Review: Tale of Two Barnets

Last night was the Parliamentary film screening of a Tale of Two Barnets (see our previous interview with the film maker). Attended by MPs, councillors, union representatives, activists and interviewees among others all packed into the Wilson Room to watch a showing of the film and here from some of the participants.

The film centres on the concerns of Barnet residents and the views of the leader of the council and the CEO of that organisation. Forty one people were interviewed for the film which uses contributions from 23 of them for length.

What’s clear through out is how while council officers can be perfectly affable people in real life the impact of the policies they pursue can have terrifying consequences for the ordinary people effected.

The long legacy of closures and privatisations has wasted money on a series of schemes that eroded public services. Whether these were cemeteries, libraries, old peoples homes or day centres there was a growing list of services  that the local council were hell bent on undermining or removing altogether.

As Jeremy Corbyn MP said in the discussion some councils have taken the austerity agenda and are “doing what they would do anyway while using the Coalition as a smoke screen.” This austerity agenda though was ruining lives and killing people.

Since the drive to bring down the benefits bill MPs have been monitoring the coroners’ reports of suicides that have cited specifically benefit cuts as a cause or part cause of death. So far the tally is 70 where the official verdict cites benefits as a contributory factor. This is grim reading, but important to know that these policies have a lethal effect on many.

With just 15% of the planned cuts having been implemented the damage those we have seen may pale into comparison into what is to come.

In Barnet we hear from parents of disabled kids, small traders, and a host of others on how council decisions have real negative impacts on their lives. Not least the parking charges that went from 35 pence to four pounds in less than a decade – quite some rise which has had a serious effect on some people’s lives and the viability of small businesses.

Where there is limited opposition it is either ignored or crushed. One (Conservative) councillor abstained on a pay rise for councillors and was promptly voted off every committee she was sitting on. Clearly that was one issue the councillors felt strongly about.

The film works extremely well as a tool to bring these issues together and it has already been seen around Barnet as well as being featured on ITV. However the key theme is not privatisation but a lack of democracy. Over and again people say they feel they are not being listened to and that their concerns are dismissed.

Over and again the arrogance of certain councillors are cited and their behaviour seems to be as much of an issue as the policies in some cases. Certainly people feel lied to and abused with Brian Coleman coming  ni for flak even from Conservative voters, many of whom seem to be planning to vote Boris for Mayor but to place their cross elsewhere when it comes to Brian Coleman’s candidacy for the Barnet and Camden constituency seat in May.

It will be one of the constituencies to watch where solid Tories have simply had enough and could send a powerful message to the council that their behaviour will not be tolerated.