DECEMBER 14th: Campaign for Labour Policies calls for emergency Labour Party conference
The Campaign for Labour Policies (CLP) has called for the convening of a an emergency Labour Party conference following the decision of party chairman, Colm Keaveney, to oppose the Social Welfare bill.
CLP spokesperson Neil Warner said: "Colm Keaveney has taken the correct decision in opposing a budget which targets the vulnerable rather than the wealthy. He is following the will of Labour Party members and voters."
“An emergency conference of Labour Party members is now essential. The conference must discuss a renegotiation of the Programme for Government.If a suitable renegotation cannot be reached, Labour must leave Government."
Neil Warner added: "Budget 2013 is regressive. Labour cannot stand by austerity budgets which are not creating the conditions for a real economic recovery and causing huge suffering. An emergency conference is now required to ensure that the tide is turned and Labour stops being a mudguard for Fine Gael policies."
Ends
For more information contact PRO Paul Dillon on 0876859446
Note to editors
The Campaign for Labour Policies is the grassroots organisation of Labour Party members.
The Campaign for Labour Policies (CLP) has called for the convening of a an emergency Labour Party conference following the decision of party chairman, Colm Keaveney, to oppose the Social Welfare bill.
CLP spokesperson Neil Warner said: "Colm Keaveney has taken the correct decision in opposing a budget which targets the vulnerable rather than the wealthy. He is following the will of Labour Party members and voters."
“An emergency conference of Labour Party members is now essential. The conference must discuss a renegotiation of the Programme for Government.If a suitable renegotation cannot be reached, Labour must leave Government."
Neil Warner added: "Budget 2013 is regressive. Labour cannot stand by austerity budgets which are not creating the conditions for a real economic recovery and causing huge suffering. An emergency conference is now required to ensure that the tide is turned and Labour stops being a mudguard for Fine Gael policies."
Ends
For more information contact PRO Paul Dillon on 0876859446
Note to editors
The Campaign for Labour Policies is the grassroots organisation of Labour Party members.
DECEMBER 9th: Labour Party members call on TDs to vote down Social Welfare Bill.
The Campaign for Labour Policies, the grassroots organisation of Labour Party members, has issued a call for Labour Party TDs to vote down the Social Welfare Bill.
The move followed a meeting of Campaign for Labour Policies (CLP) members on Saturday (8th December) in Liberty Hall, Dublin.
CLP spokesperson Neil Warner said: "We represent the view of hundreds of grassroots activists who believe in pro-growth, pro-equality policies. We are appalled at the regressive nature of Budget 2013. It takes a sledgehammer to Labour Party commitments on Child Benefit. It is a jobs destruction budget; the trade union think-tank, the Nevin Institute, has calculated that the austerity measures contained within Budget 2013 will cost 30,000 jobs. Budget 2013 is an an appalling hit on the incomes of ordinary people."
"At our meeting, party members unanimously agreed that Labour TDs should not support Budget 2013. Any TD who votes against the Social Welfare Bill this week will have our full support."
CLP spokesperson, Paul Dillon, said: " You can not spin your way to a fair and just budget. This is the second regressive budget in a row. The Department of Finance says that a couple with an income of €25,000 will experience a drop in income of 1.1% , while a couple on a joint income €175,000 will experience a drop of .09%. The cut in respite care, the cut in the back to education allowance and the cut in benefits packages for the elderly add up to a budget that is a savage attack on the vulnerable, and can not be stood over."
The Campaign for Labour Policies, the grassroots organisation of Labour Party members, has issued a call for Labour Party TDs to vote down the Social Welfare Bill.
The move followed a meeting of Campaign for Labour Policies (CLP) members on Saturday (8th December) in Liberty Hall, Dublin.
CLP spokesperson Neil Warner said: "We represent the view of hundreds of grassroots activists who believe in pro-growth, pro-equality policies. We are appalled at the regressive nature of Budget 2013. It takes a sledgehammer to Labour Party commitments on Child Benefit. It is a jobs destruction budget; the trade union think-tank, the Nevin Institute, has calculated that the austerity measures contained within Budget 2013 will cost 30,000 jobs. Budget 2013 is an an appalling hit on the incomes of ordinary people."
"At our meeting, party members unanimously agreed that Labour TDs should not support Budget 2013. Any TD who votes against the Social Welfare Bill this week will have our full support."
CLP spokesperson, Paul Dillon, said: " You can not spin your way to a fair and just budget. This is the second regressive budget in a row. The Department of Finance says that a couple with an income of €25,000 will experience a drop in income of 1.1% , while a couple on a joint income €175,000 will experience a drop of .09%. The cut in respite care, the cut in the back to education allowance and the cut in benefits packages for the elderly add up to a budget that is a savage attack on the vulnerable, and can not be stood over."
DECEMBER 5th: Unfair budget will do nothing for jobs and breaks Labour promises
The Campaign for Labour Polices, the grass-roots organisation of Labour Party members, has labelled Budget 2013 "an austerity assault, which will do nothing for job creation."
The Campaign for Labour Polices has also said that Labour voters will react with anger and resentment at broken promises, such as the cut to Child Benefit.
Campaign for Labour Polices spokesperson, Paul Dillon, said: “The government is taking the wrong measures to reduce the deficit. Instead of cuts and stealth taxes, they should be targeting wealth and focusing on job creation. The abolition of the €127 a year PRSI allowance for workers is totally unfair, and entirely regressive, in that it will hit the lowest paid hardest."
“The targets set for Labour by those who supported the party will be missed. Budget 2013 cuts capital expenditure, which will directly cut jobs. The measures on jobs seem to consist entirely of tax breaks for private investors, such as in the area of aircraft leasing."
"Jobs are created by demand and investment, not tax cuts, and repeating the logic of the Celtic Tiger will do nothing for ordinary people. The government’s own projections are for 14% unemployment in 2015. What is needed is a major programme of investment, not a toxic triangle of spending cuts, tax breaks and tax rises for low and middle income earners, which will suppress demand further."
Speaking on the breaking of Labour promises, Campaign for Labour Polices spokesperson, Neil Warner, said: "The breaking of the Labour pledge on Child benefit will be met with dismay by Labour voters, who formed a contract with the party on the basis of its election programme. The budgetary measures to cut allowances for the elderly, increase prescription charges and cuts to child benefit are three unfair measures which will hit ordinary people hard."
"The Budget fails to provide the Scandinavian childcare provisions, promised by Joan Burton in April 2012. This means that the government simply cannot go ahead with the proposal to cut eligibility for the One Family allowance payment to families."
ENDS
The Campaign for Labour Polices, the grass-roots organisation of Labour Party members, has labelled Budget 2013 "an austerity assault, which will do nothing for job creation."
The Campaign for Labour Polices has also said that Labour voters will react with anger and resentment at broken promises, such as the cut to Child Benefit.
Campaign for Labour Polices spokesperson, Paul Dillon, said: “The government is taking the wrong measures to reduce the deficit. Instead of cuts and stealth taxes, they should be targeting wealth and focusing on job creation. The abolition of the €127 a year PRSI allowance for workers is totally unfair, and entirely regressive, in that it will hit the lowest paid hardest."
“The targets set for Labour by those who supported the party will be missed. Budget 2013 cuts capital expenditure, which will directly cut jobs. The measures on jobs seem to consist entirely of tax breaks for private investors, such as in the area of aircraft leasing."
"Jobs are created by demand and investment, not tax cuts, and repeating the logic of the Celtic Tiger will do nothing for ordinary people. The government’s own projections are for 14% unemployment in 2015. What is needed is a major programme of investment, not a toxic triangle of spending cuts, tax breaks and tax rises for low and middle income earners, which will suppress demand further."
Speaking on the breaking of Labour promises, Campaign for Labour Polices spokesperson, Neil Warner, said: "The breaking of the Labour pledge on Child benefit will be met with dismay by Labour voters, who formed a contract with the party on the basis of its election programme. The budgetary measures to cut allowances for the elderly, increase prescription charges and cuts to child benefit are three unfair measures which will hit ordinary people hard."
"The Budget fails to provide the Scandinavian childcare provisions, promised by Joan Burton in April 2012. This means that the government simply cannot go ahead with the proposal to cut eligibility for the One Family allowance payment to families."
ENDS
NOVEMBER 21st: Call for Labour Party members to support anti-austerity march
The Campaign for Labour Policies has become the latest organisation to back this weekend's anti-austerity march, organised by the Dublin Congress of Trade Unions. The march is due to start at 1pm this Saturday, the 24th of November, from Parnell Square.
Campaign spokesperson Neil Warner said:
"The campaign is urging Labour members to turn out in large numbers on Saturday. People voted for Labour to see the implementation of the polices which the marchers are campaigning for. There can be no repeat of last year’s budget, which was grossly unfair. Labour must again become identified with polices which are pro-growth and pro-equality."
"The protest is supported by Labour Party affiliates SIPTU and UNITE, as well as a community organisations and campaign groups. We are appealing to Labour members to join them. €24 billion has been taken out of the economy in five austerity budgets. The deficit has fallen by just €3 billion. The madness of cutting at all costs must be replaced by polices which drive investment in the economy and promote equality in society."
"We are appealing to Labour members to join with the thousands of others seeking a better, fairer way on Saturday. We are now nearly two years into this coalition. Labour must assert itself and speak for party voters and supporters, who will question the relevance of the party's participation in government if they do not see a change of course. This change of course should start in Budget 2013."
For more information contact spokesperson Neil Warner on 0861686916.
The Campaign for Labour Policies has become the latest organisation to back this weekend's anti-austerity march, organised by the Dublin Congress of Trade Unions. The march is due to start at 1pm this Saturday, the 24th of November, from Parnell Square.
Campaign spokesperson Neil Warner said:
"The campaign is urging Labour members to turn out in large numbers on Saturday. People voted for Labour to see the implementation of the polices which the marchers are campaigning for. There can be no repeat of last year’s budget, which was grossly unfair. Labour must again become identified with polices which are pro-growth and pro-equality."
"The protest is supported by Labour Party affiliates SIPTU and UNITE, as well as a community organisations and campaign groups. We are appealing to Labour members to join them. €24 billion has been taken out of the economy in five austerity budgets. The deficit has fallen by just €3 billion. The madness of cutting at all costs must be replaced by polices which drive investment in the economy and promote equality in society."
"We are appealing to Labour members to join with the thousands of others seeking a better, fairer way on Saturday. We are now nearly two years into this coalition. Labour must assert itself and speak for party voters and supporters, who will question the relevance of the party's participation in government if they do not see a change of course. This change of course should start in Budget 2013."
For more information contact spokesperson Neil Warner on 0861686916.