HANDS OFF HANDS THE GLC! OFF THE GLCI B THE FOLLOWING been agreed by London Briefing as its line on the struggle against rate capping. It appears as an editorial in this months' issue of that journal. Socialist Action fully supports this position.
IN THE WAKE of the government's latest rate-limits and cuts in overall local authority grants, tant task for socialists involved in local government is to massive resistance to rate-capping. This struggle could also be a crucial focus for saving the GLC and Met Counties from abolition.
Hackney South and Shoreditch Labour Party The political basis for resistance is 1) the refusal to pass on Tory policies in any form and services, nor increasing rents and rates, 2) the demand to restore the Rate Support Grant to the level of 1979, 3) non-compliance with the Rates Act 4) a refusal to seek individual solutions negotiations. authorities must rest on these prinmaking, it is time to put words into ac tion. We must make clear to the na. tional leadership of the Labour Party that we are determined to implemeni Labour Party policy and fulfill our obigations to the people who elected us. Their duty is to do the same.
Neil message, and John Cunningham have both taken their 'stand' - they would rather break the poor than break the law. Our response must be to follow th NUM's lead and oppose the Tories' at. tacks with every political force that th labour movement can muster.
councillors themselves will fail to stand And this taking illegal action. There is still time it's 18. 1 to call for their resignations 'without dishonour' and build a panel of comrades who are prepared to face the conof f6000 sequences.
with trade-unionists, to sack article has announcements on the most impor- can be Amount a choose -key services. — neither making cuts in jobs Unity between As we face the build-up to budgetKinnock in his New. Year's further evells, and rallies, The greatest danger is that Labour by manifesto commitments for fear of Labour Party activists need to unite council tenants and community groups and keep up the maximum political pressure on coun cillors. The question of tactical options can be subsumed within the broader ch. strategic approach. In Hackney, left is in a strong position having unite the Labour Group and Labour Parti around a deficit budget approach wi the final decision on tactics being left i the hands of Labour Group.
In some other London borough and amongst trade-unionists in Londo Bridge, comrades have opted for m fixing a rate as their fighting optio In all authorities, including the GL and ILEA, wherever one of the tacti won, councillors must brought into line.
The question is not which tactic what really matters is th each authority does choose one (cco ding to local conditions) and fights win. The strength and resolution of t movement united and totes and trade labor and town hall trade unions will decisive. Over the next few weeks the to negotiate with the government -priceed to negotiate away abs a issue here is we are If we take a united position fro the 19 January Greater London Labo rate-cappin which endorses the strategic appro» and both tactical options then our ne major target is the TUC Day of Acti on local government called 'Democr Day', on 6 March.
We should aim to contribute to d TUC Day of Action by consolidati our political campaign. Budget day on March which will also be a time f action. To build for Parties must alongside town hall trade unions, when take struggle too d movement, calling workplace meetin supporting communit sector initiatives, uniting with womer organisations, black groups and lesbis and gay groups.
And above all we need to link o struggle with the miners by holdi joint meetings, pickets power stations and so on. The miner ten months of heroic battle could greatly strengthened by our determis tion to defend the gains working da people have made through democra local government. And in turn, make our victory more possible together we can win! See you on 6 Ms
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BRIEFING NATIONAL SUPTLEMENT