— Transcript of AGM Question delivered by John Whitworth 30 May 2018 at RBS AGM – Gogarburn, Edinburgh, which may differ slightly from the version actually delivered — “I’m Councillor John Whitworth – the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee at the London Borough of Newham Mr Chairman – Sir Howard Davies I would like to congratulate you for your honesty on BBC Question Time in January 2018 when you said: “I think PFI has been a fraud on the people, […]
Image by Focus E15. NEWS FROM THE PAST MONTH ROBIN WALES DESELECTED AS MAYOR OF NEWHAM Newham Labour Party has chosen its candidate for the Mayoral election on May 3rd. Robin Wales has been replaced as candidate by Rokhsana Fiaz. Rokhsana was elected on a progressive platform that aims to tackle the housing crisis and the democratic deficit in Newham. She has also signed our open letter to the Local Government Association demanding action on LOBO loans. We welcome the prospect […]
Dear all, Here are the latest updates from the Local Authority Debt Audit campaign and friends. Please share widely again! We wanted to start the new year by updating you on the way we are currently working. Some of Debt Resistance UK members (Vica, Joel and Fanny) started a co-operative last year. It is called Research for Action, and we are very excited as it had been in the pipeline for quite some time. Much of the research work we […]
Introduction: This letter is intended to be circulated cross-party throughout networks of local government councillors in England, Wales and Scotland in councils (approximately 240) affected by LOBO loans calling for action from the Local Government Association (LGA). LOBO loans are a national problem, caused by failure to adequately regulate and monitor the financial system – and to protect councils and taxpayers from mis-selling and market abuse by powerful financial firms. We are calling for a political solution, so that further […]
Major LOBO loan borrower Northamptonshire County Council lurches into crisis as s144 declared with Council unable to balance its budget. Capping off a turbulent week for financial markets in which CAPITA shares collapsed by 50% into crisis territory, Northamptonshire Council Council (advised by CAPITA) issued a section 114 notice on Friday. This means the council cannot set a balanced budget, has exhausted its cash reserves and no new spending decisions can be made until a full council meeting is convened to solve the crisis. Debt Resistance UK have been […]