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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Best T shirt of the day. Thanks for the photo! #antiausterity

Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Zoe Garbutt summarising what we’ve achieved today. But on organising going forward, I don’t agree with setting up lots of local groups, as suggested. We don’t have the capacity at local level. We need a national programme. #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Final comment from Mandu - overturning austerity is better for everyone. Which it is. We must mobilise together to make this happen.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Southwark Council Leader James McAsh talks about spending his whole adult life with austerity. #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Mandu Reid, former leader of the Women’s Equality Party, talking about the importance of storytelling in creating change. #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Jordan Rivera of UNISON says that health services need to increase dramatically to meet the needs of our people. We don’t have to accept austerity.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Cllr Michael Chessum says we are at a unique moment with a progressive prime minister and councillors across political divides working together to oppose austerity.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

The myth that ‘there is no money’ has existed since Thatcher, said ‘there is no such thing as public money, there is only Taxpayers money’. But it is still a myth, says Simon Ripton.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Ask No.5: Public Sector reforms - from increasing powers to local councils, ending outsourcing and privatisation practices, introducing new models of work such as a 4 day working week, improvements to public sector pay and conditions.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Ask No.4 - New, fairer ways to raise money Reform Council Tax and introduce new ways to raise funds that ensures wealthier property owners pay a fairer share. A few builds on this from the audience, especially focus on wealthy landowners hoarding property and maybe just ‘local tax’ #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Ask No.3 - more funding for more homes. Audience members asking for this to be changed to ‘council homes’ - round of applause. Need to also add ‘sustainable’ homes too. And commit to maintenance, stop the right to buy and end developer-led building. #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Ask No. 2 is cancelling local authority debt - ‘it is made up on a computer and can be written off’ #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Ask No.1 - more government funding with LG settlements back to pre-2010 levels and guaranteed funding for statutory and non-statutory services. This should be based on need with structural changes as needed to meet needs.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

This is what we want at the #antiausterity summit, according to the delegate survey. Pretty simple, really!

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

‘The fight against the far right is the fight of our lifetime’ says Kebede. Round of applause. #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

My old colleague Stacy Hart asks a good question about cross party collaboration and David says the LibDems have long worked with the Greens. I’ve always worked across party lines in our council to deliver for our residents.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

A cleaner from Southwark Council asks the panel about outsourcing her job to private companies. Zita replies that as soon as something is outsourced it drives down wages and workers rights. It becomes about profit not people. #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Kebede says we should not be investing more in defence. Why more weapons of destruction when we need SEND services. #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

We need a tax on wealth and a levy on the banks, says Daniel Kebede. The banks are back to making record profits while communities are struggling. #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Why can’t we have rent controls, caps on utilities, adult social care support? Relatively small investment across a number of areas would have an immediate impact on poverty. #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Zita Holbourne listing the services that austerity took away. Libraries, community centres, early years, family support, SEND services and more. Not forgetting the cuts to arts and culture and the vital role they play in wellbeing. #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Cllr David Watson welcomes the prime minister’s promise to work cross-party and say we must move away from the idea that austerity is inevitable. If we want strong communities we need strong, funded local government. #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Caroline Russell summarises the need for an intersectional approach, that involves the whole community, to tackle the effects of austerity. #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Zita says yes we must work together and form an anti-austerity coalition, but must always oppose racism and prejudice. There is no hierarchy of rights when it comes to equality, but there are different impacts, and intersectionality is real too.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Important to work together, says Paul Williams. Recognise that some people who have been affected by austerity may be voting Reform. We mustn’t write people off, but must work together.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Paul Williams of ACORN describes how the poverty created by austerity has impacted the morale of society as a whole, creating the lack of trust in the system that leads to polarisation and the rise of the far right. #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Education spending in England has gone from 5.5% of GDP to 3.4%, way below the OECD target of 5%, says Daniel Kebede of the NEU. This is having an serious impact on children’s education #antiausterity.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

David Watson, LibDem at Southwark Council describes the collaborative cross party partnership that runs their council to a round of applause, and goes on to stress the ongoing impact of austerity on council funds.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Zita Holbourne of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts described the devastating impact of austerity on black and brown people but also other disadvantaged groups like women and the disabled. #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Panel discussion at #antiausterity summit with Caroline Russell (G), London Assembly, Zita Holbourne - BARAC, Daniel Kebede - NEU, Cllr David Watson - Southwark, and Paul Williams of ACORN.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Simon Ripton points out that the economy is a social construct and the ‘fiscal rules’ can be changed if needed to benefit the country. #antiausterity #equality

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Cllr Simon Ripton of Derbyshire Dales talking about the economics of local govt funding. Even if funding returns to pre-08 levels we still have a problem

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Dawn Carter-McDonald, Chief Exec at Hackney, talking about the pressures local government is facing #antiausterity

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

At the Anti Austerity Conference in Hackney. Zoe Garbutt, Green Mayor of Hackney is opening.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

@christinecrafter.bsky.social Lovely to meet you at the Fawcett Conference! Hope you got what you wanted from the rest of the day?

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

In the discussion of Misogyny in Public life, I pointed out that there is one new political force that is not right-wing and misogynistic, doesn’t subscribe to combat politics and indeed has a majority of women. Join the Equality Party here: www.equalityparty.org.uk

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Jennifer Nadal “The same people trying to drive women out of politics also want to drive out people with a black or brown face and those who are LGBT+. It is the same agenda.”

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Next up, panel discussion on Misogyny in Public life, with Jennifer Nadal (Compassion in Politics), Maudlyn Awuku (50/50 Parliament) and Olga Jurasz (Protecting Women Online) #Fawcettconference

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

‘Flexecution’ - giving women flexibility for fewer hours but then expecting the same output for less pay. #Fawcettconference

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Rachel Grocott of Pregnant then Screwed talking about the motherhood penalty and how it starts not when you give birth but when you first mention the possibility of a family. And the fact that maternity pay is less than half the living wage. #Fawcettconference

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Panel on Misogyny at Work at the @fawcettsociety.bsky.social Conference.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Next up, Marisa Bate is chairing a panel on misogyny at home. Farah Nazeer of Women’s Aid, Ghadah Alnsseri of Imkaan and Dr Daniella Jenkins of WBG. #Fawcettconference

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Next up at @fawcettsociety.bsky.social conference - the Young Women’s Trust moderated by Katherine Sacks-Jones.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Dr Sajjan Gohel’s 5 ingredient of misogyny online. A dangerous recipe at @fawcettsociety.bsky.social conference.

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Next up, Dr Sajjan Gohel explores how misogyny operates as a radicalising force online at @fawcettsociety.bsky.social conference. Starts with a smile ‘I’m going to mansplain misogyny to you’…

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Panel discussing how to engage men to end misogyny. Our work with White Ribbon is changing attitudes with young men in particular, and many men want to be part of the solution. #Fawcettconference

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

@claremcglynn.bsky.social says ‘X is a worse and more extreme porn site than many official porn sites. There are no search terms disallowed on X’ #Fawcettconference

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Akwugo Emejulu says misogyny isn’t on the rise, it’s always been there but just has far greater reach today. #Fawcettconference

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Erin Stoner speaks of ‘benevolent misogyny’ - men who pretend to care about women while removing their rights. Like Farage. #Fawcettconference

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Kay Wesley @kaywesley.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Panel of @claremcglynn.bsky.social, Prof Akwugo Emejulu and Erin Stoner discuss with @helenrumbelow.bsky.social why misogyny is on the rise at the @fawcettsociety.bsky.social conference

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