A MARCH in defence of the welfare state has been organised for the autumn which will demand the forthcoming Labour governelt defend and extend all aspects of the welfare state.
The Tories have privatised services, closea nospitals and reaucea runding in ecucation. But Labour needs to be pushed to oppose these attacks - both now and when they are in government.
The march will begin in Hull and end at Labour Party conference. It will arrive in Blackpool at the same time as Blair makes his key speech.
The march is organised by the Welfare State Network and was endorsed by this year's annual conference of trades councils.
Hull has been chosen as the starting point because of the local labour movement's boycott of a workfare pilot scheme. This has been so successful that the government has completely failed to get its so-called Project Work off the ground.
Commencing on September 25, the march will pass through Goole, Doncaster, Barnsley, Huddersfield and then move over the Pennines to Oldham, Manchester, Bury, Bolton and Preston, finally arriving in Blackpool on October Events will be held in all of the major towns through which the march passes. Scargill will speak at most of the events in Yorkshire and several Labour Campaign Group MPs have agreed to address meetings en-route.
On September 28 the North-West TUC will organise a major demonstration in Manchester to greet the march. The next day, a festival will be held in Bury, fully supported by the local Labour authority.
This initiative is an ideal opportunity to start building grassroots opposition, not only to the Tories but also to Blair's intention to attack the welfare state.
The event will also help to build the Welfare State Network into a real national campaign. All labour movement activists should support and build the march to ensure that it has maximum impact. • Get your organisation to sponsor a marcher for £125. For further information contact the Welfare State Network, tel: 0171 639 5068 or write to WSN, 183 Queens Crescent, London, NW5.