Leicester TUSC Backs ’38 Degrees’ Anti-TTIP Campaign

Earlier today, local campaigners working with 38 Degrees held a protest in town to oppose the anti-democratic nature of the little-known Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). In Leicester the only political party take part in today’s Global Day of Action against TTIP  were members of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC).

TUSC parliamentary candidate for Leicester South, Andrew Walton, who works in the NHS, said:

“Unlike the three major parties, which all support TTIP, TUSC is completely opposed to it. At our 2015 national conference we agreed our general election platform which included: ‘No to TTIP and all secret austerity treaties’.

“Amongst the many serious problems associated with TTIP is the fact that this so-called agreement aims to further open up our public services (particularly the NHS) to be privatised and run in the interests of profit, rather than the public.”

Michael Barker, a school support-worker, and TUSC parliamentary candidate for Leicester East added:

“Probably the most dangerous aspect of TTIP is the investor-state dispute settlement which would allow corporations to bring legal claims against states whenever they feel that their business interests have been adversely affected by national laws or policies.

“TTIP is yet another example of how we need to change the type of society we live in – which is run in the interests of the 1% not the 99%. We will continue to campaign for a democratic socialist society.”