New Labour Group: Which Way For Left

THE NEW LABOUR GROUP : WHICH WAY FOR THE LEFT ?

For the past two years, the leadership of the Labour Group has been in an

alliance with the right wing. The results of the Mey Labour Group ACM marks a shift to the left. Heny menzars of the leacership sitply ran cut of patience with the right wing whe had forms e ; a rant Committees. They becane 1 r 2} c th 7 oe : created by the right wing in relation to indus al and comunity relations, ard the right wing's blatant anti-equal Opportunies position.

However, it would be a mistake to believe there has as a resuit been a shift of policy on the part of the leadership. The B: }

remain in place and there is still an absence <x gevernzent and ongoing legislation. This is in te oF bat the next

12 months will be decisive for the Labour Party in Local Government.

The Poll Tax simply closes dawn cptions. It prevents even the charade of spending being directed at those in greatest need bacause it i Feaple in greatest need who will be forc the 3 neil services. Thare is Conservat the work nities of Carden, but representatives. Labour authorities should be Looking at ways of not implementing this Tax, and linking up with those prepared to refuse to pay.

othe Housing Act could well mean the end of snciall> responsible housing, and the Local Government & Housing Bill will put council rents out of reach of those most in need. It places local authorities in the position of Rachmans, forced to inflict the increases and prosecute those who cannot pay.

The continuing privatisation of Council services will remove control of those services from the local communities and places them under the direct control of private capital. It will mean continuing jab losses and continuing collapse in the quality and the range of services.

We have argued for the past two years that the cuts are totally unacceptable, and that service provision based on the dictates of the market place is a contradiction in terms for the Labour Party, After the defeat of the miners and the rate-capping campaign in 1985 and the re-election of the Tories in 1987, many comrades felt that Thatcher could not be defeated and on that basis went for the "limited damage" option. The Euro-election results, the surge in militant industrial action, and the disaray of Lawson and Thatcher over the ever increasing present financial mess demonstrates that the Tories can be beaten,

Ve will continue to argue against any further cuts and align ourselves with those workers and comminities who are bearing the brunt of Tory policies. This forms the basis of our position within the Labour Group and the Labour Moverent.

[f we are to be successful in re-aligning the Council towards our workforce and the communities, we must begin the process of building resistauce to the oncering Tory les Pion iz lately, We are totally committed tc re-building the links : * Council and the Party, betwaen Socialism and the working class, sad becween a programme of direct resistance and the entire comunity. We ask you to join us in this campaign,

& August 1989

Councillors Kate Allen, Angie Birtill, Graham Goode, Mary “Yelsdon, Caroline Holding, Dave Horan, Glkoria Lazenby, Sandra Plummer, Graham Shurety and Adrian

States.