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CALDERDALE PEOPLES ASSEMBLY AGAINST AUSTERITY

REPORT ON NATIONAL MEETING
SATURDAY 5TH DECEMBER 2015 LONDON, FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE
AGENDA
This was a packed day with motions from PA groups throughout the country and
Trades Union delegates.
Steve Turner from UNITE chaired the day. Sam Fairbairn, National Secretary also
spoke(@Samfairbairn)
Motions covered:
- Defending Education
- Hands off our NHS
- Local Authorities/ Councils
- Disability and Mental Health
- Tackling the Housing Crisis
- Welfare not Warfare
- Refugees Welcome Here
- No to TTIP
- EU Referendum
- Next Steps for The Peoples Assembly
FINANCE AND STRUCTURE
We were given a Finance Report; Considered a motion from Manchester PA and
Current Committee members composition
SPEAKERS
Throughout the day there were a number of excellent speakers organised under
various themes
- RESISTING AUSTERITY AND THE TRADE UNION BILL
Speakers: Christine Blower (General Secretary NUT); Dave Ward (General
Secretary, Communication Workers Union), Dr Yannis Gourtsoyannis (BMA Junior
Doctors Committee), Penny Hicks (Manchester Peoples Assembly)
- HOW DEEP CAN THEY CUT? IMPACT OF CUTS
Speakers: Michael Burke, (Economist Socialist Economic Bulletin @menburke);
Roger Lewis (Disabled People Against Cuts), Phyll OpokuGyimah (PCS); Murad
Quereshi (AM) (London Assembly)

NEXT STEPS ALTERNATIVES TO AUSTERITY

Speakers: Dr Rory Hicks (Junior Doctors Campaign); Francesca Martinez
(Comedian and Activist); John McDonnell MP (Shadow Chancellor) (see website and
U-Tube for videos recommended!)
FINAL RALLY - CHANGE IN PROGRAMME As a response to the decision by
Parliament to bomb Syria there was an additional rally at the end of the day hosted
by Stop the War Coalition; speakers included: Tariq Ali; Natalie Bennett (Green
Party); A speaker from Turkish and Kurdish Solidarity; Andrew Murray (Chair)
(NB the above were speakers I heard before having to leave to catch a train back).

MOTIONS
These were many and sometimes composited so I will pick out a few highlights/
Discussion areas
EDUCATION
Post 16 Education cuts were a focus as well as student fees and the need to fight
the market approach to education and cuts in for example adult education services
as reflected in the move towards Academisation. There was positive response to
Jeremy Corbyns advocacy for a National Education Service (Cradle to Grave
Education System.
There was agreement that a national campaign working with all stakeholders,
campaigning groups, trade unions was needed towards creating a National
Education Service
PA will participate in a National Convention on Education towards this aim.

NHS
Excellent speakers were very well received, especially in support of the Junior
Doctors Campaign. We were told quite clearly that the fight is nowhere near over
and that action in January was a distinct possibility if the BMA talks with the
government were not fruitful. Junior Doctors were fighting for our NHS.
We agreed
- To work with and support Junior Doctors
- To in principle support a demonstration highlighting the winter crisis uniting
with Junior Doctors, Healthworkers, TUs and NHS campaigners
- To continue to make links between war, bombing of Syria, replacement of
Trident and NHS funding crisis
- To commission a Guide to successful campaigning based on experiences of
Cambridgeshire NHS activists and others.
- To support the NHS Bill to reinstate a publically funded, publically provided
and accountable NHS (tabled by 5 political parties and promoted by Jeremy
Corbyn and Caroline Lucas; scheduled for 2nd reading on 11 March 2016)
- A National Day of Action to support the NHS Reinstatement Bill and
against privatisation
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
This section generated a lot of discussion. The main debating point was whether or
not Labour led councils should be urged to set No Cuts budgets. A motion from
Cardiff PA asked conference to launch a national campaign for councils to refuse to
set cuts budgets and instead set needs led budgets based upon what is actually
needed to adequately maintain services and campaigning for the government to
provide it.
There were some arguments put against this however this was passed with small
minority against and some abstentions: the PA would develop a strategy towards
urging councils to set No Cuts budgets. (Section 114 of the Local Government
Act to be used against councils was the main argument against)

It was agreed almost unanimously that the PA was an ideal group to give a
platform to amplify the voice of councillors who vote against cuts and that they
should
Rectify the lack of material on the PA website supporting local campaigners
against council cuts
Organise a national meeting for councillors, trade unionists and anti-austerity
campaigners to explore how councils could resist.
Compile and share information on examples of council best practice in
resisting austerity such as using reserves, no bedroom tax eviction policies,
pledges of non-cooperation with the Trade union bill, emptying building for
homeless etc
A motion from Coventry and Warwickshire PA was passed opposing the creation of
City Regions because of the lack of consultation, accountability and the fact that
Government was using this as a means to further cut public spending.
MOTIONS ON DISABILTIY AND MENTAL HEALTH
All the motions were passed unanimously
Newcastles motion emphasised the fact that austerity policies have led to an
increase in instances of mental illnesses and the motion that the PA should give
more prominence to campaigns linking mental health and austerity was carried
unanimously.
Conference welcomed the formation of Psychologists Against Austerity and the PA
will seek a closer working relationship.
NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US
Was a theme that was revisited throughout the conference.
The main motion here was from Black Country Peoples Assembly. It is worth
reading the full motion put forward but the main thrust of the motion was to ensure
the full participation of disabled people so that they were able to fully
participate in all regional and national events.
Ironically this was illustrated in the organisation of the day itself e.g wheel chair
users had to complain about the fact that they were made to feel awkward by having
to use the aisles. This was rectified at lunch time by the simple solution of creating a
row for wheel chair users at the front of the hall.
In the afternoon an excellent speaker who had participated in the DPAC storming of
parliament and in Manchester at the Tory Party conference found that the lift to reach
the stage was not working. It was pointed out that although this was a venue
problem the PA had not had the sense to test that the lift was working beforehand. A
roving mike was used so he could speak from the floor.
It is not surprising therefore that motions to ensure the full participation of
disabled people in any local, regional or national events were passed
unanimously.
Motions to recognise the severe hardship cuts to benefits and services and to ask
the Labour Party and Trade unions to campaign against cuts in services and for
better conditions of employment for care workers were carried unanimously.
HOUSING
The Peoples Assembly noted that the Housing and Planning Act passing through
parliament aims to end social housing in UK as a significant provider of housing.

It was agreed that housing was moving up the political agenda and is a hugely
pressing issue.
Motions passed included the National PA calling a National March for Homes during
2016 putting forward a broad range of demands to comprehensively address the
housing crisis.
There was a specific motion on defending Council Housing which pointed out that
the Housing and Planning Bill will intensify the housing crisis and reduce the number
of genuinely affordable homes encouraging more property speculation.
The PA would support active resistance from tenants, TUs and councillors against
the Bedroom tax and a National March for Homes in 2016
A specific motion from Hackney PA addressed the housing crisis in London.
WELFARE NOT WARFARE
Motion by CND carried unanimously.
A reaffirmation of PA policy against Trident replacement. Welcome of Jeremy
Corbyns commitment to defence diversification and LP defence review including
renewal of Trident.
Agreed Mobilisation for Stop Trident Demo on Saturday 27th February called by
CND
REFUGEES WELCOME HERE
Agreed- in defence of migrants and refugees and against racism, (Swindon and
Sheffield).
National Day of Action
Support for Stand up to Racism demo on 19th March London, Cardiff and
Glasgow
NO TO TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership)
Motions passed on opposing all free trade deals
Agreed to take part in Days of Action against TTIP and CETA
Specific motion to promote TTIP free zones across London
EU REFERENDUM
Acknowledging that both sides support continued austerity, market deregulation and
free trae agreements. Acknowledging that The Left, Trade Unions and Campaign
groups are divided in their voting preferences.
Conference agreed:
To become an active participant in the debate
Working to counter any racist myths
Encourage TUs and TUC to actively promote workers rights including EU
wide May day celebrations raising need for solidarity in the face of increased
competition for markets.
NEXT STEPS COMPOSITE MOTION
Incorporating motions from PA National Committee, Manchester PA, Merseyside PA,
Birmingham PA
Conference Notes:
Conservative Party Slim Majority of 12 seats
Election of Jeremy Corbyn on an anti-austerity platform

Conference Believes:
Austerity has failed
Groups are needed in every community large and small
Rural poverty is a growing problem
PA is successful when shaped by diversity so must avoid internal conflict and
promote a national campaign against austerity
Conservatives are weak and public opposition growing
New legislation such as the TU Bill attempts to squash opposition
A mass movement has the potential to create a political crisis that forces
government to change direction or forces them out of office.
Conference Resolves:
To strengthen community organisation and bring existing anti-cuts groups
towards the PA
To set up new PA groups to represent every section of the community
To encourage establishment of regional teams and assemblies
To work closer with Trades Unions
To organise a major National demonstration against Austerity and take the
fight to the Tories when they meet in Birmingham in 2016
To approach TUs to produce a short film aimed at Young People
To support and initiate action in defence of staff and services in the NHS/
exisiting helth campaigns and against housing crisis and increased
privatisation
To oppose any attempt to scapegoat migrants, refugees and minority groups
and continue to liase with those fighting austerity internationally and across
Europe.
A motion by Manchester re establishment of solidarity fund taking 5% of income to
support legal fees incurred by activists was remitted to executive.
OTHER POINTS
New edition of Peoples Manifesto should be used widely
Excellent videos of speeches available on PA National website and U-Tube
Carol Machell
Calderdale Peoples Assembly
December 2015