What does make it different, he considers, is that the Labour left would use LILL campaign against the Tory government ana all to speca lie of Labour government' He sees danger, though, that 'the left wil think everything is going to change and they will no doubt be disappointed when they see the GLC implementing a completely reformist programme.
But there will be areas, genever Labour GLC will have to acry lne dory government, particularly in cutting the price of school meals and Transport fares.
The London Labour Party has also agreed Lo vooost parliament's likely deciLe arisici housing estates to borough councils.
Right One problem will be the the Labour right. Ken Livingstone exwoll, the Tribunites would have IlalloW Lne Labour group. In a situa tion we did was illegal and we ran the risk of surcharge, the right would vote with the opposition.' So how would the left Transport: Any resistance to the fares cut from be directed at Tory MPs in seats with large numbers of BR commuters Unemployment: We must introduce a 35-hour week for all manual staff as a firm policy for job creation:
Housing: All revenue-funded improvements must be agreed in full consultation with tenants. who wome rave a velo power scheme. Rents should be frozen.
Local projects: The GLC should take over the funding of organisations such as law centres, communily relations councils, tenants and other community bodies which have their funding stopped or cut by local councils.
Civil defence: We are commited to ending the so-called civil defence programme and to campaign for unilateral disarmament Campaign: The GLC must become an active campaigning body which explains its policies in a sympathetic fashion which avoids jargon. Democracy: Each constituency labour party and trade union should be invited to send an observer to the full Labour group meeting of each GLC committee. The GLC must produce a free newspaper for distribution CalE organise public meetings in each constituency so that members can report back.
We are in a long dand bitter struggle with the government the outcome of which will be determined miscalculations of the Tories as by our positive actions.
by a campaign over any particular HOLSCHOO and the untorseen election campaign the and "reds' in County Hall. But he convinced that the election will be decided on the programme Labour is putting forward 'We can defend higher expenditure and igher rates. After fou of Horace Cutler the Tory GLC leader, provisions have been dramatically cut.
Unless we can show a measurable improvement in service rather than just another increase in the size the bureaucracy, could suffer a massive loss of support.
Jobs Londoners will go to massive interase in the massive increase rates in April. his will be will react to this shown not just by the GLC elections. As Ken says, 'At the end of our first year the London borough elections will also be influenced by rate increases in April 1982 and by how effective our policies have been in im proving the quality of life for Londoners.' The Labour manifesto for London may not be any different from previous election platforms but at a time of savage cuts public expenditure it improvement lo nousing or the environment.
"The council will have no alternauve but lo lead a massive and conticampaign to mobilise public opinion and force the reversal of these policies.' As Ken Livingstone the working class does not expect Labour to be anything other than the lesser of two evils, given its past record. But a Labour GLC pledged to carry out its programme by mobilising the labour movement confront the Tory government may begin to change that.
The south bank of the Thames may not seem a likely battleground to con front the Tories. There certainly won't be a red flag flying from County Hall on 8 May. And a vote for Labour may not mean cut on London Trans •More council a vote for a rates increase but a vote to kick out a Tory GLC.
Yet such a vote, linked to support for struggles of trade unionists, tenants, women, youth and black people, has to be part of River Thames don household paying another £1 a week rates by 1983-4'.
Socialist Challenge 26 March 1981 Page 3
on jobs.
Rail's of which inof
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the tories on bon sides of these Riser.
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