THE Coalition Government has decided that public services are to be slashed and jobs lost, while the bankers and speculators who caused the mess that resulted in a massive bailout are currently raking in the bonuses.

If there is anyone that believes that we should not have to suffer the unnecessary pain the Tories and Lib Dems want to inflict upon us, there is a meeting this Thursday (September 2) at 7.30pm, in the Owl Café, Maiden Street, Barnstaple, to discuss how we can unite to defend our essential public services.

With over a hundred billion pounds of tax from the super-rich unclaimed every year, and money wasted on privatisation schemes, the course taken by the Government is not the only option, it is their choice.

JIM LOWE,

Barnstaple.