Defiant and Ready to Lead

Last night thirty local activists met in Plymouth to plan the fight against the coalition's ideological cuts agenda.

Since its formation in October 2010, the Plymouth Fightback, working with the national Right to Work Campaign, has already held sixteen public events and meetings in the city. So far this campaign has been led by Plymouth Trades Council, who have worked tirelessly in mobilising support.

Last night Tony Staunton, secretary of Plymouth TUC, called for co-ordinated action of all concerned groups within the city. "The public are being bombarded, bombarded, bombarded, by the government's propaganda. Every media story about the cuts talks of 'belt tightening' and how the previous government spent too much. Our message needs to be stronger than theirs."


"People are scared, scared and confused. The argument for the cuts has not yet been won. We need to set the record straight."

He called for a uniting of students, pensioners, private sector and public sector workers, the disabled and unemployed - every group that will be hit by the cuts.

The meeting rallied behind the call for a change of government, with several speakers making the point that the only way to stop the cuts is to bring down the coalition through mass action.

Tribute was paid to the student protests around the country, including the marches and occupation by the University of Plymouth Student Union.

But with thirty people in a meeting, how do we bring the people of Plymouth with us? The activists set themselves the challenge of moving the campaign out of the city centre and into local communities. The newly formed steering committee will have this task as their first priority.

"We need to hold meetings in local community centres, sports halls, churches, anywhere we can reach out to the people who can't get to us." St Budeaux and North Prospect were cited as areas where campaigning was most strongly needed.

The new steering committee will meet fortnightly to plan future events, building towards a public meeting at the end of February and the national protest in London on the 26th of March.

Details of the fightback can be found at:

Plymouth Fightback on Facebook

www.plymouth-tuc.org.uk