«We shall not retain the support of working voters by advocating the fringe activities which have attached themselves the socialist movement at the expense of other issues which more directly affect their everyday lives. This was the argument of Birmingham's council leader Dick Knowles earlier this year in successfully preparing the closure of the council's relations women's committees. It was a potent reminder of where Labour's right wing stands issues like equal opportunities, women, racism.
Labour lost five seats in the Birmingham council elections in scapegoats were needed. Women and black people suited the right wing fine.
This year the Labour group has decided to act before the event. At group meeting . LO discuss next year's budget, leading councillors proposed rate increase of no more than five per cent. City officers said inal savings this year would inCus ol lure lilal £40 million, or seven per cent, in next year's budget.
In reality the Labour group is already committea to unis course. 1il lic last few months vacancies in the social service and housing departments have remained unfilled. Now the council is involved in a bitter pay dispute with housing department staff, WIld 41 c demanding end to Dovelly wares. Some take home as little as f60 a week and have to claim housing benefit support themselves.
But to make these cuts the Labour group needs to first silence its critics in the District Although the DLP wa. suspended earlier this year at the behest of the right wing, this situation could not last indefinitely. The fish posthan to min the positions reconvened AGM.
The right wing set about the task with its usual zeal. Right wing GMCS bureaucratically blocked delegates mards despite custom ing nominated by left practice of each ward having an equal share of the delegation. In Smallheath Sparkbrook CLPs the sent one stoped hee simply closed the wards down. Sparkbrook GMC called 'special meeting on the eve of the AGM so that i cout bLabou left vacance closure of its Sparkhill wal u.
At the first reconvened the fight into the Euro constituencies the CLPs. Birmingham East Euro-constituency meeting after barracking ov rizul wisers. while in Sparkbrook fresh charges are being prepared against Amir Khan Kevin Scally. In Selly Oak the