DURING the “Thatcher” years it was clear that the Tories were attacking our major manufacturing industries. 
Steel, car making, ship building, and of course the coal industry all targeted. Countless thousands of jobs were lost. 
All masterminded and documented in the “Ridley” report. 
Profitable public sector organisations like Gas, Electric and Water were sold off, profits now go mainly into private pockets while ‘Joe Public’ empty theirs paying the ever increasing bills. 
They were cruel and heartless but they got away with it.
People are rightly outraged at the recent further job losses in the steel industry while the government uses cheap foreign steel and hands national engineering projects to foreign investors. 
It borders on a scandal.
Cameron’s Tories are getting away with a bigger crime against the working class than even Thatcher did. 
Few are really aware of the true scale and consequences of the cuts taking place in the name of austerity. 
Local councils, police forces, fire services and most other public sector employees are being punished for the greed of Tory supporting bankers. 
We should be screaming from the rooftops. 
Thousands of people across Wales are losing their jobs. 
The jobs they do are essential, they have often trained for years to do them. 
Unfortunately they are only really missed when they are truly needed. 
When those who need them are in vulnerable situations. 

Councillor Allan Morris
Lliswerry Ward
Newport City Council