LABOUR supporters throughout the counlast week. And, to be blunt, heaved a sigh of It is true we have had a ridiculously TV oriented campaign. And the first TV broadcast was an almost non-political embarassment. But so far the campaign has concentrated on some of the most popular, and progressive, aspects of Labour's policies - rebuilding the health service, defending education, attacking the government's record on unemployment.
The results also show what a waste of energy, and how damaging, was the four years effort the Labour leadership has spent in witch hunts, attacking the left, bashing the Black Section, similar activities. The idea that putting into Kinnock's first TV broadcast his 1985 conference surge in the polls is simply daft - Labour was already going up in the polls long before that.
People, quite rightly, believe that unemployment, the destruction of the National Health Service, the threat to comprehensive education and similar issues are important enemies which confront their lives Black Section, and the Militant tendency.
We may also be thankful that, apart from the opening shot of the first TV broadcast, hysterical flag waving, and undying pledges of adherence 'defence' issue. Against his entire previous campaign Kinnock was even forced to come out with the truth at the Monday press conference - that there is no Russian threat to invade Europe, or.
So far, in response to the 'looney left' taunts of the press, we have been mercifully spared anthousands' or 'ali Labour blacks to be expelled". Given what could have happened in the camand the potential of the situation, should be grateful for small mercies. The left has also responded correctly by understanding that between now and 11 June the main task is to defeat the Tories — and to concentrate the camTories and Alliance, for their own reasons, put attacking each other in the forefront of their first heat on Labour as the second week opened. The possibility for Labour to shoot itself in the fool then became endless. Just let Labour slip two per cent in the polls, or the Tory press cut loose on a particularly outrageous assault on the left, and Labour's right will start demanding Militant or some similar diversion, be made the central The left can do little about the campaign — as it doesn't influence it. All it can do is pray for that the campaign shows some of the things Labour should have been campaigning on for the is responsible for Labour's not Derek Hatton, the have been kept to a minimum on the dition to introducing a poll tax everywhere, the manifesto commits a third Thatcher government to setting a fixed and universal industry rate. It promises an increase in private rented accommodation and further erosion of council housing, as well as the widely-publicised changes in education and extensive privatisation of council services. According to The Next Move Forward, local government and especially inner-city problems arise primarily from the policies pursued by left wing Labour councils.
gives her views of what a third Thatcher government would have in store for the inner-cities. THE forv Partv wants to decimate local government.
It wants to further restrict our finances and break up more of the services we provide than the Thatcher auveillll has already done in its eight years of otfice. That is why attacks on local government are at the heart of the Tory manifesto.
TocaL0 e alcd bastion of Labour's power.
The Tory Party cannot win power in local elections, sc it wants to destroy local covernment div wav l cal That is why Margaret Thatcher has already abolished the GLC and metropolitan councils.
don't think local government should have power for its own sake. The fact is that councillors are more responsive and ac countable and living in the CommuBlICs lncy represent.
Local communities are in the best position to deterLINDA BELLOS, leader of Lambeth council, in Scotland. And they have said they would introduce a poll tax elsewhere.
The net effect would be that the people of Lambeth would pay approximately £117 more in rates than they currently pay. That's contrasted with people boroughs like Westminster paying less. The richer in a communitv would pav less. the poorer would pay more.
The Doll tax. coupled with the proposal for a standard industry rate, would bring the overall rate revenue down. Employers have been encouraged over decades to relocate, sites'. mne-cuc. This will further reduce employment in areas like Lambeth.
manitesto says: 'in many of our inner-cities the conditions for enterprise pride of ownershir llave been systematically extinguished by socialist councils.' That is crass dogma.
Socialist authorities have been seeking to encourage cooperatives and also private businesses. But the powers we have to SUDVUI ! local employment restricted by this government.
The Tories are pursuing a twin-track policy. First, by 19 Mosky Seat M te 10 X THE NEXT MOVES
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ACTION Be thankful for small mercies
LAST WEEK, the Tory Party launched its general election campaign with a manifesto promising even sharper attacks on local government. In ad-