Unite: A smokescreen for job losses

Monday, 13 December 2010 12:00 AM

Unite general secretary-elect Len McCluskey comments on the government's announcement of the localism bill:

"It is not possible have cuts to local government - amounting to 28 per cent over four years - and then expect people and organisations in their areas suddenly to have the inclination, expertise and cash to take-over the running of local government which has taken over a century to develop the range of services it now offers.

"The 'big society' is a smokescreen - a David Cameron vision of a 1950's Britain that never existed - which actually will mean an estimated 140,000 job losses in the next year. There has been no sensible explanation as to why this 28 per cent must be 'front-loaded'.

"You need strong and efficient local government to provide the joined-up services that communities across the country need and expect - the last thing you need is this 'dog's breakfast'.

"The coalition is using the Orwellian language of 1984 to promote localism as the panacea of all ills, when, in reality, it is a grim cuts agenda being imposed from Whitehall.

"This new 'localism' is a façade hiding job losses; cuts for services to families and children; and funding inequalities. Under the coalition's new funding formula, wealthy Tory areas, such as Tunbridge Wells, will receive large increases and deprived areas, such as Liverpool and Sunderland, will see a swingeing cut in their grant."

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