Newcastle North MP and Shadow Solicitor General, Catherine McKinnell, is to join members of the public services trade union, UNISON, for an ‘equalities weekend’. The event, taking place in Newcastle on 28th and 29th January, will also feature speakers from UNISON and the Tyne and Wear Anti-Fascism Association.

Catherine said:

“I am really pleased to be joining UNISON for this event, which will focus on how we can campaign against the disproportionate impact of the Coalition’s cuts on women, people from the BME community and people with disabilities.

“This is an area in which I am taking a very keen interest in my position as Shadow Solicitor General, as I am concerned that this Tory-led Government may be failing to take proper account of equalities and human rights legislation in its rush to slash public spending.

“The Coalition like to make grand statements about their swingeing cuts being ‘fair’. However, I believe there is an emerging trend under this Government whereby cuts – undertaken for political, not purely economic, reasons – are being targeted at vulnerable people not able to fight back. The potential cumulative impact of all these cuts is alarming, yet no one in Government even acknowledges it.”