ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: Another Edinburgh is Possible

Campaigners ‘mourn the death of public services’

THIS MORNING, before the City of Edinburgh Council meeting, Another Edinburgh is Possible campaigners held a socially distanced protest at 9am outside the City Chambers to mourn the death of public services, and make the case for a new beginning – properly funded local public services.

In advance of the protest campaigners projected the ‘Another Edinburgh is Possible’ message on City Council, Scottish Government and Westminster Government buildings around Edinburgh.

Why we are protesting

In its public consultation document (www.edinburgh.gov.uk/budget) Edinburgh City Council states that:

The Council has already identified over £80m of savings and funding in 2020/21, but has to find at least £5.1m more because of extra costs and lower income resulting from the pandemic. Over the next three years, the Council has identified £40m of savings, but needs to find at least a further £47.5m in savings or service cuts.

The Edinburgh Integration Joint Board, through which the Council and the NHS administer integrated health and social care, has already agreed cuts of £8 million.

Since 2012/13, Edinburgh City Council budget cuts have amounted to £320 million. Year on year cuts – so called savings – have resulted in a hollowing out of jobs and services to Edinburgh residents.

The impact of a decade of cuts

These cuts have had a terrible effect on essential services. The most vulnerable, who have also been hit by cuts in social security benefits, have suffered most. Edinburgh has the lowest expenditure per capita on local services in Scotland.

Covid19 has added to an already bleak picture with increases in unemployment, child poverty and mental distress. The pandemic has shone a harsh light on the gaps in local services and underlined the importance of key workers and health, social care, housing and education.

Another Edinburgh is Possible

Another Edinburgh Is Possible brings together council workers, trade unionists and community activists around a common belief that the cuts need to stop; enough is enough. We argue for local public services that meet local needs. We call on councillors to unite with campaigners to argue the case for properly funded, democratically controlled local public services.

Contact email: edinburghjustrecovery@gmail.com