GLC Election test for Tories

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Cutler-welcomed onto platform at 1070 T PreC Press On May 7 Londoners will be voting for a new Greater London Council in the first major test of the feeling that has obviously been building up against the Tories throughout the country.

The Labour Party is hoping to unseat the Tory council and its leader Sir Horace Cutler-one of Thatcher's greatest fans who has sought to carry out her cuts with enthusiasm.

In order to succeed in toppling the Tories, Labour is going to the polls with a left wing programme worked out by the London Labour Denounced This programme has been roundly denounced by the Tories in their election propaganda as Marxist subversion.

In fact the Tories, faced with the appalling results of this government's policies, are sounding increasingly hollow and desperate in their red-baiting, and are unable to put forward any positive proposals for the GLC other than more cuts.

Sir Horace Cutler, for instance, in a recent piece in the South London Press listed his achievements (which include "the culmination of our work on the Gillette London Marathon") in a couple of paragraphs, and then used half of the article to attack the "Marxists" in the London "Their targets are all lined up; your pocket first; abolition of the City; nationalisation of the banks; the abolition of the House of Lords and following that as the night the day, the replacement of monarchy with a Marxist president-and on present form it be Arthur Scargill!"

Local Tory manifestoes make it equally clear that the rulers of County Hall are counting on a red scare to keep Labour out-their own policies and the record of this government are clearly not going to get them votes.

Of course it isn't true that Labour's manifesto is a fully-fledged Marxist programme. In fact many of the demands which the Tories are particularly vehement about are really rather moderate.

Heavy subsidising of public transport, in order to extend services and cut fares, is accepted in many European cities which are by no means run by Marxists-Paris for instance.

Nevertheless, Labour's GLC election programme contains many important, radical proposals which, if implemented, would lead to a major confrontation with the Tories.

Implement pledges For this reason it is vital that Socialist Press supporters fight hard for the election of a Labour GLC, and fight hard for the full implementation of the manifesto once these councillors are in power.

Taken as a whole the manifesto means confrontation with the Tories because it commits Labour to a massive increase in spending.

On housing, a pledge is given to build new homes, repair existing homes and "Keep costs within the reach of Londoners" The programme also commits Labour to "launch a major attack on disrepair in the private rented sector by buying and converting homes and stop the sale of vacant council housing. Labour will resist other government dictates on sales, help modernise and improve run-down counci estates, assist those on low incomes to buy homes in the private sector with 100% mortgages, and support the work carried out by Housing Associations."

The proposals for London Transport are likely BLOW to be a major vote catcher and have been stressed in all the election material put out by Labour candidates.

While Horace Cutler has indulged in gimmicky schemes to investigate "waste" and "extravagance" in London Transport, fares have increased, services have been cut and jobs have been eliminated by natural wastage leaving many scheduled bus services abandoned each morning because crews are not available. Every single Londoner knows that London Transport is in chaos, and the reasons are lack of planning and lack of finance.

Labour's proposals are hardly revolutionary -but they do mean lower fares " sury sury curerence and a more rational, planned service.

Bus and tube fares are to be cut by 25% and the fare structure simplified. Fares will then be frozen throughout the term of office. More staff will be recruited and more buses bought. Subsidies will be increased and extended to include British Rail services within the GLC area.

Popularity

The Tories themselves are worried about the potential popularity of these transport proposals. Just one month before election day and amidst a massive publicity campaign they have introduced a suburban flat fare scheme.

However the scheme is so limited in application that most people are probably now paying more for their regular journeys!

Another proposal singled out for attack by the Tories is a brief statement on the "London's ratepayers pay over £200 a year for their police, but unlike every other area of Britain have no say at all in the running of its police force. Labour will campaign for the introduction of democratic control in this crucial area."

What form of democratic control takes is open to question, but this proposal has been seized on by Tories and press alike as "political control of the police and a step towards a Marxist dietatorship"

Repression

But with police repression being stepped up and a police occupation now established in Brixton, this proposal is bound to strike a chord with the harassed unemployed youth in London's boroughs.

This election is one of the most important local elections for many years for several reasons.

A big swing to Labour would be a major blow against the Tories at a time when they are split in their own ranks and faced with growing resistance from civil service and other unions.

It would be an opportunity to challenge the Tories' policies from position much stronger than any other Labour local council. The GLC, after all, has a budget which is greater than the national product of most countries in the world.

But all this depends on Labour's representatives being held to their manifesto commitments and forced to confront the Tories head on.