Cllr Anna Smith
Cllr Anna Smith

Cambridge Labour leader and Leader of Cambridge City Council, Cllr Anna Smith has set out Labour’s priorities at the City Council AGM held last week. In her Leader’s statement, Cllr Smith outlined her commitment to tackling the climate and biodiversity emergencies, fighting poverty and inequality, building a new generation of council homes and helping the homeless alongside maintaining core services and modernising the council. However, she emphasised that tackling the cost-of-living crisis was going to be Labour’s top priority in the year ahead.

Cllr Smith said of the cost-of-living crisis:

“All of us in this chamber probably have similar stories to tell from those conversations we have with our residents. Stories of people who have just about made ends meet up to now. But who are terrified that they won’t be able to pay their rising fuel bills. Residents for whom the hubs and the foodbanks are becoming more and more of a lifeline. Our anti-poverty work has always been a huge priority for us, but, with officers and with the wider community, we are looking at what more we can do to address this looming crisis. How we can work with our partners. How we can use all our resources, including our property portfolio, as well as possible to support our communities through this time. How we can fight for food justice, and how we can promote innovative and cooperative approaches, such as community wealth building.”

She continued:

“We intend to submit two motions to the July Council meeting. One will be a declaration of a cost-of-living emergency, to signal how seriously we as a city take this issue. And the other will be to state our aspiration to becoming a right to food city, to show that we are truly committed to building a city where everyone has access to sustainable, ethical, good quality food.”

Cllr Smith also highlighted her personal commitment to addressing poverty because of her own lived experiences:  

“People in poverty are not slackers. They don’t just need to work longer hours, or to be taught budgeting or cooking skills. I grew up on benefits. My mum was a superb budgeter. She knew, and knows, the cost of every meal she cooks, down to the last penny. She, and people like her, don’t need patronising, or easy answers. They need us to work alongside them, not telling them what to do, but supporting them, listening to their needs and their solutions. The people of Cambridge chose to put their trust in us as governing group. That trust is a privilege, and its one we don’t take lightly. These are tough times, but we will work together with our whole community, so that people in Cambridge not only survive the tough times ahead but thrive.”

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