ANGER ERUPTED last Tuesday when Hackney Council decided to set a rate. Local trade unionists and activists occupied the council chamber and, the following day, there was no doubt that the unholy alliance of right-wing Labour with the Liberals and Tories would pass a cuts budget.
The spending. Dialis outlined by 'moderate' Millwood involve mimon 'negative contingency' ie unallocated CULS .. and rely on as vet unpromised money from GLC and the District Health authority, together with the sale of commercial property finance current expenditure.
As a resut local neonle will have to pay an average £1.03 everv WCCA Icic for the 'privilege' of lousy Sol vic.
The worst crime of the Labour right is their attack those who voted them into let down the other councils Liverpool Lambeth who looked Hacknev as an examole. It is also a slap in the face for Labour activists who, . over a week before, reaffirmed the no-rate Borough Conference. Not right-wing LILE THIS YEARS CPSA conference took place amidst councillors had argued their position, indeed they voted to re-elect the counleadership. Wednesday's vote was truly negation of both accounRuth Gee Tably Deputy Leader of ILEA — attempted al guc and Chris Bertram following the sell-out, that councillors were bound by a four-year old maniesto anu mitment 'the electorale . Where nave vou heard those arguments before?
The council leadership has resigned. It is a correct the other left-wing councillors of have declared that they will fight ine implemenlation of a cuts budget. It is good that they have done But while the left is united in its condemnation of the nervous about a public breach in Labour's unity But it is the scabs who have DIcacicu Labour is not to pay the price must publicly break with the right and fight in an unconditional with community groups to prevent the implementation of cuts. In this respect, , Hilda Kean's condemnation of Tuesday's occupation gave the wrong signal. Yes, we will also replace the scabs, but it world be both and counterproductive to subordinate the struggle against cuts to the internal battles of the party.
Many ask: what went wrong? In the end dustrial action could have defeated That it did not occur is not the fault of either local trade unionists or the left councillors all of whom fought bravely and at considerable personal risk The left councillors did lead the campaign in the BOTOLHIS national Labour Party and unions that should have taken on the responsibility. By refusing to MANDS DF fight, Kinnock and Willis TE DOURS
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despite appeals from council leader Hilda Kean, refused to leave. When the meeting was reconvened