Socialist Challenge talks to GLC leader KENLIVINGSTOI London - Bright lights can't hide the big problems. Insert: Will central government cutbacks have Londoners walking the rai on industry and employment.
Now we will start to develop concrete policies.
With the exception of the defeats we suffered around the reduction in the cost of school meals and the transfer estates. the rest or ine OTOgramme has gone through, although with a lot resistance And it's not surprising that we lost on those issues.
With only a majority eight in the council, there is no prospect in the GLC for a direct surcharge risk. It's restraint that we're locked into.
Unless there is massive pressure and popular support, councillors will iust not SOle put themselves in such a position.
So how do you see such support developing?
The GLC newspaper has gone off to press. We are planning a series of autumn meetings Lonaon, and national around the attacks local government le need to organise tha support round a broa gramme of activity.
The GLC is convening conference in autumn of trade unions to discuss the coming controntation with the government and how we can defend oll tourname How you see the out come of such a confrontation?
Socialist Challenge 27 August 1981 KEN Livingstone, Labour Greater London Council leader is never out of the news royal weddings, hunger strikers, gayrights - you name it and the press has gone to There's no doubt that both the left and the right have been looking to the GLC since Has it carried out its pledges in the manifesto? Is it giving a lead to the struggle Can a local or county council have any real power? These are the questions that are The experience of the Labour GLC is parHeseltine's latest proposals against local authorities are being put into shape in time for the local elections next May. Tessa van crushed into the ground, totally ment, either by defeating them pronosals is that thev ›o l1 everyining goes accor ling to the Torie willect next years bugger which will have results for Labour in the local elctions in May.
There has of pressure on the Parliamentary Labour Party — MPs must be forced to stand up and fight.
Then if the legislation does go through, Labour councils should not make any cuts whatsoever. of They have then to be prepared to take quences of such action.
Finally we have to demand that all unions suport such action — not just the public sector unions but also the industrial ones.
Such support has to involve industrial action. If the government gets through all posals and faces London the sort of cuts facing Lothian council, we'll be going into major struggle with hundreds non or long or cołe It's easy to criticise Lothian council. It's heen singled with no real support outside the in Immeaale arca, except verbal support.
It has a majority of one in council and a majority of one pro-. of the left in the Labour group.
Any refusal to make cuts will result in defections.
I'm not prepared to go down the Lothian road.
we need to discuss a lot of these questions out, especially over the leche ni totec Increased. should discussion inside the London Labour Party to sort out our , plans, this devastating be major the conseposition over rates in the light its pro- Heseltine's vith strategy for local authorities.
of When you first came into office in May this year, did you think it would be such either/or you'll defeat ment or they'll defeat you?
We've been really surprised at the way the media but tinued to attack me.
The Mail, Express, London New Standard, they opposition propaganda sheets.
stop their obsession and nich our nolitics forward I'didn't expect that from the press. I thought I'd be a nineup day wonder.
I've always assumption that you could get least proposed of an situation? Either the governhas conthe left.
are all ust We have to As me it like Benn Don't worked the across So we have to ind saye message ot preventing the continuation the thoughts of Ken Livand really start pushing what we're doing. degree.
itself.
How significant do you see the campaign for Benn for cerned capital, of capital.
The right wing see it as much government more crucial in the GLC than the of ken Livinght one is tinked The right time to to what happens to Benn.
for the policies Benn campaign: the alternative economic strategy is a stage the anna move carolyaku me wrong, I'm not critical of Benn. He's an expression of the present move- support, ment within the DarLY.
I'm opposed to import conhave to use them to a limited But it's a minor aspect not an economic strategy in We should be more the control of preventing the export But if we did have a Labour Benn as Prime minister. would still find itself locked in the same restraints as we are in the GLC at the present time.
If the rail strike goes ahead, possible London Transport will come out in which may well break Prior's law. would your reaction to that be and what would London Transport do?
If the rail strike goes ahead, neither the London Transport will break that strike. support their demands.
The reason why British Rail can't pay is because the government has cut the subsidy.
We've offered more money to British Rail to cut fares but we haven't been allowed because of government policy.
You've hit the headlines once again, this time over positive discrimination. Can you say something about
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its election in May of this year. against the Tory government?
Gelderen spoke to Ken Livingstone to find out how he sees the present situation.
into before r'å make any cpos