Labour Conference Call to Action Against Heseltine Straitjacket

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had strongly opposed both cuts and also rate and rent increases.

"Whatever stance is taken - cuts or rate increases - it is the working class that has to pay," aruged the Toxteth CLP speaker.

Rates 'Rate increases offer no alternative. Savage rate increases produce widespread indignation while still not preserving services," stressed the Sunderland delegate, seconding composite 40.

The composite: was opposed by the NEC however, and was defeated on a show of hands despite securing the support of the Knight of course has been one of those who have set the pace in using large rate increases in a bid to compensate for Tory cuts in rate support grant and thus preserve services.

His appeal for action referendum tresh elections before increasing rates was therefore an appeal from the heart. Heseltine's policy is aimed precisely at cutting off his chosen line of retreat.

And as he stressed, the issue is an immediate one facing Labour councils.

"We can't wait until the next General Election: every Labour council must make its budget for next year under the terms of this legislation if we don't defy It means they must either decide to make massive cuts at the expense of working class families or decide they cannot carry out Heseltine's dictates.

We must say to Labour councils: you cannot be mere administrators of Tory policy!

We must say to Heseltine that Labour councils are not going to balance their books at the expense of social services.

And Knight correctly pointed for the need for trade union action to defeat the new laws:

"If we are going to protect jobs in local authorities - and Heseltine wants us to sack 250,000 - then we must call on the unions to stand firm and back councils that fight Heseltine."

A number of speakers pointed out Heseltine's attack on local democracy, and attempt to make new Labour councils repudiate their mandate. As one West Midlands councillor pointed out:

"Heseltine means we must either turn round to the electors and say "we lied" or we must fight."

Plainly the Shadow Cabinet, the NEC majority and sections of union leaders would have preferred the first option. But when the emergency resolution from Norwood was put to the vote it was decisively carried.

It commits the Party to "mount a major campaign to defeat the proposed legislation. Should this fail, Conference believes that Labour councillors must refuse to make the cuts that ate the struggle of Labour will be needed to balance the books.

of their members joining the Conference, therefore dole queues, to use their calls on the National Exec utive Committee to co-ordin councils in this fight." to fight cuts by industrial action The task now both in councillors making this local Labour Parties and in stand, and calls on the trade local authority unions is to unions, who face thousands ensure that this formally correct policy is carried out in practice. strength to defend Labour

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Socialist Organiser, Thursday 1 October 1981 Page 4 After getting BRIGHTON "81 xi: • .

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against Heseltine's new plans to force councils to go to a

ленся 1982 BOG