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”
Anon E Mouse
David Mullen – I am not trying to equate celebrating Irish culture with anything. The author of this article calls the tactics of the IRA “Guerilla Warfare” – I don’t do that. He does. Ask him why please – I don’t know.
I don’t care how many people were killed by either terrorist organisation – to me the murder of innocent people is just wrong irrespective of which side they’re on.
I disagree that left wing blogs have to be as tribal as this one – Liberal Conspiracy certainly isn’t and in any case this article certainly doesn’t deserve the time you and I are spending discussing it.
Finally I want to have my views challenged and I misunderstood your comments on race although considering the way Labour have behaved in the last few years I’m sure you’ll find that understandable.
PS – I’m now a Lib Dem Nick Clegg fan not a Tory…
(The time here is 23:13. Why aren’t you in bed yet in the UK?
Anon E Mouse
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Kevin
Dear Mr Mouse – given I have the hide of a rhino, your repeated attempts to misrepresent my views are a cause of bemusement rather than offence. Frankly, i’m slightly flattered you take the time to bother.
Interested to hear you’re a Nick Clegg fan. a quixotic move, but I’m sure you’ll be very happy together.
But I do concern myself with the welfare of my correspondents. Why are you up at 4 in the morning posting your angry messages?
As my Number One Fan, you’ll know that my personal best in the comments section is 56. We’re currently on 33. Please feel free to make up the difference in your own inimitable way. X
Anon E Mouse
Kevin Meagher – You have described the actions of the IRA as “Guerilla Warfare” and even linked to Wikipedia to reinforce your position. Which it didn’t. Quite the reverse in fact.
Instead of simply admitting a mistake in your article you continue to claim the same, which would fairly lead anyone to assume you do actually believe blowing up children in Warrington was, as you describe, “Guerilla Warfare”.
Well Kevin I don’t. I think the murder of innocent people is what most fair people would consider to be an act of Terrorism and indeed Labour proscribed the IRA as such in 2000.
What is more worrying is that you claimed to have been a SPAD to the Labour government’s Northern Ireland secretary at the time and considering Labour’s position over terrorism recently I am surprised you haven’t immediately jumped up to clarify your position regarding the IRA.
Let’s keep it simple Kevin. Do you consider the IRA were a terrorist organisation or not? Were the actions of murdering innocent woman and children terrorist acts or “Guerilla Warfare”?
(As for posting “angry messages” I’m working on software in the Florida Keys / Miami and the time was a far more reasonable 23.15…)
Finally I’m probably Ben Fox’s or Joss Garman’s biggest fan. (Sorry sweetheart) From their posts it is clear they should be writing fairy tales and children’s stories…
Kevin
Come on: 22 short of a personal best