During the parliamentary recess, happened at Leith which exposes the nature of the Thatcher government. A number of police were found on a local rubbish dump.
They or mindividuals individuals Halic who frequented a ticular centre in Edinburgh. Not criminals -"ordinarv citizens. of whom were political activists. It appears the information was collected for Special Branch.
This incident should not surprise anyone. The law-and-order brigade in Partv. parcher, emphasised that more money is being spent on the police force.
There increasing surveillance of activists, thought to be potentially 'dangerous' The police active trying to keep the lid on the capitalist system.
Gavin Strang (a fellow MP) and 1 have asked for a meeting with ine Loulan and boraers police, to find out what's been going on. Whether we'll get another We're witnessing a build-up of the police this Slaler allu niciacill highlights what's going In fact, it's only the tip of the iceberg. The party has to take this up, among the many things lor Labour to ao this year.
The Tories dre and more indecire ne ana more vindictive saw with the NGA challenge in 1984 dispute, we see it again with the Rates Bill now going through parliament.
This is a very important issue. It's the death knel of local democracv.
People's basic righs under attack the Bill.
It's all very well that Ted Heath and others are BOUR F protesting from the Tory benches, but it's really a gues involved bourside involved outside parliament. What's lacking is a positive lead on Ine issue.
This real challenge And that brings me to Tony Benn's selection for Chesterfield another challenge for For the media, Benn personifies SOCaus element They'l They'll use all for the jugular.
of dirty tricks thell in Bermondsey. DUILD did with Peter TatThe capitalist and their newspapers are concerned that Benn's campaign will rally the working But we shouldn't see Tony Benn as some sort of superstar wouldn't want ciples into the working It's in the interest the whole the Labour Party to support Benn. will get tremendous response from the rank and file.
Everyone must go to Chesterfield, go out on the doorsteps. It's not a Tony Benn campaign, Canvad about the working class: their future, their jobs, their living standards it's about all the basic issues.
There no guarantees, hut win - and win handsomely media. We aespile shouldn't apologise for explaining what the Labour Party is really about. Labour is not consensus it's a socialist pally and if it's not, it isn't a party in the interest f the working class.
From this week, Socialist Action will be carrying a regular parliamentray column. wnere It leads to tne relurn administrations.
Thẹ Greater London Council the metropolitan counties stonghold tOT they have been consistent opponents of the government's policies.
The Tories have little prospect of winning these councils. This is why they are to be abolished.
Removing them will weaken nationally. It will open the door to the Alliance, and so help replace the 'natural' alternative to the Tories.
The so-called streamlining ot GLC metropolitan counties will lead to the creation of over non-elected bodies rag-bag of quangos tainly increase costs. Sayings can be made only by cutting services, by onvalisation and by in creasing user costs. Claim The Tories claim local authority spending is 'out of control'. Soaring rents rates have lent credibility to this.
Between and April 1983, rates rose by 128%; the Retail Price Index by only 71%. At the same time there was a cut in the government's Rate wores. soaring rates are due to the CULS Colla government aid to local Far from being out of control, local government spending has declined 15.8% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP in 1975, , to 12% in 1982. This reality has been masked by the failure of most Labour councils to wage a to a tax on working people means authorities taking the blame for Tory policies. the new attacks are to be defeated, must fight Unfortunately, many labour leaders have failed to grasp this point. Laboul Weekly's line is hopeless: the Tory revolt on the Rate Capping Bill much more significant than the vole majority (Patrick Jenkin) gained for his rate-capping bill' OPERATIONAL STAFF and the GLC are operational.
2% of the total GLC wage bill.
public health and safety workers.
14% between 1978 and March 1983.
COUNCILS UNDER THREAT Greater London Greater Manchester Merseyside South Yorkshire Tyne and Wear West Midlands West Yorkshire WHERE THE MONEY GOES Spending per head of population by the metropontan counties.
police roads buses & trains He DEAT waste disposal planning other services & admin (& airports)
January 24 day of action was a big step in the right direction.
Much more needs to be done. The party leadership, local authorities, and local Labour parties must join with local government unions to build a cam. of industrial walsl pollucal action to defeat this attack The tables given in this article taken NALGO's Local Govern ment Briefing pack.
Most staff employed by the metropolitan counties • Administrative and managerial staff amount to •only 7½ % of total GLC staff and account for only • Over half of the GLC's staff are firefighters or • Full-time staffing in the GLC (excluding the transfer of housing staff to the boroughs) fell b Population Rateable Debt 6,608,600 1,921m 2,095m 2,575,400 331m 139m 1,503,000 195m 14m 1,292,000 138m 59m 1,135,500 128m 184m 2,575,400 411m 126m 2,021,700 216m 100m 3,340m 2,847m £136