Labour's Alternative
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Reading Banner News from Labour in Reading www.readinglabour.org.uk http://on.fb.me/ReadingLabour @ReadingLabour STANDING UP FOR READING We need a Labour Council that will make Reading’s case and be on YOUR side Reading Borough Council has been controlled by the Conservatives, propped up by the Liberal Democrats, since last May. In that time the Conservatives have set about cutting a massive £9 million from local services. The Conservative failed to stand the case for a fairer deal for our town. up for our town. Despite boasting of We will make sure that Council how chummy they are with ministers, charges are fair and sensible. We will Reading’s grant from Government review and reorganise services prop- has been slashed. Their response erly – not through random, panicked was to describe the cut as cuts that leave services in shreds. “putting right the unfairness Year after year when Labour ran of previous years”. Reading Borough Council the The Government has effectively independent auditors said the Picture here forced Councils to set a 0% Council Council’s finances were well Tax rise, but in Reading the Con- managed and that services offered servative have increased charges good value for money. CONSERVATIVE FAILURE – Esther Walters for Council services, amounting to a It’s time to get rid of the Conserva- (Caversham), Paul Woodward (Church), ‘Stealth Council Tax’ of £63.32 per tives and their Liberal Democrat Labour Group Leader, Jo Lovelock, and Reading household. It’s equal to a supporters before they can do even Jan Gavin (Redlands) highlight the unfair 6% rise – what a massive con! more damage to our Town. Restore cuts in grant to local councils imposed Labour will stand up for YOU and some common sense to our by the Conservative-led Government. stand up for Reading. We will make Council – vote Labour on 5 May. TORY ‘STEALTH MORE ONLINE LABOUR’S COUNCIL TAX’ Labour’s local bloggers. alternatiVE 6% equivalent What we would do to get Reading rise to hit Borough Council on YOUR side. Reading people LABOUR LEADER, JO LOVELOCK, WRITES 7 Promoted by Ben Zielinski on behalf ofReading & District Labour Party and its candidates named herein all at 3 Windsor Square, Silver Street, Reading RG1 2TH. Designed and printed by Public Impact ©2010. 6 Southern Court, South Street, Reading RG1 4QS. Images subject to copyright. subject Reading RG1 4QS. Images Street, South Court, Impact ©2010. 6 Southern by Public and printed Reading RG1 2TH. Designed Street, Silver all at 3 Windsor Square, herein its candidates named Party and & District Labour ofReading on behalf by Ben Zielinski Promoted 6 3 In Brief Conservatives COST OF LIVING RISING scrape the With Labour Britain enjoyed low THE 0% CON barrel inflation and low interest rates for Despite having grabbed control the longest period in history. Stealth Council Tax The things you can do for £43.03 of the Council propped up by The Conservative Government’s cuts - the cost of attending a Council their LibDem supporters, the Conservatives have struggled to have already reduced demand and Day Centre under the Tories : slowed down the economic recovery is the equivalent find candidates who actually while increasing VAT to 20% has • Have lunch with wine at L’Ortolan – Reading’s LIVE here in Reading for this helped push up inflation. Soon interest of a 6% increase Michelin Star restaurant (£7.03 change) year’s elections. rates will be on the way up and with Their candidate in Church Ward them mortgages. The Conservatives are hoping that people won’t • Play a round of golf at one of Berkshire’s most exclusive courses (£3.03 change) is a former banker who lives 13 With Child Benefit frozen, or abolished notice the vast increases in charges for Council (YES THIRTEEN) miles away in for many middle income families, women services. Their ‘Stealth Council Tax’ hits the most • Go to see Chelsea play Man United in the Midgham (that’s along the A4, half are feeling the pinch. Tax indexation vulnerable hardest. Champions League (£17.03 change (OAP)) way to Newbury). Minster will be contested by someone who is a changes mean that in time we will all John Bosher of Southcote told us, “They must think we • Pamper yourself at Nirvana Spa Parish Councillor in Shinfield and pay more tax while pensions will increase are completely stupid. It doesn’t make any difference to (£14.03 change) by less. me if I have to pay £22.50 to have my green bin emptied their candidate in Park Ward lives • Have tea at The Ritz (£3.03 change) miles away in Charvil but qualifies This year alone a typical single-wage or have to pay a little more Council Tax.” to stand for Reading because he couple with children will lose over £1,500 Some of the increased charges are mind boggling. Hav- own houses as a landlord. – more than double the loss of a couple ing been forced to back down from their plan to charge without children. Next year the tax break £50 a day for an elderly person to attend a day centre, More Tory Stealth Council Taxes Why don’t these people want announced in the Budget will give them a it has now been reduced to £43.03 (what the 3p is for to stand for election where they mere £45 back. we can only guess). What kind of people believe that old • GREEN BIN TAX - £22.50 to have it emptied actually live? people can or will pay £43 a day to attend a day centre? (previously free) WOMEN HIT HARDEST – Paul Gittings (Minster) and Matt Rodda (Katesgrove) meeting young mothers at Waterloo Meadows. And there is no guarantee that the massive increases will • BULKY WASTE TAX - £32.90 for a fridge, Families with children will find themselves hit hardest by the Conserverative-led governement’s cuts. deliver the income the Council needs. £329 for a fully lorryload. (Up 40%) The Lib Dems - Labour’s Pete Ruhemann (Southcote) says, “The Con- • PARKING TAX - a fine of £60 to park your car on not standing servatives are gambling. They seem to think that people a grass verge if the Tories get their way will simply pay these charges and there will be no fall-off up for Reading in demand. The fact is they are hiding further cuts to • VERMIN TAX - dealing with rats will cost you The leader of the Lib Dems on be made after the election – just as they did before the around £117 plus VAT (up 458%) Reading Borough Council refused to General Election.” sign a letter to The Times with other WORKING TOGETHER Lib Dem leaders protesting at the Chief Constable severity of the cuts to local councils warns of “noticeable being imposed by the Conservative- led government. reductions in service” TO FIGHT CRIME She had the chance to stand up for Reading, but she refused. Here in Reading Labour introduced warned of “noticeable reductions LOCAL ACTION ON CRIME – Richard McKenzie It’s no secret that some Lib Dem street wardens to many of Reading’s in service”, with 297 police officers (Park) and Jan Gavin (Redlands) have taken up member don’t like what’s going on. estates and the town centre, set up and 556 support staff due to go. problems with crime targetting student homes Labour gave Reading Lib Dem coun- Neighbourhood Action Groups and across east Reading. Labour will stand up for policing cillors the chance to vote for the worked closely with the police to in Reading. policy objecting to the cuts as passed reduce crime. In Government by the recent Lib Dem conference. Labour introduced Police “There is no doubt where police All except one voted against – Community Support Officers, cuts will be most noticeable – the and he is standing down at the expanded police numbers and areas where crime and anti-social coming elections. brought more police onto our behaviour causes most problems. streets with neighbourhood policing. “Too many of those places are here Under Labour, with more police on in Reading. People I talk to are CONSERVATIVE FAILURE – Graeme Hoskin An Apology the streets, crime fell and more worried about crime. We need a (Norcot) and Pete Ruhemann (Southcote) criminals were locked up. Council that will make Reading’s Reading Banner has for many years case and fight hard to keep police discuss the Conservative and Lib Dem used pictures courtesy of The Reading Now with the Conservatives police on our streets,” says Richard increases in charges for Council services Post. In the last issue we made a numbers are being cut. The Chief McKenzie (Park). with local pensioners. Labour will stop the mistake and printed pictures for which Constable of Thames Valley has £43.03 day centre change and review other we thought we had permission, but increases imposed by the Conservatives. had not. We unresearvedly apologise to the Post for this oversight. 2 Reading Banner - Election Special 2011 LABOUR – On Your Side in Reading 3 LABOUR’S ACHIEVements Standing up for our kids THE NHS Reading has a lot to show for Labour’s time running the One of the first cuts put in place in particular at secondary level, with by the Conservatives running Reading schools delivering better and Borough Council. With Labour the Council was praised – YOU NEVER COULD Reading Borough Council was better results. Schools like Prospect, for its good leadership, effective management and for to withdraw funding from the the John Madejski Academy, Reading its prudent finances. In addition Labour: Whitley Excellence Cluster. Girls and Highdown all delivered TRUST THE TORIES • Restored Reading’s town centre, with pedestrian This was a Labour initiative where major improvements for the majority schools pooled resources and help of children.