McGrath. "Families in Hartlepool and LIverpool who have suffered the death of a child now face cuts for their empty bedrooms" (from today's Guardian) - both Labour controlled councils.

I wonder how sensitively the benefits people will deal with the problems of bereaved parents. I'd like to think that they'd be given a period of grace to get over their bereavement, decide whether they have to move, and then find new accommodation. Do you think it's likely to be done that way? No, I don't think so either. Said child will die on day 1. Said benefit will be cut from day 2.

I live very close to Liverpool, and I'm engaged in anti-cuts campaigns there and in my own borough of Wirral. Liverpool is Labour controlled, and Wirral has a Labour led coalition. You might think that there would be a residue of sympathy somewhere in both administrations. But trying to talk to these goons is like trying to talk to the wall. The only response they ever manage to come up with is that they are being forced to implement central government policy, and if they don't, the government will send the auditors in. For Christ's sake, give me a break. How many local authorities are there in England, and how many auditors are there? All together now. "If every Labour led local council stood firm and refused to implement this policy, they would stop the government dead in its tracks". Some hope.

Sugarfoot Jack. You're absolutely right. Direct action is the only option left. Get yourself on a telephone tree, or start one. When your local council sends the bailiffs in, make sure there are enough people surrounding the building to stop them.