Local political developments have kept the Bradford Socialist Alliance busy over Tory/Liberal Democrat coun cil majority has continued to sation plans and the riot in the Lidget Green area high. lighted continuing issues of race and racism.
Unions representing thou sands of council staff have failed to agree with the management over new terms and conditions. Following the treakdown of negotiations, a ballot for industrial action is now A consultation exercise is supposed to be underway tion, or "transfer", of Bradford's council houses. However the sincerity of this consultation was questioned when Councillor Kris Hopkins, executive member of opponents of the privatisation "They want to get into The council is also poised to choose between company of Nord Anglia and and Serca/QAA to run its education service. One company has no experication services, while the other has been strongy crittcised in the only council where it has. carried forward by the majority vote of the Tories and Labour, having started the process with proposals for privatisation of the education service just before the last election, offer only The Socialist Alliance toothless opposition. «sued a leaflet pointing out Events in Lidget Green on that this really means a Easter Sunday highlighted dragnet through the Asian the fear and resentment of community. It also falls to the Asian Muslims in inner- the address the issues of city areas of Bricord. Ricial poverty and privatisation in provocation from a mainly Bradford, or the right of white group led local youth communities to defend themselves against attack organised attack. by racists.
heir feelings were exacer The Alliance called for a bated by the delay of the campain for services and police in arriving. When the facilities in all areas, includWing defending and improving scene in numbers, they council housing, and fighting apparently encouraged the rising poverty and inequality. instigators to leave the area before turning their forces announced at Pace in Saltaire. The Bradford comBradford South MP Gerry pany, which manufactures Sutcliffe responded by call- tems like satellite receivers ing for people to be brought and TV set-top boxes, has to justice quickly, and then wrote to residents calling the production in Bradford and events unnecessary ark set up with cheaper labour provocative". in Eastern Europe. 400 workers face the dole.
After the destruction of the textile industry on which modern Bradford was built, out as offering the opportunity to replace old industries announcement is an illustration that, while calling for loyalty from workers, capital. ists have no loyalty towards Bradford Socialist Alliance has campaigned steadily, finding new purpose from these events. It has offered consensus of the main parties, and has supported they have not.
ulliance candidate for Bradford South. Ateed Siddique, has also intervened into the national debate to offer a socialist perspective on events in Alliance supporters from around West Yorkshire supported protests outside the Bradford courts as a white Asian trader with a knife was acquitted of murder.
The court accepted a claim that he acted in the belief he was defending himself, in treatment of many black people who have defended themseles when clearly they were under attack. we can Party. A social fea turing Hypersonic (former and a young local band was well-attended and made money!
The next test for this young Alliance) will be to step up several gears to meet the tion campaign. It is clear from the sympatry and interest we neve received that much can be