Bradford setback
Socialist Organiser1982 1982-05-13Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 6 →
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LABOUR has lost overall control in Bradford. Labour and the Tories now each have 42 seats. The Tories won some of the inner city wards and snatched four other seats in Eccleshill, Thornton, Queensbury and Wibsey.
One of Labour's old right wing stalwarts, Councillor John Ryalls, was quick to claim that militants in the Party were responsible for the lost seats. The reality is, by Cheung of course, quite the reverse.
The elections follow closely the new Labour budget for 1982, complete with £2.30 • rent increases and an 18% rate rise. These attacks on workers' living standards typify a year of Labour control marked only by the complete failure to lead any fight against the Tories.
Two weeks prior to the the Labour Group expelled three socialist counSiu Ming cillors who had broken the whip to vote against rent and rate increases.
The expulsion was an arrogant slap in the face for the District Party which had carefully considered the question and, following a three-hour debate, overwhelmingly rejected any disciplinary action. The question of accountability of Group to District Party is central to the fight to break the right wing control of the Bradford Labour leadership.
However the other important aspect of the election has been the strengthening of the left on the new Labour Group. : Socialist Organiser supporter Barry Turner won the biggest Labour majority in all 30 seats contested when he captured the Bradford Moor seat back from the SDP (lost as a result of a Labour defection).
The campaign was fought on a clear policy of opposition to recent rent and rate increases and the immediate need to remove the Tories. Three election bulletins argued for a socialist programme and perspective on cuts, unemployment and rent and rate rises, calling for the independent mobilisation of tenants and workers through the formation of tenants and community associations and the trade The election campaign culminated on Thursday with over thirty activists working in the ward to achieve a majority of over 1,400 for Labour.
OR BASINGSTOKE last week