Jim Shera, Labour Group Leader, gave this speech at the budget setting meeting last month.

Full text below the fold:

When asked, I could not, and would not, agree to a joint party statement agreeing to their cuts, devastating the lives of many people in Rugby.

I cannot and will not agree, with a proposal that places balance sheets before people. I must repeat that. Balance sheets before people.

I have this to say to the other parties and the controlling group. I condemn cuts that devastate the young and old, sick and infirm, the unemployed and, the most vulnerable people in Rugby.

We, as a party, believe in constructive opposition, which means that, front line services must be protected, for the people of Rugby.

What is your weak defense to this assault on the most vulnerable in Rugby? Blame it on Labour.

It seems the whole world, bar the Tory Party, knows we are in this position today, because of the reckless risks taken by the big financial institutions. The same institutions financing the Tory party! Ideology before people!

And as for the Lib Dems! In May last year, Nick Clegg and the CONDEM Government, were the greatest thing since sliced bread. Now the Lib Dems opposite say, “it’s nothing to do with us”. The voters of Rugby can see through this duplicity. I say to you. Get off the fence. Either support your Government or have the integrity to resign now! You can’t have your cake and eat it.

And, what about the big society? What does it mean? Who knows? The Tories say, use the voluntary sector, which is another way of saying, the most vulnerable people in Rugby, must look after themselves. So does the Big Society mean, the disintegration of community cohesion? Once more the Tory Party widens the gap between those that have, and the rest of us in Rugby.

Labour is the party of investment into Rugby:

Our new college

Cawston development

The development of the cattle market

The new railway station

Business development in Leicester Road, to name only a few.

This is why I CONDEMN the parties opposite, No investment in Rugby, No investment in Jobs, No investment in people!

Your only solution is, Cuts! Cuts! Cuts!