Liberal
Democrats fight to save local jobs and services
Nuneaton
Liberal Democrats are supporting a campaign, led by the PCS union,
against job cuts at HM Customs and Revenue (HMRC) in Nuneaton.
The
office at Church Street in Nuneaton is earmarked for closure by the
government, leading to the loss of jobs in the town. These cuts will
also mean that local people and businesses lose access to the vital
advice and support services that the office provides. Currently the
office receives 23,000 enquiries a year.
Commenting
on the job cuts Tim Miller, Vice-Chair of Nuneaton and North
Warwickshire Liberal Democrats, said
“At
a time when the economic outlook for Nuneaton is increasingly gloomy,
the last thing the town needs is for jobs to be lost. The Government
is increasingly looking to cut back on costs by centralising and
reducing key services, like those provided by HMRC. The people,
working there will suffer, their families will suffer and the town
as a whole will suffer.
The
proposals made by the Government will result in the service being
re-located to Coventry. Yet again this is an example of a city being
preferred over towns like Nuneaton. This simply is not acceptable.
The
Liberal Democrats in Nuneaton oppose this loss of local jobs and this
removal of an essential public service. The PCS Union is doing great
work in trying to raise the profile of this issue. We are happy to
support their campaign and would urge the Council to do the same.”
This issue was first raised by local student Elissa Bruce, who has since joined the Liberal Democrats. Her work in campaigning against these cuts was highlighted in the Nuneaton Tribune, and can be read by going to http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/nuneaton-tribune/tm_headline=teenager-launches-petition-against-closure-of-nuneaton-tax-office%26method=full%26objectid=20848651%26siteid=50003-name_page.html