THE TORIES have adopted a through a needless reorganisation of local government in both in 1996/7 and 1997/8.
in 96/7 Scottish Councils estimate that reorganisation costs exestimated €200m - a 2200m cut. in 97/8 they have cut these transicional costs and also assumed hundreds of millons of savine wien in 96/7 and it is estimated that 10,000 jobs will go in 97/8. To this is added huge service cuts and rises in Counreoundancies in y0/1, , are projected in 97/8 together with required to meet the capping limit on expenditure. This is impossible wour destroying the socal tabric The Tories control no councils in and much to gain by savage cuts. Labour Councils on the other hand fend services and fight back, or cut As Labour leaders were insisting on no new money, and demanding bours leaders in the lead up to the 30,000 in Glasgow, 20,000 in Edinburgh, a strike and demo of 15,000 in Glasgow - and despite pleading from councillors especialiy In Glassow to roryu, no more money was offered. Eventually all the Councis decided to implement the managed to avoid compulsory reany Scottish City and requires extra resources. Under reorganisation redirection of resources based on tions in funding have resulted.
The people of Glasgow and the However to us the case is simple. the Labour Council was elected on a platform of defending jobs and services - it has chosen to implethe Scottish Socialist Alliance (SSA) have been calling for a "No Cuts" became clear the Councillors were not only not resisting but were preAt the meeting to set the Council budget on IOth March commustriking workers and activists brockaded the burding and pre vented all bar 21 of the 79 Labour counoniors trom nording the meet Although there were no arrests during that day, one of the SSA members was arrested attenmpting to enter the building the previous evening. Tam Dymond, whose only previous orense was blocking Pol Tax Bailffs over 2 years ago, is being held on remand at 37406 'C hall Barlinnie for over 3 weeks on re. mand on breach of the peace charges!
During the picker the demand Resist or Resign' was taken up Only 2 Councillors were prepared to vote against the budget - SSA the lone SNP councillor. All Labour councillors were prepared to vote and have thus become the focus of anger.
Blame Torles If they had set an illegal budget. or resigned and let others take their place or even resined and allowed the Tories to themselves try to implement the cuts then the To nes woe nave con to the anger. To be elected on a "No cuts" platform and to savage the City is a breach of democracy.
-urther cuts are voted through munity halls are to shut. The SSA occupy many of these to prevent their assets - pool tables and equipmene bought by community efforts - being stripped.
Over 100 community projects are having funding withdrawn and these voluntary organisations are being told to pay for their own redundancies out of future colections from the public!
Wardens for the disabled are being removed, leaving disabled peoonly swimming pool in Glasgow
Socialist Outlook Major's decision to announce the May i election cariv. giving the Tories a long campaign has massively backfired. That dectsion was linked to the need to avoid the report of the Nolan La fact which was transparent v obvious to all Now the Tories are becoming mired ever deeper each day in scandal and sleaze. The decision of stalwart Tory tabloids to back Blair's New Labour is however not just a reflection of the difficulties Mator and his party are in but of their confidence that capitalism will be safer in Blair's hands.
Over the last 18 years the Tories have launched massive attacks on the working class. They wreaked mitted to building on the Tories achievements for British capitalism. Gordon Brown is committed out by the Tories, including those on public sector pay increases. Labour has even abandoned one of gressive taxation.
wille all Labour governmab have been capitalist, for the first time they have now adopted wholesale capitalist ideology. Even where Labour is committed to better policies, like the statutory national minimum wage, it will take a fight to ensure that it is implemented, and at a level which significantly improves the living standards of the lowest paid. Kick the Tories outt