people in Lambeth against each other and alienating the Labour council from both.
WARNING Warnings that this would be the result have been voiced in the Lambeth Labour Party for over a year now. They were raised even more forcefully at the recent Crisis in Local Government Conference which called on all Labour councils to adopt a no-cuts/no rate increase positon.
It was argued there that, if Labour wanted to retain the confidence of working people, it would have to stand up to the Tories in a head-on fight and not make one sector of workers the scapegoat for another.
ACTION?
If Lambeth had adopted that position, the situation would be different today. It would have been able to unite both tenants and local government unions in a common fight against the Tories.
It could have explained to them that they both have a common interest in fighting the Tory plans and it could have - at the same are fighting a common enemy.
our confusion time - drawn local shopkeepers in behind them.
If the Tories at Westminster had sent in the commissioners, it could have developed a mass campaign against them and sought to draw in workers in other areas hit by the Lul too.
FIGHTBACK The fact that Labour has squandered its chances, however, should iot be a source of pessimism. On the contrary, it should show growing numbers - who were previously unsure of the need to take on the Tories - that this was the only way forward.
Activists in the local unions, tenant associations and Labour Party should be fighting fiercely now for the no cuts/no rate increases position.
They should be arguing that the Labour council should reverse its disastrous policies, turn around and fight the Tories. signation of councillors who refuse to adopt this stance - and the election of those that will - should be a central part of such a campaign. istration announced its decision to advance a S50 million loan to the Polish But why, it might be asked, are they backing a regime which they have spent so much time attacking for its lack of "democracy"?
the Guardian with cynical frankness: "The crucial issue for Poland now is staclear indications that the government intends to govern - something which has not been done with any degree of conviction for the past six months."
Continued from Page 2. bour Solidarity Committee" declared as its aim reversing the special conference vo The grouping has won support from the right-wing union leaders of the AUEW and POEU who feel that the step forward in democracy could begin to undermine their own bureaucratic grip.
RALLIES The new grouping is busy holding rallies up and down the country to win support for their position. Naturally enough, such a campaign has won the A call for the re- uncritical backing of the Tory press. forced into such a campaign, however, is not a sign of their strength.
On the contrary, it is a sign of their growing isolation in the party as they find themselves increasingly out of ONLY last month, the Reagan adminthe West.
The answer was given only recently in threat to them That means, on the official side, .. LABOUR PARTY rank-and-file workers. ployment.
CAMPAIGN The fact that the right wing have been bloc vote is undemocratic. clear. It is saying that curbing the fight for democracy is not only in the interests of the bureaucrats in Poland but also in the interests of big business in They know only too well that - while they hypocritically pretend to back the fight by Polish workers for democracy -It woula, ll successiul. be a maior It could provide an inspiring example to workers in the west who are also dangerous fighting attacks on their living standards and democratic rights. It would show them that the labour movement - unitea and nim - can repel these attacks positions. touch with the aspirations and needs of They know that, as pressure from tne grassroots mounts, tnel room Iol implementing pro-capitalist policies -as they did under the last Callaghan government - will be ended.
They know that, as Labour leaders become accountable to the rank and file, they will not be able to ignore conterence decisions and cut social ser. vices, Ireeze wages and foster unem county This is why, though not joining their chums in the "gang of twelve", they have decided to launch their campaign against the special conference decisions.
They have maintained, ot course, that the election of the leader by the union Such a claim is not only hypocritical coming and solve the economic problems in the interests of the vast majonly Worse still, it would give the lie to their claim that socialism must, inevitably, end up with the repressive-type rule that exists at present in tastern turope It would show that workers can take over the country and run it democratically in the interests of all. At a time programmes - such a message is doubly That is why the so-called champions of democracy are pouring money hand over fist into Poland to back up the bureaucratic regime that exists there.
from figures who, in the past, never complained when it supported their It is also a lie. When they attack the union vote, they are attacking the right of working people - who founded the party - to determine what its policies and who its leader should be.
They want those rights reserved for a tew unrepresentative Mrs working lt collusion with unelected bankers, civil servants and maustrialists If the Labour Party is to fight off the challenge from the right - and extena the gains in democracv - it wil have to rely more and more upon its working class support up and down the It will only grow and develop if it shows these layers that it is prepared to fight for their interests. It is by building opposition to the jobless total, fighting the cuts and pioneering women's and Black rights that it will gain the backing of rank and file trade unionists whose support is vital.
to winning the original demands. SOCIALIST ACTION
----- pull-quotes -----
when they are faced with growing mili- tancy in the West - because of austerity