Hastings People's Assembly

The People’s Assembly:

Founding Statement

1. Is a broad united national campaign against austerity, cuts and privatisation in our workplaces, community and welfare services, based on general agreement with the signatories

2. Is linked to no political party, committed to open non-sectarian working and dedicated to supplementing, rather than supplanting, trade union, student, pensioner and community opposition to austerity measures.

3. Is based on affiliation by individual supporters, unions nationally and locally, anti-cuts campaigns, and other student, pensioner, unemployed, disabled people’s, women’s, Black people’s, youth and LGBT campaigning organisations.

4. Aspires to support, encourage, coordinate joint action, and facilitate a transfer of experience rather than to command.

5. Encourages the establishment of new local campaigns and/or People’s Assemblies.

6. Organises newsletters, a website, twitter, Facebook and social media, meetings, conferences, lobbies, rallies, marches, demonstrations and other events.

7. Vehemently opposes all proposals to “solve” the crisis by discrimination or scapegoating on grounds of disability, race, religion, ethnic origin, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation or identity.

8. Liaises closely with similar movements in other countries resisting austerity measures.

9. Encourages a wide debate on how to protect the welfare state and develop an alternative programme for economic and social recovery