Local Elections

BRIEFING

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS

The selection process for Council candidates in Camden has commenced with the adoption of Roy Shaw and Terry Comerford in Grafton. It will continue through all Branches until March. It would seem likely that the hard right will be in a majority of those finally selected. Around half existing Councillors are standing down, many of them on the basis of a Manifesto which is virtually the same as that adopted by the Alliance Parties in 1986.

The Manifesto must rank as the most anodyne ar*+ reactionary document ever presented to tw. workers and communities of Camden for endorsement. It is riddled with defeatism and does not even allow for the possibility of

a Labour victory at the General Elections.

The Poll Tax, the Housing Act, continuing privatisation, ancl surrender form the core

of the incoming Labour Group's agenda. Specific commitments to canpaigning work, equal opportunities, and resistance, have Deen removed, and it is impossible to even imagine the Group moving away from their adopted role as agents and managers for central government.

That Labour in Camden should adopt such policies at the height of Tory unpopularity, in the middle of increased and increasing industrial action, and at a time when social need is at an all-time high, defies both logic ar" principle.

AMBULANCE WORKERS ° ALL-OUT JANUARY 30:

Canden Labour Briefing would urge all socialists to campaign for maximum action

in support of the Ambulance Workers on Tuesday, 30th January. The TUC is supporting a 15 minute 'conscience-strike' at noon,

but we would urge all socialists to demand for maximum action within their trade unions and workplaces.

Rallies are being organised in Cand2n Town and at Kings Cross, and we must give our total support.

Fight for an all-out strike on the 30th

A Victory for the Ambulance Workers is

A Victory for the entire Labour Movement

THE LEFT IN CAMDEN

1989 nas been difficult for the Left in the !abour Party. The increasing centralisation of power,

the imposition of policy from above, and the continuing rightward shift of both the National and local leadership, have each contributed to both the demobilisation of socialists and an general demoralisation of Party members who would argue for a specifically socialist program me and agenda.

However, the strength of the right in the Party is certainly not mirrored in the wider Labour Movement.

1989 has seen a major in2rease in industrial action. The economic crisis has created political conditions which will insvitably radicalise an entire cross-section of the working class. The current Ambulance workers dispute, the engineering workers strike, the action taken by car workers at Fords and elsewhsre. Each of these are a response to the Conservative agenda and not only weaken the political strength of central government, but also undermine the case put forward by the National Labour leadership for collaboration.

Additionally, the failure of the National (and local) leadership to build mass support on the back of Tory unpopularity will inevitably lead to a reassessment. It is not enough that Labour should oppose the Tory governnent, opposition must be focused by putting forward specific policies which actually neet the needs and aspirations of those who are bearing the brunt

of Conservatism.

In order to be successful, in order to win elections. it is never enough that workers and com munities should be in opposition to the Tories. It is also necessary that alternative policies are developed which mobilise active support for Labour.

It is the responsibility of socialists to begin this process now.

The Socialist Movement, which was established

in Chesterfield and has held a number of highly successful conferences over the last twelve months, is the beginning of this process. It is the basis

of a principle, democratic and non-sectarian intervention into the Party which can act as

a forum for the discussion and development

of socialist policies and alternatives.

Just as the Socialist Movement has become a national focus for socialism, so we must develop a parallel and supportive local forum.

We would urge all Party members who believe it the necessity of building a socialiast alternative

to work alongside us over the next twelve months.

A SOCIALIST ASSESSMENT © CAMDEN 1986-1990 i LABOUR

The 1986 local election victories were CAM the most comprehensive that Labour in

Camden have ever scored over the Tories.

The campaign was fought in the wake of

the Miners Strike, the Abolition of the :

GLC, and the Borough-wide resistance to ———————EE—E—E———— Rate-capping. The Manifesto on which all

Labour Councillors were selected and elected WITCH-HUNT #1

gave specific commitments on jobs and

services, on rents and service charges, Councillors Horan, Holding, Plummer and 07 privatisation, on equal opportunities Shurety were referred to the National Party and community care, and there was a direct by Holborn & St .Pancras GMC. There crime promise that Labour in Canden would not was voting against rent increases and then accept Conservative legislation which abstaining on a budget that included those was contrary to the interests of the rent increases and cuts. It was clearly Borough's workers and commujities. the intention of the Holborn & St.Pancras aan Right that these Councillors should, at Within days of the election results, a the very least, be prevented from standing majority of Labour Councillors had begun in the 1990 local elections. Their failure

the process of dismantling and over-riding to secure sanctions against these Councillors these connitments and pronises. A leadership aust be regarded as a success for socialists was imposed on the Labour Group which in the Party, but the process of referral blatently contradicted the reconmendations served the purpose of effectively demobilising

of the Party, and a bunker mentality had : the Four and opening the way for the Hard effectively replaced the campaigning drofile Right to increase their influence over the which had characterised not only the Group, Labour Group and the Party.

but the local Parties, immediately prior

to the election. WITCH-HUNT #2 Since 1986, the retreat on policy and commitments has become a rout. Steven Taylor, the Chair of Hampstead &

Highgate CLP, has lost his Appeal against

Jobs and services have been decimated, the decision of the Local Governnent Committee

rents and service charges have increased, to be allowed onto the Panel of Candidates privatisation has been implemented, equal for the 1990 local elections. The Appeal Opportunities and community care have was supported by Kilburn and South Branches, been effectively discarded. The promise by Hampstead & Highgate CLP (unanimously), to refuse and refute Tory legislation by APEX and SGAT, by members of the LGC

has been transformed into the mute acceptance

of everything that central government Labour Councilllors. The evidence against has demanded. Indeed, the only areas where him comprised 5 press cuutings - includinao~

service provision has been increased has a petition, an article that had been censc -d, been over Council house sales, Poll Tax and a report that was refuted by letter implementation, and rent arrears! - and former Housing Chair Gareth Smyth.

Executive, and by a majority of sitting

The relationship between the Labour Group At the time of writing, no grounds have

and the workforce, between the Labour given for why the Appeal was lost, and the

Group and che communities, and between decision of the Regional Party shows a

the Labour Group and the Party, has been gensinely Stalinist approach towards left dismantled and replaced by policies of candidates who are put forward for consideration confrontation and non-consultation. There in local government.

has been no attempt to explain or discuss

policy changes. There has been no attempt CAMDEN STOP THE POLL TAX CAMPAIGN

to campaign against Tory legislation.

And there has been no attempt to defend

even the concept of democratic local

government against the tide of authoritarianism

Camden Stop The Poll Tax Campaign meets on the 1st Tuesday of every month at:

which has characterised central government. Trade Union Support Unit ee 213 Eversholt Street

Indeed, a majority of the Labour Group NW1

has spent more time attacking trad2 unionists,

left Counsillors, and communities, than 8.00 p.m.

they have in building opposition to the For mare information contact: Grace Livingstone Tory government. The political victories Tel: 485 3830

of 1986 have been translated into a series of chaotic surrenders 5n every major area of policy.

.0 DV CPP ee ae 8 FISERGW. IN se

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