Support the 7 councillors

"CAMDEN LABOUR

IEFING

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SUPPORT THE 7 COUNCILLORS VOTING AGAINST RENT RISES.

The rent rise could not be justified as it was yet a further ¢ttack from the government passed on by the labour group. Council services and jobs have been slashed over the la 18 months. Despite promises of increased effeciency, what has beer left of council servivces has virtually collapsed. The building programme is at a standstill, repa and rehab is inexistant, sale of housing is policy, nurseries, day centres and libraries are closing,refuse collection, street cleaning and home helps are being yet further reduced.

The primary responsability for ti cuts lies with the Tory Governmeni but the fact remains that cuts in jobs and services and increases ir charges and rents are being implemented by the Labour group. seven councillors should be suppo for refusing to go along with yet another kick in the teeth of work and tenants in Camden. Their stanc means that they now have the credibility to help tenants associations fight the new housing laws.

This rent rise is part of the budge put forward by the Labour Group. Th budget is another cuts exercise drafted by accountants as the Labou Group has no political left but to remain in affice-at any cost. The Labour Group has been able to reduce the budget gap of £25 million throu: the use sale of housing and other properties. The remaining gap (probably £10 million) will be clas by some £4 million cuts in services and maintaining a vacancy rate otf 10%. But in order to manage these cuts, the Labour Group is consideri awarding huge pay rises to attract and retain the Chief Officers

After last year's masive cuts, socialists can no longer ask Camden tenants and workers to pay more for yet less services. The Tory Government does have the money to meet the needs of Camden. It has it, but it is giving it away in tax cuts to the rich, in bailing out nationalised industries for privatisation, and continuing a massive armed force with nuclear weapons, Last year, the nurses forced the government to cough an extra £2 billion for the NHS though industrial struggle. Labour Councils with the unions and the party could do the same. But this option has been turned down because the leadership of the labour Group and the Party believe that it is impossible to win, and therefore we should not fight. In fact, there is no political will to

Tight.

Fred leplat (Somers Town)

Unilateralism: __ Kinnock comes out

Kinnock’s television announcement that unilateralism will be abandoned at the October Conference is a deciaration of war on Party activists. .- .*

Livingstone has wamed in the past that

a move would plunge the Party into 4 vicious round of in-fighting. Between now and October he will be proved right. -

Kinnock's statement has set the media agenda. Issues such as the NHS, or Tory weakspots such as food hygiene, will slip off the political agenda as the media asks yet again: “Can Kinnock get rid of unilateralism?"

Kinnock will be headlined for a bout with Ron Todd that will be Second only to that of Bruno and Tyson...

Kinnock Is confident, because he believes the Policy Review cari:provide him with victory in his battle to deliver what the papers want.

An unamendable paper abandoning _ . ceiiaheralints Wilh curio Wie vote arven skein confidence. This vote will supercede any Conference decisions on policy resolutions.

Kinnock also thinks that the T@WU June | . Conference can be used to give him outright | victory by overturning their unilateralist policy of 30 ! - years standing. . Labour Briefing w™ onists who are fighting to defend the -~-eatSt commitment. We urge alll other currents on the left to do'likewise. |” Our response must be fourfold. We must: send resolutions to Walworth Road rea Kinnock’s statement; *promote unilateralism at the summer trade union conferences; : ’ eprloritise unilateralism for Conference’ ° resolutions; «°- arenes . cand demand the right to amend Policy Review documents. =A : Now of all times, when Gorbachev is actually cutting back‘on arms, is not'the time to abandon unilateralism for the tired'old ideas of the last ©

CAMDEN AGAINST THE POLL TAX

PUBLIC MEETING : { Tuesday 14 March, 7.30 ' Council Chamber with speakers from

FIGHT THE POLL TAX local unions and tenants associations.

With Labour in the lead or the last opinion poll, now is the t:me to to Get your Labour Party or Union branch seize the iniative against the atiliated and help out leafleting. Tories. The Poll Tax isa deeply Next planning meeting : Tuesday 14, unpopular measure which could be the 8pm at the Camden TU Unit, Eversholt focus of a mass united campaign Street. Or contact David Grace, 13b against the Tories. The Poll Tax will Murray St, NW1, 485 3690.

mean a cut in the living standards of workers and tenants and will open the door to futher cuts in council

services. It will also mean council Sarurp ay (2 MARCH -

staff being turned into tax snoopers

to ensure everybody is registered and BroapwaTeR Fran Derence ~ paying.

CAMPAIGN = DEMONSTRATION: We need to go beyong well meaning

declarations. A campaign of active | Sat. 18th. Broadwater opposition and non-cooperation by | Farm Defence Campaign. tenants associations, unions and neh hor nab labour councils would throw the Pull convictions. Assemble 12 Tax into chaos. So far, it has been | ee left to a handful of socialists to (Seven Searels start the campaign. Every Labour 243, 123, 279, 259, 149, Party member should help out with the earns hoagie campaign. Every tactic should be used i Rally, with Irish in Brita ig : non-registration and non-payment, Represéntation Group, committees of 100, boycott by council _ 3pm, Duckett’s Common staff, etc.. But now mass leafleting eae aera and campaigning is necessary +o Speakers include Bernie explain the issues to the community Grant, Unmesh Desai, and council workers. perm ict : Convictions! March for ~ The labour group has washed its hands justice! of the Poll Tax by leaving v2 to Chiet Officers to introduce it. Not even a declaration stating “that regretably the council had introduce this tax but the government is to blame" has been issued. The labour group has not even dared larnch a Next Canpen LaBour PReFING. campaign with other councils such as the one the Tory councils ix Kent Monpay 20 MARCH , 8pm. have set up against “haiinel Tunnel Rail Link to wh. aey voted Swiss COTE Connie’ Centre. #1 million. The anger that does exist 1 the Topic for discussion: working class at the Tory attacks : " must be turned into action The New Times for Labour or

Tories are now loosing their confidence with the crises of the NHS, Water Privatisation, inflation, interest rates, student loans, etc. Civil disobedience on a massive scale against the Poll Tax would put the Tories on the retreat.

Same old struggle i