Thread by @mygibbo

Full statement on why colleagues and I are voting against the cuts in this year’s budget:

As a matter of personal conscience and political judgement, we have come to the decision that we have no choice but to vote against this year’s Liverpool City Council budget on 2nd March.

We have supported attempts to draw up proposals that would amount to a no-cuts alternative. All these efforts have been rejected. The main elements of the budget are largely unchanged since the beginning of the consultation process.

We can’t accept that the recommended level of funds held in reserve for 2022/3 should rise by £10.7m when the city faces brutal cuts.

We can’t accept cuts such as those to social care and #SEND transport, services that are vital to the families who rely on them. We oppose the failure to secure community-run libraries, mainly in the north of the city, which will be put at risk by an uncertain bidding process.

We oppose the green bins charge, a retrograde step at a time of environmental crisis.

The budget does not have the strong elements of investment the people of Liverpool deserve. It amounts to a conventional cost-cutting exercise and significant council tax rise at a time when there is a cost-of-living crisis and people are increasingly dependent on vital services.

At the same time, the Commissioners receive a backdated pay rise of 50% and expenses. This is so wrong.

We have been advised that voting against the budget will result in severe disciplinary action by the Labour Party, but we are prepared to accept the consequences of our decision. We were not elected to make life harder for the people we represent.

We understand the difficult situation that Tory cuts have forced on us, and we have no wish to undermine colleagues. Ultimately, we are responsible to our conscience and our communities.

The Labour Party should be leading efforts to expose the Tories’ twelve-year war on local government.

There has to be an alternative to Labour councils implementing Tory cuts.