2 July 2024
This is the reality of austerity. Since 2010, government cuts to public services mean the UK has become a broken country. Our public buildings and spaces have been sold off, our children have fewer places to play, and our transport options are depleted while fares rocket upwards. Essential public services and natural monopolies, like water and rail, benefit a handful of mostly overseas investors. We can’t go on pursuing the same bankrupt ideology of cuts and privatisation.
Our video reflects this. In 60 seconds it summarises the state we’re in after 14 years - and here is the evidence to back it up:
Since 2010, we have lost:
- 200 Museums
- 244 Courts and tribunals
- 279 school playing fields
- 451 homeless services
- 600 police stations
- 673 public toilets
- 750 Youth centres
- 793 Playgrounds
- 800 Libraries
- 926 football pitches
- 1,086 Swimming pools
- 1,416 Sure Start children’s centres
- 8,000 Bus routes, and
- 25,000 NHS beds.
NB Some stats are for England only, some for the whole of the UK. Funding for public services in all four countries is affected by Westminster's spending plans.
Comments
Wayne Bennett replied on Permalink
I wholeheartedly support this resistance to privatisation. There are very good reasons why there are public services and a distinct private sector and they shouldn’t be confused or conflated. To do so almost always ends up in tears with poorer services costing more. Not to learn from the evidence is idiotic!
Jonathan Williams replied on Permalink
Public and private sectors work well together in other countries why not here?
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