traditional power base.
However, the elections do not give a great deal of comfort to lost control in five out of councils. beneficiary from the elections was the Alliance. The majority oi the shire counties, out of 39, control, the Alliance will hold the balance of power. In this regard, the elections have been Alliance's main catching disatected Tory votes and preventing them going to Labour. It is clear Photo: GM COOKSON that there is an established three-party system in Britain which is having a major effect. It is clear that there is an anti-Tory ma jority in the country and the role of the Alliance is either to ensure that the Tories continue to because the opposition is broken up, or that Labour May delivered a blow to the Tories in the wake of the before the 'Falklands factor' intervened to boost their standing in the polls. The defeat of the miners has not provided Thatcher with another such boost. Instead the Tory vote declined. They lost control in nine of 18 councils. The result is that the Tories have been swept out of power in their stongest and most Labour. They The main vary now overall political which means tha clear the real rule Their previous worst was in 1981, is prevented from winning power. On the basis of these results pollsters have made predictions on the resuits of a general election which from a jority of Times), (BBC). Such predictions highly suspect.
GLU Metropolitan were excluded from elections by the abolition proposals, and it is in these cities stren te will take test The low turn-out (40 pel cent) is another important factor.
The main however is that a general election will take place in a very different ward a support it to must share of votes particularly jorities (Sunday minority governeat The the Counties the of the Tore with that the high the point disaster pollical programme will win the overwhelming of the working class and oppressed.
If Labour is to win the next election it is necessary for qualitatively improve its vote. This means that it greatly increase trade unionist's (38 per cent win a massive majority in the inner cities.
amongst blacks, and also win maamongst women and in the youth. 1o do that requires a radical prothat meets needs of those sectors, the oppressed ploited, in our society.
The leadership of the Party is taking a very dif ferent course The drive now under way policy to the right is an attempt to steal the clothes In particular, Kinnock's support for a new social contract cuts in welfare unemployment incomes policy These are the policies which will hit very sectors Labour needs to win.
The last time this hap the result was a for Labour and the working class — it gave Closu that Labour government strong broken.
its media on unreliable and last will increase.
peal over those who are worse, the as the exonly the Labour vote. open the suing such that prepare the Thatcherism around catcher anuck all Hattersley hope that it will alternative to the eyes of the not trust left wing of the Party is too the organised strength of the working class has not been As an election comes closer the assault of the extremist The only hope for Labour is to apthe media facing the worst effects of the ruling class attacks. Appeals for incomes policy, and still credibility to bodies sucl Employment Institute and its Tory and supporters can confuse divide Kinnock and the right, and now even sections of the former left may believe that this is the way to en Suhat it will actually do is victory.
door to the In any case, government purpolicies would strike a demoralising blow at the working cass anc way for The fight policies will be crucial for Labour.
Socialist Action 10 May 1985