Be the day that Labour councils and the metropolitan thorities took on the Tories. The reality was very ferent.
None of the four upper-tier authorities made a acision to defy the rate-capping laws. Instead, they ded for budgets and rate levels, that kept them within * law.
The lower-tier Inonues: which volCd oi io set a rate, have postcucoulol ether or not to obey the Hackney, with a hardresolution refusing to the Ichal lalc.
But a clear conclusion om Thursday's exercise presenting a united chalge to the govern ment is neither ed nor committed to a challenge.
The decisions by ILEA GLC, in parar. have made a verv beginning to the camgn. to defend local jobs services. They have mbled at the first real The GLC and ILEA ere correctly seen as the adership of the vaill"
gn. Their failure to conui the government by setting a rate will mean ai the lower-tier authorne make their caecsons ratecapping individually.
The declarations that the upper-tier authorities will not implement cuts in jobs and services, and the pledges oppose such cuts from Livingstone and others, is to be welcomed. But the GLC's refusal to give a clear lead is a real blow to the campaign.
Livingstone's argument that the GLC should not break the law. because it could avoid cuts with budget within the law, spurious. However, the refusal by John McDonnell and others to vote fora nocurs buacet waer lad ПОrate resolution had fallen, was lacuonal stupiditv.
The object of Jenkin's strategy was not to impose major cuts on local government this vear was to get the ratecapping machinery JILO place lor tue lulure.
The GLC and ILEA decisions have opened the door in this regard. The various lower-tier authorities, which have failed to scl a lale. will now confront the problem of running out of money at different times.
Dealing with the opposition one by one is precisely what Jenkin wants. DVCIl in these CasCo. the authorities are differently affected by the lalc cau. Some will get by with 'creative accounting few - it is not clear which yet — will face cuts.
The prospects for disunity are therefore greatly increased. The main point, however, is that the ratecapping machinery will be place, allowing the Tories to tighten the screw next year.
Jobs
The confrontation over lobs and services has been postponed, not avoided. The weakness snown lasi week, with Labour councillors urging each other 'you first' will encourage the 1 ories in their attack on local government. It will also assist those in the such Cunningpally, ham Kinnock, who have placed obedience to the law above jobs SCIVICCS The decisions of last July's local zoverreni conference, taken while the was ¡lilleis . forward, have not the first test. It is clear that if local government jobs and services are to be deTenced. une UnIons going to have to play a WUCHI alcalcl role than they have to date.
1 here can be no rellance on the Labour groups to lead this struggle. Some will fight: Others will attem Phe decisions not to set : to back off. a rate will rapidly be tested the courts. groups will again be faced with the choice of obeying the law or accepting ratecap The lesson the muders sInke gs cear ln this regard. It is far better fight with the sources at one's disposal, even if at the end of the day the Tories succeed. Every battle slows them down, and makes their full programme more difficult to realise.
The more Labour resists, the closer will be the general election, better-prepared will be for it. Thursday 7 March very bad beginning, , but it is by r. means the end The real tests will come when the axe talls on tob:
scrvices The local coveliell unons Will have to lead the way in resisting these attacks.
The main failure in the campaign far has been that the , URIOS. stituencies and the Labour groups oa ve Deel united in single camDalzl Liverpool showec the way in this regard, but the lesson IOU beer taken on board by many authorities.
The best way to ensure united campaign, prevent backshding by councillors, IS TO surround Tn f groups with the weight of the mass movement. We must learn the bad beginning the real battles are yet to come.
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OLLOWING THE 50,000 strong demonstration of position to rate-capping, Thursday 7 March was to