Councillors Wayne Naylor and Barbara Potter

TWO LEICESTER anti-cuts councillors this week agreed to join up with the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) in the ever-widening fight against the establishment parties and their austerity policies.

Ex-Labour councillors Barbara Potter and Wayne Naylor, who will sit on the council as the Leicester Independent Councillors Against Cuts group, will now be a constituent part of the Leicester TUSC steering committee, alongside the Socialist Party, the SWP and prominent trade unionists in the city.

In a press statement announcing their decision to link up with TUSC, the councillors explained that while they were in the Labour Party they were loyal because they feared the alternative of letting the Tories in. But they were hampered in their aims of defending their local constituents and both now feel that they can do that better outside the Labour Party – and that the time had come to build something new both locally but also on a national level.

Councillors Barbara Potter and Wayne Naylor sit with Leicester TUSC organiser Steve Score and TUSC national agent Clive Heemskerk

“To be a part of a national political group with an anti-cuts stance is what we wanted to achieve all along”, said Barbara, “and we would like to thank TUSC and all of its city members for seeing that we can build a positive platform in Leicester”.

“We want to build something that is credible for everyone who feels let down by both the government and the Labour council who are delivering cuts. We believe that there is a better way than this, and we will show people that it can be done”, said Wayne.

“People are looking for something different, they have felt let down and need a political party that supports them in the difficulties they face”.

Leicester TUSC is now planning a conference to discuss a ‘people’s budget’ for Leicester on October 4th – which Barbara and Wayne will then present to the council at its budget-making meeting next year – and will be inviting community groups, trade unions and the people of Leicester to attend and contribute their views on what services the council should provide.

Councillors Barbara Potter and Wayne Naylor stand with the TUSC banner alongside Leicester TUSC supporters