Barnet film gets fair airing

Edinburgh and London Unison members are bringing an acclaimed film to the city on August 20 to highlight the dangers of wholesale privatisation of council services.

The film, A Tale of Two Barnets, has received national acclaim. It has had the rare privilege of being shown at the House of Commons and has been warmly received in more than 30 showings across the London borough and beyond.

John Stevenson, Edinburgh president of public service union Unison, said: “The film title reflects the fact that the London borough of Barnet was the site of the infamous workhouse from Dickens’ Oliver Twist. Ironically, 200 years after the author’s birth, Barnet council plans to turn the clock back to those squalid Victorian times by selling off almost every council service.

“Thankfully, Edinburgh’s own plans to hand over local services to big business were defeated earlier this year. We are now proud to stand with Barnet Unison, to back them in protecting their services.”