Save Our Services in Surrey (SOSiS) is an inclusive network, involving trade unionists, working class community campaigners and social movement activists in different parties or none. We have led and supported hundreds of campaigns to defend public services from council and government cuts.

In 2010 we adopted a charter (updated in 2019) which we have asked all candidates in local and general elections to endorse. In 2022, after more than a decade of austerity, we are stepping up a gear..

• READ THE CHARTER HERE

SOSiS are encouraging all our supporters, in the trade unions and community campaigns, to consider standing in elections under a common manifesto – the Peoples Budget - while preserving their own identities, party labels and with the ability to highlight any particular policies and issues that they may wish to campaign on.

We want trade unions, workplace reps, community campaigners and all our supporters to consider what they think should be part of our People’s Budget. Not about what the council might be able to afford financially under austerity – but about what is needed. The conference on 25th June will debate and agree upon a final budget/manifesto for candidates to campaign under. This will not be based on pounds, shillings and pence but on people’s needs.

Peoples Budget-supporting councillors would be at the heart of any local and national struggle over public services and that is a step towards a society in which people can enjoy life to its fullest without the fear of unemployment, homelessness, poverty and discrimination. They would also share an absolutely unequivocal commitment to resisting the austerity measures that we know are coming from the pro-big business establishment politicians seeking to pass the costs of the Covid crisis onto the working class.

Every trade unionist, anti-cuts campaigner, community activist and all those who want to see an alternative to austerity politicians can join us and stand on our Peoples Budget.

The conference in 25th June will develop and expand these points and include more detail as to what we would be demanding in Surrey and in the districts and boroughs.

We are aware that councillors trying to implement such a much-needed radical budget will come under extreme pressure from mainstream politicians, the government and the media and we pledge to support any councillor who makes such a stand and fights for workers and residents needs.

We agree that the best way to mobilise the mass campaign that is necessary to defend and improve council services is to set a budget that meets the needs of the local community and to demand that government funding makes up the shortfall.