Councillors dodge fight against the Tories

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Socialist Press by post "A slump is inevitable from this government's policies. The solution if your markets are falling away is to spend more money-like Roosevelt did in the 1930s."

Thus spoke Alan Fisher at a rally and demonstration called by Coventry District Labour Party and the Coventry Trades Council last Saturday.

The demonstration was called to coincide with the national conference of Labour Councils convened by Coventry Council to organise a united opposition to the Tory cuts.

World War 2 Fisher's open espousal of the capitalist New Deal is not only historically inaccurate-the real driving force behind the temporary recovery of the US economy was of course the preparations for the Second World War-it is also extremely dangerous for may he taken in by his mintant credentials.

Perhaps sensing *the inadequacy of his "solution" to current economic problems he went on to answer the much asked minortion: "Whors: will the More ATTI TA. 'money come from expand public spending?"

• Defence He gave three answers:

One, cancel the £1,000 million paid annually to the + Top: EEC; two, don't implement plans to compensate Rhodesian landowners; three, cut defence expenditure.

As if clear commitment to tinkering with the capitalist economy were not pathetic enough, he went on to cal strongly for rate increases:

"Labour councils must be honest and say this. If the government prevents it •Labour Councillors ought to resign en masse and go back to the electorate"

Six issues:...

Three months (12 issues). Six months (25 issues). One year (50 issues) .. EUROPE Six months (25 issues). One year (50 issues) ... REST OF THE WORLD Six months (25 issues).. One year (50 issues) ..:

What would happen then, Fisher didn't tell us: But he hinted at the possibility of a national revolt against the government.

"More AHA's should have followed Lambeth and Southwark", he argued; "if the lot had refused to implement the cuts then it would have made all the difference -it would have been worth fighting for."

Strikes

In the whole of his speech there was not one word about direct action such as occupations or strikes to stop the cuts.

But, of course, this is not surprising, since fisher is bitterly opposed to action 'TION RAI to outh 1HR GIVEN U of this kind.

• His preoccupation-lik that of Callaghan -is to wa for a general election.

"What a pity we can have an electio tomorrow", he moaned.

He did, however, offi one ray of hope for thos reeling under the Thatche Joseph axe-by-elections.

"The by-elections wi ill show what mandate th le Tories have, and whẹn w re get a general election w we need to elect a governmer it which will support the alte native strategy proposed b Luckily for those who d not have the advantage ‹ of living in Tory seats whic might fall vacant at som le time in the next five yea IS £1.80 £3.60 • £7.00 £13.00 £8.00 £15.00 £9.00 £17.00 IT VANDA BUNT' Fisher did have a more general programme for action for everyone.

"The most important message of this rally is that this is a battle we've got to fight-demonstrations, lobbies, send a letter to your MP.

"We have a massive movement which must not lose its steam"

Throughout his speech Fisher steered clear of any reference to direct action.

Lambeth

He specifically referred to AHAs which oppose the cuts but did not see fit to mention Lambeth or Lothian councils, which are at present at the forefront of the anti-cuts fight.

Other speakers did bring out the importance: of committing Labour councils to a refusal to implement the cuts or increase the LEAV AHLU CALM rates.

_Dave Nellist, chairing the rally and speaking on behalf of the Coventry SE CLP, struck the right note when he said:

"As far as the SE CLP is concerned the way to fight the Tories is not through discussion but with defiance"

But Nellist, too, steered clear of any specific reference to strike action, speking only of the mass response from the working class which defeated the plans of the Heath government. "

Abstract

This attitude is, of course, not surprising when you know that Nellist is a supporter of the Militant tendency, which combines generally correct abstract positions on the need for socialism and a genuine fight against the Tories with absolutely no attempt whatsoever to expose the confusing and obstructive role played by the likes of Fisher.

John Hughes, Chairman of the Coventry Council and the Coventry NE CLP put forward a militant stance:

"You cannot influence the Tories by civilised detente" he said, "they can only be resisted physically"

"Lambeth is thể vanguard. We need united action around their fightdon't let them become another Clay Cross, whose betrayal is a stigma on the Speaking of the conference he said:

"If we get the right decision today the battle is on"

But Councillor Hughes himself sees no alternative to an increase in the rates!

'Moderation'

In the week after the conference and demonstration he argued for this in the Council Labour Group -and lost.

The conference itself was a complete victory for what euphemistically goes under the name of 'moderation' Not only did the 300odd delegates : agree to oppose the Tories "within the law" but 'they also agreed that it would be best to leave each council to do this in its own way.

The logic of this position was clear for all to see, and quickly found its expression in the policy subsequently adopted by the Coventry Labour Group.

Their solution problem of the cuts is a budget shuffle which aims to protect education and the social services-at the expense of other items of expenditure.

Announcing the plans, council leader Arthur Waugh Senior said:

"Coventry will become a dirty city. The streets will not be swept so often and we will be encouraging infestation. Parks will become untidy, a tree planting programme will be reduced and the freézing of posts at the Council House will lead to reduced services to the public."

As we got to press, these revised budgets are due to be put to a full council meeting on Tuesday.

The Labour council's position is quite clear. They are trying to hide the cuts behind a smokescreen of rhetoric about trying to save the services which create the most emotional outcry.

At the demonstration and lobby a Workers Socialist League leaflet hit the nail on the head in its opening sentence:

"Today's conference of Labode councils has been called in order to prepare the way for accepting the Sooner than admit this outright, however, Councillor Waugh again sheltered behind vague rhetoric, claiming that:

"The plans are only provisional. We have not yet decided to implement the cuts, and will strongly resist the government - through the city's Labour MPs"

Such cynicism is, of course, typical of these people. They have shown time and again that they will not resist the Tories. All their talk of doing so is a hollow fraud, designed to head off militant opposition from Labour Party activists.

The only way open is to. prepare direct action by the working class against the cuts.

Labour councillors must be told that those who refuse to vote against cuts will be driven out of their seats by Labour wards.

The campaign against the Tories has gained much success, in Coventry Labour An excellent opportunity exists in the forthcoming Trades Council conference against cuts and unemployment to establish a broad-based committee with delegates drawn from the trade unions, Labour Parties, shop stewards committees and tenants' associations, which can be charged with the task of organising a united fight for strike _action and occupation to stop the cuts.

There must be supporting strike action to back those workers who go into action to protect jobs and services.

* Defy the Tories!

* Coventry council must join Lambeth and Lothian!

* No cuts - no rate increases. Confront: the baukers and moneylenders!

* Strike and occupy to stop the cuts!

* Drive the

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