and jobs and Britain the 20 private firms paid no tax at all ast year so their only direct contribution to the provision public services was via the rates. This is the reason that industry and commerce have been demanding that the Tories change the rating systemsen their fas agreed to do under the guise restricting Tale increases new legislation which he intends push through parilament before next year's rate making has several features which hit Latesavers Heseltine will decide how much each council should spend.
If councils spend more, then the extra spending ratepayers with commerce only London next year the aver London next year E0.0t a were in order to keep £1.07 a week in order to fares at the present level the new system the cost would be f2.65.
Those councils most above the new Tory ruidelines woulc lave to double the rates next yeal for domestic ratepayers or make cuts in services on a scale which IOss 0l a quarter of a million jobs.
Already SULLIC easurers are talking about rer creases of f6 a wer fares and massive redundancies for teachers firemen, transport workers and other council staff If council fails to make the THE LABOUR Party finds itself in a dilemma. For years we have increased the rates in order to provide services to minimise rent and fares increases. Because over 50 per cent of rate income is from industry and commerce there has been a redistribution of wealth in favour of ordinary people flowing from this policy.
largest cuts then the extra quired is to come in the form of a supplementary rate OI Will C referendum.
To ask ordinary families to double their rates while wages are pegged at a 4 per cent would be as now making the cuts required in order to avoid the rate increase The This requires Labour also to revise our strategy. place we must fight the legislation with every means possible. at must also reconvene those First bodies which manifesto in order to determine a resourse cumstances. fall There is no way in which can fudge the issue or muddle domestic through. There comrades who will argue that we average should resign from the Tories make the cuts and boycott the resulting by-elections but or contest the elections grounds that we will refuse to take our seats.
Such a course would be completely wrong. It would leave the workers in each council exposed to massive attacks because Ordinary families munity would never understand council why the Labour Party failed to defend them and doubling resist the cuts alone.
leeds to be changed in respons to the government and the situation in which evils.
By them taKe Tate ncrease.
income re•subiect to a Grant.
MCCast unacceptable full rates posals from the In the first services and jobs drew up the and community to these changed cir.
1s now ano ev will be their members jobs.
paign must councils, let possible behind our stand.
on the back Heseltine's new law. nOW practice.
they in the comilay left them to ception of Norman This anti-trade basis of our policy ment.
Reprinted find Split te ule Is split dowl the middle between taking Lothian implementing cuts and taking a line of opposing cuts one way or the other.