From the December issue of The Leveller, publication of Belfast SolFed.

Executioner for the rich, George Osborne, has challenged ‘our’ local parties to fully implement welfare reform measures that will see even greater hardship, poverty and homelessness heaped upon poor and vulnerable working class people across the north.

In exchange the power to reduce corporation tax will be devolved. Despite the Sinn Fein “Stop Tory Cuts” all the parties in the Assembly are committed to imposing ‘austerity’ measures on us. The draft budget has exposed Sinn Fein’s ‘campaign’ as cynical bullshit, lies and attempted manipulation of those who still fall for their ‘socialism’.

The DUP and Sinn Fein, with no opposition from other parties at Stormont, are launching cuts of over £640 million in April 2015. At least 6,000 public sector jobs will be axed, 2,500 in education, more pay cuts are coming and this will mean less money to spend and resultant job losses in the private sector.

Despite having been forced to defer water charges water meters are being installed across the north. The Green Party are in favour of this charge!

Already there are announcements of job losses and the loss of services that working class communities depend on. Isolation and increased poverty will be the lot of many as local bus services are threatened.

Money is being taken out of our public services and, through privatisation, into the pockets of the wealthy. Decreasing corporation tax is part of the same process. This would take another £400 million out of public services. Driving us further into the dirt while the bosses pocket the money.

They aren’t alone. Politicians have had their hands in our pockets for as long as there have been politicians.

Fraudulent expenses claims totalling hundreds of thousands are being investigated at Stormont. Meanwhile the Lords are crying about cheaper champers!

Across the wee north we already suffer the lowest wages in the UK, if you are one of those ‘lucky’ enough to have a job, we have the highest claimant count with 21% of working age households workless in April-June 2014! In working class areas there are increased numbers dependent on welfare, suicide rates have doubled and the life expectancy of men has dropped! The so-called recovery is clearly only for the wealthy few.

So what in fact is austerity? Simply put it is an intensification of class warfare by the rich against the poor. The motivation - increased profit without any concern for the people and environment fucked over in the process.

We need to organise, to protest, to strike. Our methods - workers control of our struggles and direct action. The rich are getting richer while we get poorer. Its time to stand up, organise and tell the rich and their lackeys to get to fuck. This escalation in class warfare can only be met in kind.