“No increase in the MoD budget, we simply cannot afford it.”
DIane Abbott MP spoke at the national demonstration against austerity on Saturday June 7, and we are pleased to publish her speech script below.
I know many of you are outraged by the cuts that have been made, and the cuts that are threatened.
I am outraged by them.
We should say very loudly and very clearly: The fightback against austerity starts today.
[We are seeing:]
- Sweeteners for non-doms, but welfare cuts for sick and disabled people.
- Subsidies for banks, but more taxes for you.
- Job losses in the NHS, but more spending on the military.
Of course this is austerity.
I did not come into politics to make these cuts. Most people did not join the Labour party to support these cuts.
Most Labour members oppose the cuts, and a growing number of Labour MPs are willing to do the right thing to oppose them.
We know that the government is for turning. It is already making U-turns. We need them to make one big, beautiful U-turn and end the cuts, tax the rich [and] invest in the economy.
No subsidies for nuclear. We cannot afford it. No increase in the MoD budget, we simply cannot afford it.
If we are clear, if we are united, and if we are determined, we can win!
- Diane has tabled a Parliamentary Motion challenging the government’s prioritising of military spending over key support for those in need in Britain and around the world. You can ask your MP to sign it here.
- Diane Abbott is the Member of Parliament for Hackney North and Stoke Newington: you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram.
- If you support Labour Outlook’s work amplifying the voices of left movements and struggles here and internationally, please consider becoming a supporter on Patreon.
I support you Diane you are a Socialist while SIR QUEER STARMER IS A RED TORY WANKEIR so let’s get this POOFTER OUT!
Starmer is NOT LABOUR. I wish all real Labour MPs would vote him out as “Leader”. I dislike him intensely on every level, but… very weird on every level to call him “a poofter”. Straight, gay, or trans is irrelevant, and neither funny or clever to use it as a slur.
Labour gave put me on death row I’m very vounable, I’m disabled with life threatening health conditions I’m afraid I’m 57 and alone ,I have a heart condition 4 stents in my heart which I’m going for another heart operation on the 19th of June I also suffer with osteoarthritis in 4 of my toes and knee I’m waiting for knee replacement, I have type 2 diabetes, also I’m epileptic, I have 85% loss of hearing ,I suffer with sciatica in my lower back, I also suffer with servere borderline personality disorder and SPDSD as I was raped when I was 10 years old and shot when I was 15 years old growing up in northern ireland, I have sleep apnea were I stop breathing in my sleep I gave to have someone watch over me while I stop breathing to wake me up if I stop breathing, o also have bronchitis and ashma I can hardly walk I use crutches and a leg brace because of my health I only have 33% sucess rate for my full knee replacement, I’m so scared that if Liz kendal and Reeves take my pip away my lifeline the only support I have I will end my life because I will be forced into debt I will loose my home and become homeless with my health I will not survive yhe streets I’m really scared please I’m begging you all labour members mps to fight against these evil bullying pip cuts and scrap the 4 point rule 😢.