'MANY Labour Councils have joined the campaign against the missiles by declaring their borough nuclear free zones. pose anything to do with missiles affecting their areas. titude to the Tory cuts and declare their area 'no cuts zones"."
Challenge makes no bones about what will be necessary in the fight against the Tory cuts and is a must for all activists involved in that fight.
Lothian councillors have realised too late: that in order to fight the cuts we have to build a movement actually to get rid of the Tories.
•While the Tories remain in government and they control the amount of money which local authorities can send inere zs virtually no hope of maintaining our services. This is far from saving that must sit back and wait for INE TERRE DECEORI government.
On the CREEKS F. means locul authority trade unionists and Labour Party members playing their part bullding a movement to bring dOWn the Tories.
Only this kind of action can create the conditions which will prevent new Callaghans and Healeys doing the Tories cutting for them".
They will opThey should take the same atThe new pamphlet produced by Socialist The pamphlet points out what the The Tories will pull no punches and their action in penalising the Lothian councillors should come as no surprise. That is why, the pamphlet points oll resistance to cuts will lareely depend on the m transipence and determination of the unions.
It is only by organising in the unions, in the comMAILLY level that any Labour council can begin a successful resistance.
And that TEN ACE should not just stop there: *A BETTE government has to be comWHER TORE TETOrTOR of all the cuts made since 1974; the cancellation of all debt charges; the nationalisation of the banks and finance houses without compensation and workers control. launching of a massive programme public service building. However, This programme can only DELONE fightback starting now against the cuts and their etfects.
What is needed is the widest possible discussion inside the whole of the labour movement on how best to defeat the policies of this Tory HUNTERCE The pamphlet provides a comprehensive PEWEESE me for fighting the cuts.
*No cuts, по rate SSES This is what we say should be fought for. It is possible drainst the fory cuts and fightback go ahead and put up the rates in the meantime so as CHEETECT SPEWED and jobs. Many supporters of this approach genuinely want to protect services and jobs and also get rid of the Tories at the earliest opportunity.
*They also recognise that one authority on its own cannot defeat the Tories central more than one pit could have effectively defeated the Tory proposals to close the mines.
In 1980, the ruling Labour group in Lamdeched at Test Kill national response and a conference was held on / November. This was ar tended by over TEUTENERE ting trade union branches the local CHENBSTIES ties, A fighting programme to combat the cuis was The main points were:
They agreed that loca authorities should take an uncompromising against government policies, and commit themselves now to:
• No cuts in jobs and services; no running down of direct labour.
• No rent or supplementary rate rises this financial year, and no rent or rate rises to compensate for government cuts.
• Reversal of deci sions to sell council houses or housing land.
• То work local anti-cuts committees and community to build local support among resi dents This should be carried out in conjunction trade unionists taking action to:
• Defend jobs and services by opposing redundancies. redeployment, natural wastage etc. by any action necessary.
• Hold strikes and occupations as soon as any Labour council faces receivers or com missioners, or is surcharged for making a stand on cuts • Refuse 19 cooperate ment legislation such as sales, and with management whenever cuts are volved.
'The conference also resolved to call on the Labour Parry national ex ecutive and the TUC for support for this campaign. no cuts.
Rob Jones Socialist Challenge