How the Tories plan to smash local government

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Thatcher's war on local government THE CENTRE piece of the Tories election manifesto is a programme for an all out assault JOHN ROSS looks at the Tory battle plan for smashing local government.

why that assault on local government is so politically necessary first two terms of the Thatcher government was to break the power of the trade unions and the Labour Party itself.

policies against the unions culminated in the struggle against the NGA at Warrington, against the print unions at Wapping, and, above all, against the miners. Almost 4 million members been lost by the trade unions since 1979 over a quarter of their members.

Against the assault meant, through the creation of the SDP-Liberal smashing down vote MATION In 1979 million in 1983. This combined loss of 4 million trade members, million Labour votes, some measure of the severiThatcherism. OI assault of For its hoped for third • lena wale keeone let altack on the unions and the picking out for special assault the third bastion of the movement control of local governmell.

Despite the weaknesses in local government often bureaucratic character, the attack of both right lelt councils on the trade unions - it has still been one of the ways the working class has defended itself against the onslaught of Thatcher.

strength local government also inon local government finances.

And at - the tremendous with the unions - as much of the unions strength is in tne public sector.

At the beginning of Thatcher's government 82 per cent of workers in the pubne sector were umontsed compared to 70 per cent 17 per cent in private services. Much of that public sector strength lies in local government. The assaults culs and privausalion mean tremendous weakening both ot local government services So severe are the proposals in the Tory manifesto for local government that if Thatcher wins a third time Is noo see now erec tive local government can thar government sufferance. The ory machinery of controls, already in place wiln rate sappinestrenged manifesto proposals. Each measure is designed to fit together with the others to speed up the disintegration of local government.

The poll tax is the first HACKNEY JSSC

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popularity of radical Labour authorities such as the GLC. THE main goal of the