I live in Newcastle upon Tyne. The rest of the country usually sends us cash to help pay for our council services, but the Government’s reducing the amount, and now we face insufficient funds. Labour’s Nick Forbes, the city’s council leader, has a plan: he’s budgeted for three years instead of the usual one and decided to make £100m of cuts, including closing 10 of our 18 libraries. We’re being “consulted” until 1 February.
Forbes’ popularity sunk a bit when he announced his plan. He says we should blame the Government, not him. He said it on the Observer’s front page (he co-signed a letter with Sheffield and Liverpool leaders, warning that “forces of social unrest” will “start to smoulder” if the cuts continue). He said it in a Guardian interview. And he said it in a letter to the Prime Minister (he’s still waiting for a reply).
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