rally, ERIC front-line council.
SITUATION in Liverpool similar Poplar Ine I9zUS At that time, when the problems unemployment were being thrust on local authorities. one aynamic eriors decided they a had group of Labour enough. They refused to the then-London way County unc Council.
They. did so because they were having to bear the cost of the very high levels of unemployment in Poplar Dorolen. They broke the law and they were imprisoned.
By doing that they actually helped to change the As a result of that action in Poplar, the government were forced to bring in legislation a sort of equalisation of the rate — meant the rich Lonborougns were nelpng pay for the levels of the poorer ones with the highest levels unemployment.
Liverpool are acting in WiTh the spirit of Poplar council. They're level of in Liveradmiration of the labour movement for its deterLiverpool pool is far too high. The government has, the same time, the rate CUL support grant, and cul lne housing investment programme - while there are thousands of unemployed workers, 20,000-odd on the housing waiting list, and all the slums waiting to be dealt with. Liverpool has also urban aid programme cut.
said, quite rightly, enough is enough. We have to get off our knees fight. They KnOW Ines be bankrupted disqualified under brought in in 1927 (and, incidentally, three Labour governments since have not got rid of that legislation). But they are going to tight. This very courageous.
Of CourSC. the press has said it's just a small OCCUC dominated by the Militant tendency. The fact is that seven our or ine Ji councillors suDDOrIerS The overwhelming mass of Liverpool council is not Militant tendency. Some of those who are not, in my opinion, are stronger and ШОГО determined than those who are.
The Labour council of Liverpool, backed by SubDUlLCIs. have decided this government's committee of the Labour Party NEC. It Apriio before the national executive on 25 pool council.
rate support by the Thatchei Controlle problems and they are.
Liverpool City Council creases are necessary.
policies have to be firmly challenged. They are rightly saying that what Liverpool is doing this. year, most LaDou authorities because of the government policy of rate capping, will be faced with next year.
recently passed by seven votes to one at the This NEC understands the circumstances which have led to the situation of no budget from LiverIt acknowledges that the Labour Group have proposed a nine per cent rate increase. We condemn the cuts that have been made to the housing investment gramme allocation and the operation of penalties Or government which have helped to to Liverpool's severe problems , problems which have been further aggravated by the previous Liberal/Tory administration in the city.
We recognise that Liverpool Labour Group have fully consulted the trade unions and have also had meetings with the public explaining the city's why the councillors are acting We acknowledge the stand made by the Group recognise that this has been caused by government They are right not to agree with sacking staff and to have at the same time accepted' that rate inIn the circumstances we believe that Liverpool have acted within Labour's conference policy and therefore we pledge ourselves to give all the supwe can to resolve the present impasse. The sent situation in Liverpool lies with this Conservative government, and therefore we demand that they should provide in this unique situation the the leader and deputy leader of Liverpool council. Eric Heffer with John Hamilton and Derek Hatton - Shot. TIM DIODI
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mined stand against Thatcher's local government cuts. True to his pledge at the city's Democracy Day
chairperson of the Labour Party, recently put for- ward a resolution calling on the National Executive Committee to pledge its full support for the coun- cil's stand. He told Socialist Action why Labour's national leadership must be 100 per cent behind the
The following resolution in the names of Eric Heffer and David Blunkett, was newly established local government sub-
NEC therefore believes that the blame fos thensee- necessary financial support.