LIVERPOOL, LIKE MANY of Britain's industrial heartlands is a stronghold of antiToryism. There is no way in cities like Liverpool that the Tories are ever going to get control by democratic means.
But democracy and the votes of ordinary people are not a big concern to this government What it can't get by popular support it intends to get by use of its special powers. That Is why it Is threatening to send in the commissioners and to bankrupt and debar the city councillors.
On this issue socialists should not hesitate about where they stand and whose side they are on.
Here is a city that has the worst housing in Europe. five of its insured population haven't got a job. The city is decaying and falling apart. If the council accepts the government target, 5000 more jobs will go, more services will disappear and more people will be homeless If Liverpool goes it will be much harder to defend the Metropolitan councils and to resist rate cappin people will think that there is no point in trying to resist the Tory juggernaut — and millions will be consigned to poverty and a life without future. Those unions like NUPE and the NUT who have voted against striking on Friday 29 March are wrong. By splitting ranks they have thrown in the towel before the fight starts and meekly accepted that their members can join the growing dole queues.
There is no compromise way out of this mess. Patrick Jenkin has made it obvious the government is not going to put any money into Liverool and that means thousands of jobs filled b IUT and NUPE members are doomed At a time when all the labour movement should be uniting behind the Liverpool council and the people of that city, Tribune strikes a rather nasty and discordant note.
Instead of calling for support for the Livercouncil it says: 'There are two basic choices'. It suggests one of these could be that: 'Labour councils can stay in office and try to cut humanely while attempting to place the blame for the cuts on the government'. This is an echo It is rather like the hangman saying: 'I am not too keen on hanging but it is my job, the accused as gently as possible. With friends like that you don't need enemies. No wonder about the fact Tribune was not behind Liverpool. Tribune then covers itself by saying: 'If after taking all these points into consideration, Liverpool decides that it has no alternative but to defy the government it is entitled to expect the support wants to build the biggest campaign it can to support the Liverpool council and the people of equivocating or it prefers humane cuts whict means the Liverpool council climbs down.
This approach divides the movement at a time when unity is more important than ever. The Tribune editorial board should get together and decide that fence sitting helps no one but the enemy. It must come out 100 per cent for the Liverpool council against the Tory government. should be demanding that the NEC comes out unequivocally behind the council and that the TUC give Liverpool pride of place on Democracy Editor: ALAN FREEMAN Published weekly except two weeks in August and the Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent Socialist Action's views.
Send all correspondence regarding subscriptions, sales and receipts to Socialist Action Distribution, 328 Upper Street London N1 2XP. (Tel: 01-359 8180)
Send all material for publication (including advertising)
unless accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope.
----- pull-quotes -----
to Socialist Action Editorial at the same address. We regret that due to the high cost of postage we cannot. return or acknowledge unsolicited copy or photographs