Build struggle to save London Transport

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Council this Tuesday, 12th, to raising London Transport fares in line with the Law Lords' judgment.

Fares are due to rise 100% on March 21. A further rise, later this year, will bring the total increase up to 200%. Special fares for the elderly are to be abolished.

Services will be cut by up to 25%, and some 5,000 plus jobs stand to be lost.

The London Labour Party Regional Executive had voted 25 to 7 to ask the GLC Labour group to defy the Lords. The Labour group voted 23 to 22 to support this recommendation (and its own manifesto).

But before that vote the Labour group had already decided not to impose a whip on the issue. Thus, even with most of the Tories abstaining, there was a 27 to 24 majority on the council for the fare rises.

The argument of the Labour fare-raisers was that defying the Lords could lead to surcharge. But, even if a few Tory-minded judges could declare Labour's chief GLC manifesto plank illegal, it is not so clear that the Tories could get away with sweeping penalties against Labour councillors for sticking to that manifesto.

London Transport unions are already discussing a one day strike against the cuts and fare rises. GLC Labour councillors met on Monday 11th with 35 trade union representatives who said they would support defiance. "All hell is going to break loose if this [fare rise/cuts package] is accepted" , said one NUR representative.

When GLC leader Ken Livingstone - who personally supported defiance - spoke on the issue public meeting in Da genham, the attendance was 400.

A strong fighting alliance can still be built between the London Labour Party, the loyal Labour councillors, the LT unions, and London passengers -one strong enough to beat the fare rises and cuts even now. Union blacking of the fare rise§cuts plan, coupled with a public campaign for mass refusal to pay the increases, could force the Tories and their bewigged friends to back down.

If not, it means a serious. cost of living increase, reduced services, and lost jobs, not only for Londoners, but probably also in many other areas.

Solihull Tory council is already taking the Labour West Midlands County Council to court over its MICHAEL Foot will have to shift himself a bit sharpish if he's not to lose valuable ammunition for his inquiries. Retiring Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall John Alderson has cheap fares, promised in last May's election like the GLC's were.

The Labour group has yet discuss the issue - but ordered the weeding out" of the files of the 30-strong Devon: & Cornwall Special Branch.

Among the several hunared files amassed over the last 20 vears are such group leader Gor 1 MI an has publicly romi that all decisior will 'within the law'l SPEAN HERE NOTICE: Saul REDUCED SERVICES Ilia ale all mime Na er raoplico nd TITAA. tas tan tegl»ie na amethid brode t: tiNin en nazid entries as X had meal Wedgwood Benn', This 'weeding out' is not unprecedented in human history. After a judicial inquiry into Special Branch records in South Australia, then premier Don Dunstan ordered the destruction most tecords chey included files, on mul Labour politicians a