Councillor Izzy Knowles: "Today I cry for my city, but I won't give up and neither should you"

Here is Councillor Izzy Knowles' speech in full;

"Earlier this evening I presented a petition on behalf of 131 doctors who are really concerned about the cuts to children’s services. Their feedback should not be ignored, they know what they are talking about. 

I submitted another petition to save three libraries in Hall Green constituency which will be considered together with several other petitions that are being presented today to save libraries across the city.  

People across this city from all walks of life are scared, worried and angry about how this budget is going to impact them, and there is no doubt that it will impact them. 

 My whole adult life has been in public service, from being a nursery nurse in a children’s home, to a career in the police and five years working in a homeless charity.  

I have seen first-hand what happens when you don’t invest in children’s services, schools, youth provision, housing, health, social care and policing. Problems just get pushed down the line, and this ruins lives, increase crime and push people into poverty causing more strain on public services that we have cut, and costing far more to the public purse and the wellbeing of our country in the long run.  

None of us here today I believe came into politics to cause misery to our constituents. We may not agree on policies, but we are all here to make things better not worse.  

Since the full array of budget cuts were announced, I have seen people desperately coming together to try to do something. Yes, we are devastated but our communities are resilient and passionate, and they care. On Saturday I went to an open meeting of the newly formed “Save Kings Heath Library” group.  

A lady there was urging the group to put aside political differences and to use every opportunity we can to work together. I want to echo what she said. Yes, it’s vital to be open and transparent and acknowledge past mistakes that have led to this point.  

I welcome the public inquiry and I hope that it is robust and clear and something that we can all learn from. The people responsible for mismanagement must be held to account. I would also like to see less denial from the Conservative group of the damage caused by austerity to our city. The budget that our chancellor will announce tomorrow is almost as devastating as the one being presented here today. Cutting taxes for the few is not going to help repair the public services for the people that really need them.   

Most of all I want to urge that we need to use this opportunity to work together. We got elected to serve this city and it is our duty to not let our communities down.  

Today I cry for my city, but I won’t give up and neither should any of you. Please accept the responsibility, listen to feedback, stop the blame game and lets work together for the future of our people."