PROTESTORS stormed Brent Town Hall last night as the council voted through the biggest spending cuts since the Second World War.

Around 50 people somehow got past a line of police and security outside the building, and they filled the central stairwell chanting “no ifs, no buts, no education cuts”, joining another 50 who packed the public gallery.

One protester made it to the council chamber, where he waved his “no cuts” placard and banged on the glass of the room before being removed by police.

The crowd drowned out council leader Councillor Ann John as she presented the £41.7 million cuts, which she blamed on the Government, saying “no leader of this council has ever had to put forward a budget like this”.

She defended the “brave and responsible” actions of her cabinet, as well as the previous Labour Government.

She said: “The majority of grown-up people in this country know that this was not Gordon Brown's fault.”

The protesters were eventually removed by the police for trespassing, leading to shouts of “is this democracy?” from the crowd, who waved their banners and placards in the direction of the assembled councillors.

Among those protesting was Brent NUT secretary Hank Roberts, who told the crowd to remember that the current financial situation was the fault of bankers and warned of strike action.

“The bankers continue to pay huge bonuses and their standard of living continues to get better, while we get cuts to teachers.

“We will have to take direct action – there will have to be strikes.”

Around 400 staff at the council are expected to be made redundant, with jobs mostly being cut in managerial and back office positions.

Cllr John said: “These are painful decisions to take. Every redundancy is someone we know personally who is no longer employed.”

She added that the Government was forcing the council to do its “dirty work” for them, but protesters accused her of passing the buck.

Brent UNISON branch secretary Phil O'Reilly said: “We are in this situation because the Government is forcing this cuts agenda onto local councils.

“We think its an ideological agenda and we want this Labour council to stand up to the Government and refuse to pass on these cuts to working people.”

There was some good news, with the council voting for a late amendment to the budget that will keep the Welsh Harp education centre open, in partnership with local firm Careys.

The council also pledged to keep Wembley Youth Centre open at a reduced cost, as well as merging St Raphael's and Dennis Jackson youth groups.

But this will be paid for by cutting 16 PCSOs amongst other savings.

The borough's six libraries that are threatened with cuts look likely to close, as Conservative and Liberal Democrat amendments to keep them open were voted down by Labour councillors.

Cllr John said: “I believe the approach we are taking is the right one.

"We have not shut up shop, opted out of providing services or abandoned any one area of service.

“Instead we have looked at everything we do, from top to bottom, and balanced what is fair with what can be achieved with the money we have.”