A CAMPAIGN group set up to challenge government cuts will tonight argue that children could be put at risk if budgets are slashed.

Socialist Party member Nancy Taafe will speak on behalf of the the Anti-Cuts Union at a meeting of full council tonight (July 22).

She is expected to call on councillors to reject an emergency budget set by the local Labour leadership, which proposes £2.6 million worth of savings this year.

Services helping children and young people will see the largest funding cut, with £1.7 million lost.

Leading Labour councillors insist savings in certain departments were forced upon them because reduced funding streams are ring-fenced for particular purposes.

The Tories say they do not expect frontline services to be affected.

Nancy Taafe will claim that “viscious axe men in the millionaires' government” are seeking to destroy the NHS, schools and other public services.

In a copy of her speech seen by the Guardian, she says: “We completely disagree with the first wave of cuts, which seem particularly targeted at children and families.

“Tonight Unison, socialists and local activists would like to argue that these cuts potentially usher in many more terrible tragedies such as that of Baby P.

“Unison stands with its members in Children and Families in fighting for more resources.

“You will also have a copy of the Unison motion, passed by our branch, that gives our backing to groups of workers, faced with slash and burn cuts, to take strike action.

“No worker wants to do this, but with twelve jobseekers to every one vacancy in the borough, and the assault on benefits by this government, many will feel they have no choice.

“You as the elected politicians should stand with them by voting ‘No’ tonight. Your campaign for more police is a small example of what could be possible.”