Hundreds of people took part in a rally in defence of public services in Brighton earlier today (Saturday 13 October).
The Brighton Pavilion Green MP Caroline Lucas was among the speakers at the event organised by Sussex Defend the NHS and the Brighton and Hove Trades Council.
She said afterwards on Twitter: “So pleased to speak at @SussexDefendNHS rally this morning in Brighton.
“Theresa May wants us to be grateful that ‘austerity is over’. Truth is austerity was never necessary – it was all about an ideological attack on public services in order to shrink the state.”
Madeleine Dickens, from Sussex Defend the NHS, said: “This government and all the councils failing to stand up to the massive cuts inflicted on them are slashing and privatising our public services out of existence.
“They are shamefully depriving the most vulnerable in our society – people with disabilities, elderly people, families below the poverty line, the rapidly growing number of homeless – of their most basic rights.
“People seeking refuge from war and famine, and those like the Windrush generation, who have been here for decades, are treated like second-class citizens or worse.
“What sort of society are we becoming? Enough is enough.”
The march and rally – entitled “It’s a matter of life and death” – started at The Level and after a one-minute silence at the Clock Tower in North Street, Brighton, continued to Regency Square.
It comes weeks after an exhibition of the same name at the Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, Dorset Gardens, Brighton.
The rally’s organisers said that they had the support of 24 trade unions, political parties, community organisations and campaigns from across Brighton and Hove.
Caroline Lucas told supporters: “We’re here to protest against the way this government has wrecked our public services. A government that is dismantling the welfare state, flogging off public services, privatising services, attacking the rights of migrants, impoverishing our children. And we’re here to say, ‘Enough is enough – the fightback is on!’
“We’re here because we’re angry. Angry that this government continues to break up and marketise our NHS.
“Angry that Brexit will make this even worse – putting off EU workers who no longer feel welcome here. Freedom of movement is a precious gift – the right to work and study and live and love in 27 other countries – we should be defending it, not trashing it.
“Angry that health workers have to rely on handouts and foodbanks. And that’s why our message is loud and clear – invest in public services and stop the cuts.
So pleased to speak at @SussexDefendNHS rally this morning in #Brighton
Theresa May wants us to be grateful that “austerity is over”
Truth is austerity was never necessary – it was all about an ideological attack on public services
In order to shrink the state https://t.co/hEniKOgISo— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) October 13, 2018
Same old same old… At least it was a nice day for them….
The Green Party; a bunch of incapable and incompetent Marxist clowns…
Ah, the Green Party; complains about all the pressures that are placed on the NHS, but at the same time advocates in their manifesto no borders and uncontrolled, mass-immigration…