The Coalition against the Cuts march in London at the weekend got hijacked. I am not thinking here about the limited and intermittent damage by a small number of very excited, largely young people who were having a pre-planned adrenalin rush. I am talking about the many on the march like me we were demonstrating not so much against job cuts - but against the culling of crucial services which assist and protect those who are neglected and often marginalised in our communities.
Slashing services and public sector, and consequently private sector, jobs are of course inextricably related. But the focus of the narrative is of importance in harnessing wider public attention and support. I am grateful that the TUC organised the march, but not that it then became a contest of credibility between the unions and the government. The big story here, which not surprisingly remained untold across much of the media - which erroneously depicted the day as overwhelmingly one of violence - is about how the government has chosen to target the poorest and most disadvantaged as it seeks to undo the economic damage created by unfettered and greedy bankers.
This story was also lost amidst last week’s chancellor’s Budget statement, where the cuts to be experienced next week in the budgets for children’s services, adult social services and in welfare benefits were ignored. And the news now is of a government already intending to reduce the top rate of income tax it introduced only a year ago so ‘the pain would be shared fairly’, whilst leaving in place the VAT hike which hits the poor hardest.
Those working in public services are fearful about the threat of unemployment, with all that this means for loss of status and role, as well as income, with consequent personal stress, strains in relationships and ill health. But they are also concerned that the services they have built up to assist those in difficulty and to enrich communities are being dismantled.
This is the story which largely remains untold. It is the story of parents where the money does not stretch to the end of the week, of families facing the fear of homelessness, of children who are stigmatised and bullied because they are poorly clothed and do not have the money or means to join in the activities which are now the mainstream for those who are not poor. And of disabled and older people left isolated, excluded and vulnerable as care is cut.
Despite almost half a million people marching in London last week the relentless targeting of the poor and those who need help continues. This is not helpfully characterised as a battle between the government and the unions. Instead the stories within our communities need to be told of the real and harrowing consequences of the impact of the cuts.
Ray Jones is professor of social work at Kingston University and St George’s, University of London and was formerly director of social services in Wiltshire.
