Kevin Meagher takes a look at the savage cuts being implemented by Tory-run Hammersmith Council, which faced protests from the Save EMA campaign today.
First we had Clint Eastwood hoping George Osborne would “make his day” by not scrapping the UK Film Council; now Hollywood icon Gabriel Byrne – Ireland’s first Ambassador for Culture – has described the plans of Conservative-controlled Hammersmith and Fulham Council to sell off the building housing the London Irish Cultural Centre as “a devastation for Irish culture in Britain”.
The council, recently described by communities secretary Eric Pickles as “the apple of my eye”, decided at last week’s budget meeting to put the building that houses the centre up for sale as part of its £130 million package of spending cuts. Just last year the council extended the centre’s lease until 2017 but has now reneged on its promise despite hundreds of protestors, many playing traditional Irish instruments, descending on the meeting to make their melodious voices of protest heard.
Former Irish prime minister, Bertie Ahern, has also lent his voice to the campaign, lauding the centre’s “outstanding work” in providing an Irish community hub and welfare service and calling for the centre’s management to be given “time and space” to mount a fundraising appeal to buy the property outright. To no avail. The centre’s lease will now expire next March, leaving the local Irish community with just 12 months – during an economic downturn – to raise the £2 million needed.
The Irish are not alone. Other council-owned buildings are to be sold off which will close a homelessness shelter and a youth centre. Funding for 10 of the borough’s 16 Sure Start centres will be slashed too. Council leader Stephen Greenhalgh has clearly now mastered the art of cutting the ground from beneath community groups’ feet after previously complaining how hard it is to “get rid of people”.
Byrne, star of the acclaimed thriller The Usual Suspects, lends star wattage to an issue that is being replicated across the country as vital community groups discover the hollowness of David Cameron’s Big Society rhetoric, with harsh and immediate funding cuts sending many groups to the wall.
But Hammersmith and Fulham’s right-wing Tory council has particular form. Two years ago they hit the headlines after plans were revealed to demolish 3,500 run-down council homes in the borough without replacing them with equivalent social housing on the same terms; although there are 10,000 people on the local housing waiting list.
Despite their faltering attempts to detoxify their brand, Hammersmith and Fulham’s Tories show that when it comes to cutting frontline services that affect the poor and needy most, the Conservatives remain The Usual Suspects.
Boris Johnson launched his campaign for London Mayor at the London Tory conference in Hammersmith today, where he was faced by protesters from the Save EMA campaign; for a detailed briefing on the true horrors of Tory-run Hammersmith, described by David Cameron as his “favourite council”, click here.
49 Responses to “Hammersmith horror: Community funding cuts from The Usual Suspects”
Kevin Meagher
My profound apologies for the last post. That should of course read:’No wonder you’re down on your dosage.’
Anon E Mouse
Kevin – (Collapsed on the floor uncontrollably now!) Let me get this straight so we are all clear.
A special advisor to the last Labour government’s Northern Ireland Secretary, Shaun Woodward, has called someone who asks him to clarify his position regarding the terrorist activities of the IRA (including the murdering of two innocent young boys in Warrington) a “serial killer”. Are you serious Kevin?
Instead of condemning the IRA’s actions, as any decent right minded person would, you actually seem unable to do so and instead resort to personal attacks?
I simply cannot believe that the Labour Party leadership are aware of your views and if they are then the general public certainly are not. The founder of this site is a chap called Will Straw, the son of the last Labour government’s home secretary. Is Will Straw aware of this thread and your failure to condemn murder of innocent woman and children irrespective of the cause?
My family is half Southern Irish catholic from Tip and I can assure you they would never support any killing of innocent people irrespective of the territorial claims they may believe they would have.
Your actions genuinely shock me – especially in view of the Labour Party and the (maybe supposed) stance they take on terrorism of any kind and regarding the copies of this webpage no one would believe your response to my questions if I didn’t…
(btw Kevin your Maths must be as bad as your English -if this is post 30 then surely there must be 27 to go to beat a best of 56 replies?)
Kevin Meagher
Oh dear, I hardly have the heart to tell you: the trackbacks and tweets are included (check the counter at the foot of the piece). Sorry if pointing that out makes you feel a little bit silly. Try not to be cross…
This post should make the total 48. So 8 to go…
Anon E Mouse
Kevin – Never get cross – just too cool for that, always been the same – I’m described as being so laid back I’m horizontal. Bet no one has ever accused you of the same eh Kev!
Anyway you seem to be continuing to ignore my question regarding your reclassifying the actions of the IRA as something other than terrorism and the killing of innocent women and children as acts of “Guerilla Warfare” even though your link to justify that answer at Wikipedia categorically states otherwise.
Care to finally clarify your position now Kevin?
If I was accused of something not true I wouldn’t waste a second setting the record straight and as (according to you but that can be easily checked I suppose) a special advisor to the Labour Northern Ireland office I really think tax payers and electors in this country have a right to know your stance on this matter.
Well Kevin? Terrorism or acts of Guerilla Warfare…
Don’t worry about reaching your target Kevin. Somehow, things being what they are in the blogosphere, I’m sure the number will increase beyond your wishes…