Skip to main content
Advertise Buy the paper Contact us Shop Subscribe Support us
Arts against the wall
STEPHEN BROWN explains how the savage cuts to Birmingham City Council’s budget mean impending cataclysm its impressive arts sector

THE country is now aware of the staggering scale of £367 million of cuts that Birmingham City Council has to make, but this hasn’t come out of nowhere.

It’s utterly savage and is the culmination of 14 years of austerity. Yes, there has been maladministration in the council’s governance and avoidable disputes with the trade unions, as well as equal pay issues which saw the council’s crown jewel buildings sold off. 

Primarily, austerity has torn over £1 billion of government funding away from Britain’s second city. No-one could properly manage 60 per cent funding cuts since 2010 with a growing population and economy.

Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Report / 30 March 2024
30 March 2024
ROS SITWELL reports from a conference held in light of the closure of the Gender Identity and Development Service for children and young people, which explored what went wrong at the service and the evidence base for care
Features / 26 October 2023
26 October 2023
ROS SITWELL reports from the three-day FiLiA conference in Glasgow
Features / 7 July 2023
7 July 2023
ROS SITWELL reports on a communist-initiated event aimed at building unity amid a revived women’s movement
Features / 15 July 2019
15 July 2019
London conference hears women speak out on the consequences of self-ID in sport
Similar stories
Opinion / 25 June 2024
25 June 2024
PATRYCJA ROZBICKA surveys the manifestos and is frustrated by the lack of discussion of our music and night-time industries
Features / 1 June 2024
1 June 2024
KATE TAYLOR reports on the Brum Rise Up campaign to secure continuous funding of social services in the wake of the financial collapse of Birmingham City Council
Features / 28 April 2024
28 April 2024
Morning Star editor BEN CHACKO attends a vibrant meeting bringing together anti-cuts campaigns and local unions to co-ordinate a fightback against the biggest cuts faced by any city in the country