A personal view on the spending cuts

(Letter to the South Wales Evening Post)

Sir,

Yesterday the issue of spending cuts got very personal.

Within hours of the Chancellor’s announcement I was told that I am likely to be one of the 50,000+ people in Wales who will lose their jobs as a result.

For me this will not be a major disaster, as I have a small private pension and will qualify for some Pension Credit. And I can always find plenty of things to occupy my time, whether I get paid for the work or not.

But what really concerns me is the impact on my clients – vulnerable people who depend on advice services to guide them through difficult times. Because when I go, the service goes as well.

Newport Passport Office March and Rally

We marched from The Westgate Hotel to the art gallery and library where we gathered for a rally and to listen to some speakers. In front of us was a small child who was holding a banner. On one side it said save my mum’s job. On the other, save my dad’s job.

This is the kind of devastation these cuts will cause to families all across the public sector, and all for an ideology of a smaller state. Interestingly though, the Newport Passport Office is actually profitable so there is absolutely no excuse for closing it. This is not just an attack on the public sector, but leaving Wales without a pasport office will make it the only country in Europe without a passport office. This is an attack on Wales and our public services.

Huw

Greens Announce Regional Candidates

The Green Party have announced their first candidates for the South Wales West Regional List for the Assembly Elections in 2011.

Local activist Keith Ross will lead the party list for the region. A former officer in the Royal Navy, Keith has also worked in Local Government, University administration and the Telecommunications industry. He now lives in Brynmill and works as a Benefits Adviser in the voluntary sector.

Second on the list will be Huw Evans who is 28, born in Swansea and a first language Welsh speaker. Huw is a Chemistry graduate and has worked in the environmental analysis and pharmaceutical industries since graduating in 2003. He is a member of CAMRA and can regularly be seen at The Commercial in Gowerton on quiz night.

Newport Passport Office

As you probably know, due to the cuts Newport’s passport office is being closed with a loss of 300 jobs. Lets just be clear, this is not only about protecting jobs but all of us need these services. I’ll be renewing my passport next year and would like to think that if any problems arise I’ll be able to go down to Newport to sort it out as opposed to Croydon. The cuts are an ideological thing and will be devastating if we don’t fight them all the way.

There will be a march through Newport on Saturday the 16th of Oct, assembly at the Westgate Hotel at 11:00am

For anyone that can’t make it there are two online petitions.

http://www.gopetition.com/petition/39746/sign.html

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/passportofficewales

Huw