Conservative cuts affect the most vulnerable in society. In case you needed reminding, here are just a few of the many reasons not to vote Tory on Thursday 8th June:
Theresa May plans to allow MPs a free vote on lifting the fox hunting ban. We know that fox hunting hasn’t stopped since the ban, but legalising this barbaric and violent display of class-based power would be a huge step back for the animal liberation movement – not to mention will put animals and hunt sabs in dangerous situations with zero legal protection.
Theresa May has dropped a promise to place a total ban on ivory trading. Tories previously committed to follow similar bans to the US and China, but pressure by wealthy antiques dealers has led to May not including a trading ban in the Tory manifesto.
Tories has previously committed to follow similar bans to the US and China, but pressure by wealthy antiques dealers has led to May not including a trading ban in the Tory manifesto. On average, one elephant is killed every 15 minutes by poachers or hunters, and species extinction is a huge concern.
Theresa May voted against reducing the age of consent, voted against same sex couple adoption, didn’t show up to vote on the Gender Recognition Bill and didn’t show up to vote for Equality Act regulations. May also recently visited a homophobic Christian church, whose pastor actively campaigned against gay marriage and opposes abortion.
Under a Conservative government, mental health services were slashed by almost £600 million in 2015. In 2017, five areas (Walsall, Sefton, St Helens, Isle of Wight and Scarborough) are facing further cuts amounting to £4.5 million. In some places, mental health services are due to be removed from schools due to education budget cuts.
Conservatives have cut £4.6 billion from social care, leading to the closure of residential care homes. Many older people have lost access to much-needed state-funded care and are unable to meet the costs of living.
Cuts to social care have had a knock-on effect on the NHS. Overworked and underpaid staff (plus a drop in registered nurses following Brexit and staff shortages) means longer waiting times and ward closures. At the current rate, the NHS expects a £22 billion funding gap between now and 2021, leading many to fear NHS privatisation.
Funding cuts to education are putting students at risk: Many schools are cutting staff numbers (including valuable support staff and counsellors). Theresa May also plans to get rid of free school meals for younger students (which will have an effect on low-income families).
(side note: now is not the time for abstaining from voting out of protest, or because – like me – you do not have faith in the structure of government and power hierarchy in the UK. The conservative government is harming others. We cannot sit back and allow them to continue.)
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Anti-Speciesist Collective 