announced last year that it was going to make swingeing cuts -in response to the Tory reduction of the rate support grant - the reaction of the local Labour Parties was sharp.
The majority affirmed, at a specially-convened meeting in Vovember, that Labour was elected on a programme to extend the social services and not to reduce them in line with the Tory cuts' programme. A resolution - calling for a campaign around a no cuts/no rate increase position - was adopted.
Despite the councillors' vacillation, that position was accepted and a bold fight-back launched to mobilise Lambeth opinion against the Tory axe.
BACK-TRACK It was clear from the beginning, however, that the Labour council - led by Ted Knight - only launched the campaign under for the council to draw up its budget for 1980-81, it increasingly began to have cold feet.
Worried that its no-cuts position and its national reputation as the 'marxist rebel-led' council had placed it at the top of Heseltine's chopping list, it began to back-peddle. Quoting the dangers of confronting the Tories in isolation, Knight summed up the situation when he announced: "The strategy of a no cuts/no rate increase means that independent authorities would face bankruptcy"
Instead, in a document widely circulated to the four Lambeth Labour Parties, Knight argued for a substantial rate increase a a way of maintaining services and avoiding an isolated confrontation with the Tories.
UNDERMINED In the event, after discussion, the council decided not only to 49.4% but also rents by an average of £1.50 a week and to cut back on 'uncommitted' growth items. The net result of this about-turn will be to set back the whole campaign Lambeth so vigorously launched and to undermine its standing among wide layers of Labour supporters in Lambeth.
these increases inflation is soaring around 17% the burden of the present crisis to fork out more so that the Tories can make their tax concessions to the rich.
been able to "balance its books' the Tory axe falls twice as again by an even larger amount while imposing yet more rent rises and making bigger cuts?
However the Council poses it, at a time when FIGHTBACK - will pass onto working people Working people will be expected Moreover, while Labour has this year, what about next when sharply? Will it raise the rates yet dirty work? Ted Knight - reversed positions.
It is quite clear that, whatever Knight may say, it is quite utopian to think it will be possible to continue mobilising people against the Tories on the basis of cutting their living standards. Why should Lambeth residents support a Labour council which, instead of standing up to the Tories, actually ends up by implementing their Fortunately, the decision by diffused the struggle. Many Labour activists support a no cuts/no rate increases position as does Lambeth NUT, Lambeth Trades Council, CPSA Brixton DHSS branch and the Lambeth Fightback campaign.
SUPPORT The key task now facing Fightback - and Labour activists generally - is to continue to fight for a no cuts/no rate increases policy within the Labour parties and in the council worker unions. A bold attitude must be developed which can knit together wide forces to force Lambeth's Labour-controlled council to adopt a real fighting programme in the period ahead.
Unless this campaign is developed, the right-wing in the Lambeth Labour group will gain increasing ascendency and there will be a growth of demoralisation and apathy.
April 80