THE recall 'Local Government in Crisis' conference held in London last weekend gave backing to the anti-Tory strike called by Lambeth trade unionists for first week February.
Though smaller than November's conference, delegates from trade union and Labour Party branches attended the January conTerence Since November Tories have continued their vicious attacks on all aspec"s OT the welfare state. The latest measures by the government aim to slash local services withholding government and restructuring the rating svstem to en sure that local strictly conform to Tory policies. in the by people have said we're jumping the gun by and caring strike action February, but fight we won't have a job left anyway. can who he likes into Lambeth commissioners or even Maggie herself won't find anyone to work with them. conference between the Tories in opposition, and ine bulk of the group.
wingers spoke against the Not no cuts isting services, and three abstained in the fina. vote.
But the key political debate - short as it was concerned by four Labour councillors to seek 'reterence back' of the proposed rate rise on the grounds that such a rate burden would fall mainly working class people in the borough. It would effectively be a cut-by-theback-door.
Moving the reference back, Neil Turner said working people would suffer from the rate increase because i would Delegates attending the 'No cuts, no rate and rent rises' fringe meeting that The conference agreed „LO organise solidarity if we don't week of begins on 2 February, and to support the demonstrastick tion called for 4 February.
Many but they cluding Ted Lambeth, had voted at the November conference for be completely covered by rate rebates.
In political terms, he arguca, me rale increase would offer greater the COntinued existence of the direct labour tion in Lambeth.
Both Turner and Steve Stannard asked the council leadership to say would whethel incl simply keep increasing LIc lales to compensate for Heseltine's reduced rate support and block grants, weetner the much-rumoured CUS would CUlC about in April 1981 Ted Knight refused to say anything in reply except that Lambeth had resisted making cuts far, and would not refuse this rate increase because the alternative would be take over the running of council.
He made no effort to support and Since then tor the lambeth action which the conference.
Labour sold councillors inVCeS.
Kniaht from unionists
fices in the of The government, nand anyone resolutions to oppose Tory Heseltine or local government poncies. he they have Knight, tlaunted the decisions o1 rate rises, councils have tion council houses increased rates, and cut ser- president Trades to make sacrifight the Tories, but according gle Vanessa Wiseman to Ted Knight councillors are exempt from the hardships of the class struggle.
Knight argued in favour councillors implementing Tory policies such as the sale of council houses.
fear of isolation from the corridors of local possible surcharging by the • Tories if they refuse to implement cuts, has led the Lambeth council leader away from policies which can defend jobs and living standards.
Control We intend to stav control in Lambeth and not over contro either to • the bankers, said. But despite the conference Tene one Cuts. no no sales' posiVanessa Wiseman, of Lambeth Council, outlined why everyone should support the stand taken by the Lancers unions. but she also criticised Knight for coing utte to make suce that the Lambeth Labour group were active in tne struggle At a lunchtime meeting she pointed out that it was not good enough for coun cillors to pretend that they implementing WEIG Tory policies. She argued that councillors should play their part in the strug and share the hard ships too. Prison 'Of don't want to go Vanessa saia 'but if you are ana vol Trades lines have be to Many were Wales Ray done Like Cross whole the Tories.
Despite of and his of action sacrifices to