Skip to main content
Death by a thousand cuts
We need candidates ready to build a united front to defend our services and communities, and stand up against the politics of despair which can only grow when people ‘lose faith’ with the Establishment parties, argues NATHAN HENNEBRY

CONTINUOUS cuts to local councils have become the norm for well over a decade now. Our local high streets lie empty, council-run services continue to be liquidated into the hands of private monopolies and public transport has been decimated. These cuts are a conscious choice. 

At a national level, the Scottish government does have the power to allocate crucial funds away from the private enterprises and back into the council-run services. They have made the conscious choice not to.

Locally, it is the officers of the council who establish budgets based on cost-cutting. Councillors should be playing a vital role in opposing budgets which see services and facilities liquidated. Many councillors across Scotland have failed in this duty to their constituents, most notably in Lanarkshire. 

Support the Morning Star
You can read five articles for free every month,
but please consider supporting us by becoming a subscriber.
More from this author
MAKING A KILLING: Anti-austerity marchers make the link between warfare and welfare in 2016
Features / 1 May 2025
1 May 2025

Our unions need to make a firm stand against so-called ‘defence spending’: the boss class say there’s no magic money tree — and there should be no magic mushroom cloud either, argues NATHAN HENNEBRY

Similar stories
MAKING A KILLING: Anti-austerity marchers make the link between warfare and welfare in 2016
Features / 1 May 2025
1 May 2025

Our unions need to make a firm stand against so-called ‘defence spending’: the boss class say there’s no magic money tree — and there should be no magic mushroom cloud either, argues NATHAN HENNEBRY

Features / 29 March 2025
29 March 2025
With politicians dismissing constituents’ fears of global war, the peace movement must look beyond Parliament to prevent catastrophe, writes TOM MORRISON
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar speaking during the party
Features / 28 June 2024
28 June 2024
With local authorities and services in a dire state, what should be the strategy of the left? DREW GILCHRIST argues that building support for no-cuts budgets can be a powerful way of defending our communities
A benefit gig for Palestine at the 13th note, Glasgow
Aw That / 8 June 2024
8 June 2024
As the mainstream party leaders trade forgettable platitudes, fired-up hospitality workers in Glasgow raised vital funds for Palestinian medics — and are building a workers’ co-op, reports MATT KERR