Calls for united front against cuts after police clear protesters from Islington Town Hall
Labour leaders and campaigners plan to march together at demo
Published: 25th February, 2011
by TERRY MESSENGER
ISLINGTON’S anti-cuts movement was this week trying to heal the rift with the Town Hall Labour leadership over a decision to call in police to break up a demonstration against public spending reductions.
Angry protesters shouted at Labour councillors as they prepared to approve a £52million cuts package following a huge reduction in cash support from the coalition government.
Struggling to be heard at the council’s budget meeting last Thursday, the Labour leadership called police in to clear 60 people from the Town Hall public gallery.
In the immediate aftermath, Labour’s action was condemned as “absolutely disgusting” by Shirley Franklin, joint chair of Islington Hands Off Our Public Services (IHOOPS), the borough’s main anti-cuts movement.
She said it would take time for embittered protesters “to get over” their sense of betrayal.
But speaking after an IHOOPS meeting on Wednesday, Ms. Franklin said: “People are trying to move on from what happened last week.”
And Labour council leader Catherine West, branded a “traitor and liar” last week, said yesterday (Thursday): “It is crucial we are united as a community.”
The Labour council and IHOOPS activists blame the government for the cuts in services. But some IHOOPS activists believe the council should have passed a no-cuts budget, provoking Tory local government minister Eric Pickles to take over the Town Hall, with the hope that popular protest would then follow to defeat the coalition.
Despite their differences, both sides plan to join a national demonstration against the government organised by the TUC on March 26. Ms Franklin said: “We should be planning to have a whole Islington contingent on the march and we intend to be with the councillors if they have a banner. I can’t say we will for definite but that’s certainly what I would suggest.”
Labour councillors plan a family protest event at Highbury Fields on the morning of the march.
Meanwhile, 200 people, including Islington Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Emily Thornberry, have signed a letter backing the council and blaming the government.
The trouble began last Thursday when protesters ignored calls for silence from Mayor Mouna Hamitouche. Chief executive John Foster conferred with Cllr West and a decision was made to call in police. While police were clearing protesters, councillors moved to a committee room to continue their meeting with members of the public barred.
Cllr West later defended the decision to call in police, saying: “The important thing is we’ve done what is right by Islington residents.”
The council has denied claims that banning members of the public was illegal. Standing orders in the borough’s constitution allow such action when proceedings are disturbed, it said.
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