Middleton anti-bedroom tax meeting

A packed meeting in Middleton, Greater Manchester, launched Middleton and Rochdale Against the Bedroom Tax on Thursday 2nd May.

The meeting was initiated by North Manchester Socialist Party following our tremendously successful campaign stall a couple of weeks ago, since when our members have distributed hundreds more leaflets across the Langley estate.

Twenty three people crammed in to hear Salford Against Cuts secretary Kevin Corran explain how the bedroom tax can be smashed.

Kevin outlined how solid community organisation, mass non-compliance, organised defence of tenants and linking up campaigns can prepare a victory against this hated policy.

Kevin also explained how a socialist solution to the housing crisis would be to build one million affordable council homes, funded by nationalising the banks and putting their profits to good use.

Debate from the floor ranged across the political situation to the involvement of more young people, to the legal struggle, to lobbying the Labour councillors, to the detail of developing a local campaign.

The next meeting will be on Thursday 16 May, 7pm at the Old Boars Head pub in Middleton. Between now and then, young activists will draw up a leaflet to be distributed at colleges, and other campaigners will plan lobbying the councillors, getting more local media attention building on the success so far, and contacting unions for finance.

In the future, demonstrations will be organised and links built with campaigns across Greater Manchester.

Get involved - Facebook event "Middleton & Rochdale Against the Bedroom Tax" http://www.facebook.com/events/559089884113017/, email [email protected], ring 07591 400 666

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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
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