Statement on todays action at Newcastle Civic Centre

After the highly successful sit in at Newcastle Civic Centre, Newcastle Occupation are please to report that David Faulkner, Leader of Newcastle City Council has reiterated his opposition to rises in tuition fees.

The peaceful protest, which lasted 2 ½ hours, has secured the support of Newcastle City Council and David Faulkner has pledged his personal support with lobbying Liberal Democrat MPs.

The aim of the sit in at the Civic Centre was to an attempt to influence the Lib Dem councilors to urge their parliamentary colleagues to vote against the rise in tuition fees on Thursday. The following statement was released when the occupation commenced.

We are occupying this building to give voice to the people let down by their government.

People let down by

·      attacks on education.

·      attacks on public services.

·      attacks on the welfare state.

People like you, who within this building will be let down have been let down by the forthcoming redundancies.

We call on MPs to reject the Further and Higher Education (Access) Bill 2010-11 and for Liberal Democrat councillors to lobby their MPs to vote against the rise in tuition fees on Thursday.

We call on MPs to reject the Comprehensive Spending review and the Government plans for education, public services and the welfare state.

We call on all councillors, students and members of the public to support our actions and show that we are united in defending our way of life.

In occupying Newcastle Civic Centre, we also wished to voice our concern over the cuts to all public services and the welfare state. Newcastle City Council will face a 7.25% real term loss each year as a result of the cuts, with 1000 people facing redundancy immanently, but rising to 2000 over the next 4 years.

We are occupying this building to give voice to the people let down by their government.

We have found our voice and we will not be silenced.

A member of the occupation will be interviewed with David Faulkner tomorrow morning on BBC Radio Newcastle.