With Harry Smith, Ros Wynne Jones, Ruth Lister, Lindsey German, Tom Crawford

The government introduced austerity as a response to a crisis created in the banking sector. Since 'austerity' was introduced we have seen the rise of food banks; the introduction of a Bedroom Tax; the demise of the Independent Living Fund and swingeing cuts to benefits.

With an election in less than a year it is important that the issue of austerity is not ignored.

Speakers' biographies

Harry Smith, Author of Harry’s Last Stand

Harry grew up in 1930’s Britain and watched his sister die of tuberculosis before the advent of the NHS. After fighting in WW2 his generation built the welfare state and ths NHS to make sure that they never saw that sort of poverty and distress again.

Ros Wynne Jones, campaigning Daily Mirror journalist

Ros has seen the worst of austerity Britain. She writes a regular column for the Daily Mirror highlighting the real cost of the cuts: from Stephanie Bottirll who took her own life when the Bedroom Tax was imposed, to Jonathan Collinge a local man who protested the loss of his disability benefits

Ruth Lister, Former Director of Child Poverty Action Group

Ruth, made a Baroness for her services to fighting child poverty, has been withering in her condemnation of the cuts and the consequent increase in Child Poverty. Ruth lives locally, is an academic at Loughborough University and former chair of the Child Poverty Action Group.

Lindsey German, People's Assembly

Lindsey is one of the founders of the People's Assembly Against Austerity, author of many books including How a Century of War Changed Women's Lives and is Convenor of Stop the War Coalition.

Tom Crawford, fought his eviction by banks

Tom was served with eviction by one of the state-owned zombie banks which collapsed under the weight of its own greed during the banking crisis of 2008. Tom and his family took to organising a people's campaign to prevent his eviction and succeeding in beating back the bailiffs.

Chaired by Lee Barron, Regional Secretary of Midlands TUC