult and Children's social care departments struggling to keep up with the costs of rising demand on their services.Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn with Marvin ReesCouncil services are being reduced and stopped to find the money to keep the essential life and limb services from falling over.

“This isn’t right and it isn’t a reflection of the driving force that cities have become in the modern economy.

“What I'm concerned about as a city leader is the cost of the cuts.

 

“These short-term savings will undermine our communities and population health and will ultimately cost us more in the medium- to long-term. It's crucial we take this case to government.

“It's important that along with making the case to government ministers, we get support from as many MPs in Westminster as possible. The education protest drew thousands “My message is simple, if you believe that there is an alternative to austerity then join with me, the Trade Unions, the People’s Assembly and the people of Bristol on 9 September to show the government and other UK cities that we want change and we’re prepared to take that ask to Westminster.”

A spokesperson for Bristol People’s Assembly said: “We want people involved in this from every corner of Bristol - every community group, social club, creative organisation - every faith, every age, every cultural background.

"Because these cuts are going to affect all of us - they’ll change the fabric of the city itself - they may even get to the things and people we love most, unless we all come together and really step up together. The education protest was the biggest in Bristol "I’m talking about a significant portion of this city deciding that they are not going to have it any more - that they aren’t going to have their services and their facilities taken away, their living conditions downtrodden, just for the sake of a few of those at the top getting a good bit richer.

"That they’re going to take to the streets and they’re going to make themselves heard, and they’re not going to just walk away - they’re going to stand up for their rights, they’re going to stand up for their communities, and we’re all going to stand up for Bristol on September 9th 2017 against this government. Just be there.”




_{Source: www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/mayor-marvin-rees-calls-bristols-324797}