Protesters were seeking confrontation

Published: 25 February, 2011

• MOST people realise the blame for public spending cuts lies entirely with the Tory-Lib Dem government.

As there will be cuts, there will be people who do not agree with the conclusions the council reached in making its budget. At the council meeting last week, many of those who attended were genuinely unhappy about our decisions. We will keep talking to them about how best we can cope together with these difficult times. 

But a small group were present whose goal was evidently to prevent the meeting taking place at all. Those of us who were councillors during the last Tory cuts period remember facing hostility from the gallery, but an organised attempt to prevent the council taking its decisions is new and very disturbing.

The mayor gave a warning that continued disruption would result in an adjournment and the gallery being cleared, so it is clear this was the outcome which some of those present wanted. They were seeking confrontation, and I have been on enough demonstrations in my time to know that it is a tactic of these small groups to stage a provocation in order to draw in others. It was unfortunate some with genuine concerns had to be required to leave and their democratic right to observe meetings was regrettably curtailed; our dialogue with them will continue.

Labour in Islington will remain in the leadership of the anti-cuts campaign, and redouble our efforts to ensure a maximum turnout for the national demonstration on March 26. This is the best response to the tiny minority who demonstrated their contempt for the democratic process.

CLLR PHIL KELLY
Labour chief whip,
Islington Council