You have a choice on cuts – Labour

LABOUR has pleaded with Lib-Dem and Tory councillors not to make council cuts.

In an extraordinary move, Labour leader Councillor Jim McMahon has written to every councillor saying wielding the axe at next Wednesday’s Oldham Council budget meeting will cause almost irreversible damage.

He says the plea is on behalf of the people of Oldham.

The Labour leader wants his alternative budget to be implemented instead of the Lib Dem-Tory coalition budget.

He wrote: “I have decided to take this unprecedented step because I believe some of the cuts being proposed will damage our borough and will be extremely difficult to reverse.

“None of us came into public office to cut essential services people rely on.

“You have probably been told ‘there is no choice’ and that it is necessary to ‘take tough decisions’. I disagree and hope you do too.

“Our budget stacks up, but don’t just take my word for it. Our budget now has legal recognition as a robust and deliverable budget which could be implemented.”

Councillor McMahon adds: “But we need your support to see it through and protect essential services.”