Why we stand firm
Socialist Organiser1982 1982-01-28Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 2 →
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MARCH 27 ON MONDAY January 25 the Labour-controlled West Midlands County Council voted to drop Labour's manifesto promise to cut fares, and instead to impose a 70% increase.
After threats of legal action, the Labour group had decided to put on a three line whip to get the fare rises through.
But two councillors -Christine Thorneycroft and Dave Spencer - voted ag. ainst the fare increase. In a statement, they explained 1. The Manifesto. 'Travel Our Way' was the title of our Labour Party manifesto for the May clections, 1981. This showed the importance in us of our cheap fares The policy was arrived at after a full discussion and consultation in the County Labour Farty, and after a proper and detailed costing. It was with great pride that we began to implement this policy. We advertised it widely on 'the buses and shelters, and the railway stations.
It is a popular policy, and there has been an improvement in the numbers of people travelling.
A cheap fares policy is essential to an overall socialist transport policy. On the one hand it provides a social benefit for the needy, on the other hand. it is efficient, whercas the motor car wastes energy and resources.
2. Our fiduciary duty. The judgment of the five Law Lords against the GLC is a political and class-biased judgment.
It means the end of local democracy as we know it, and we do not say this lightly. The Law Lords will apparently decided what can be subsidised and what cannot, not the people who cast votes.
Note that the government can take £ 16 per week per family for defence. How do they balance the books there?
Our fiduciary duty is to the people who voted for us last May and whom we represent. In this case it means fighting to get the law changed.
Campaigns. We represent Coventry South East constituency. Four large council estates dominate the area, with lower than average car ownership and higher than average unemployment.
Higher tares mean yet another cut in their living standards.
The Coventry South East CLP voted, with nobody against, to deplore the fare increases and to call upon its three county councillors to vote against the increases at the council meeting:
We intend to campaign in our area for a socialist transport policy and against the Tory government's cuts. Ideally we would like a similar situation to that in South Yorkshire reported in this week's Labour Weekly
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Socialist Organiser no.70 January 28. 1982 Page 3