Defend local government | Socialist Action 1983

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THE LABOUR PARTY in Blackpool last week endorsed a strategy of confrontation with the government over its proposals on local government.

The first resolutions passed. It called for a joint Party/Trade conference to formulate strategy. The second resolution, from Liverpool Broadgreen and Walton CLPs, gave support to any council which was forced to break the law as a result of Tory policies and also argued against massive rate rises. This resolution passed against the advice of the NEC, which argued for remission. Two other resolutions called for national demonstrations, a lobby of Parliament, non-cooperation with the abolition of the GLC and the Metropolitan Counties.

The issue before Conference was what kind of opposition the would endorse.

Derek nanon, leader Liverpool City Council, support delegates when he pointed had given Mrs Thatcher bloody nose, by taking her on openly.

Rodney creckerstafte general secretar NUPE, accused the Tories OI double standards campaigning for a ballot in the miners' while simultaneously abolishing local council elections. He argued that 'The question is not do we break the law? But what laws obey?'. He won the trade union vote on this issue.

had no doubts about the need for confrontation with the government and Rates Act. Neil Kinnock Shadow Environment Secretary John Cunningham were not in favour of this. Even after the debate, was pointing out that this was 'not what Neil and I have been arguing all along.' It is clear that any council which breaks the law wil not have support from this quartel except to get them back within th law.

Activists must campaign all the harder to implement conference policy on this issue. Keith Vaz, the Yolack see- CLPs voted for tions steering candidate for the NEC They were Lewisham East, Birmingham Ladywood, Ealing Southall, Hackney South Shoreditch, Norwood Guildford, Reigate, Surrey North West, Bristol East This amounted to 12,000 YULE Whatever the constitutional position of the Labour Party, black peoblack sections are here to • are on the move anc sLa.