Don't blame Labour for spending cuts

I AGREE it is a blooming shame that our floral hanging baskets in Islington are to be axed (Gazette, September 16). But it is misleading to put the blame on the Labour council when it has had �7million cut from its budget for this financial year by th

I AGREE it is a "blooming shame" that our floral hanging baskets in Islington are to be axed (Gazette, September 16).

But it is misleading to put the blame on the Labour council when it has had �7million cut from its budget for this financial year by the Con-Dem coalition government.

And the government expects the council to cut another �100million by 2013-14.

We have set up "Islington Hands Off Our Public Services Coalition" to mobilise the community and unions against the cuts and in defence of the welfare state, jobs and pensions, while also campaigning for progressive alternatives.

I sit on Islington Council's Fairness Commission on behalf of Islington Trades Union Council.

Its objective is to reduce inequality and protect our most vulnerable residents.

Professor Richard Wilkinson, author of The Spirit Level and commission chair, told a packed meeting that the council must fight the obscenity of cuts, while Islington Labour councillors have pledged to campaign against government cuts.

To its credit, Islington's Labour council is to maintain funding free school meals for all its primary school children, despite a Con-Dem grant cut.

On October 5, IHOOPS will be formerly launched at 7.30pm in the Methodist Hall opposite Archway station. And on October 7 at 7pm there will be a lobby of Islington Council against the cuts outside Islington Town Hall. I would urge your readers to attend these events and join IHOOPS at: info@ihoops.org.uk and help us oppose cuts to people's vital public services. - Gary Heather, joint chairman, Mayton Street, N7.