Anti-cuts groups set to join forces

The city has seen the creation of groups resisting cuts hitting housing, the NHS, benefits and education.

Some council house residents have also banded together to organise resistance against the so-called "bedroom tax," which will force families to move out of their homes or face financial penalties if they have more rooms than they strictly need.

In all, more than 70 people from campaign groups and trades union branches took part in the second Leeds Anti-Cuts Convention, while workshops examined the effect of cuts in the four public service areas affected.

Two Labour councillors from Hull spoke about their pledge to vote against cuts and join the growing number of councillors who are taking a stand - more than 20 have joined the Councillors Against Cuts group, calling on Labour-controlled councils to refuse to implement them.

The event also included a speaker from the Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals strikers, where Unison ancillary workers have taken strike action against pay cuts and are balloting on spreading the strike.

The convention voted to campaign for a general strike against the cuts.

On February 27 demonstrators will lobby Labour-controlled Leeds City Council demanding it refuse to implement more cuts.

Services shut down in the city - which has some of Britain's most deprived inner-city areas - include centres for people with mental health problems.

Leeds Keep Our NHS Public will hold a meeting on March 14 from 7pm at the city's Rosebowl venue.