Tories in revolt

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The Tories' would be massive outrage.

no longer guaranbe given two or into a concerted movement to drive them from office.

authorities, does not fall far short of that. from any democratic control.

ately on those already worst-hit.

whip, Islington Council)

THE LATEST Tory attack on public service provision and local democracy was bludgeoned through the House of Commons on Tuesday 17th with a majority of 100 _ well below the normal Tory muster.

The Rates Bill has achieved virtually universal condemnation from local councillors, including Tories who regard it as a threat to whatever perks they have and as aimed at any services they may be able to provide in their communities.

Even before the Commons vote, Tory desperation was shown by Thatcher's refusal to meet Tory local authority leaders in public. The list of Tory supporters of the Bill circulated by Conservative Central Office proved to be largely from council minority groups, who would have little need to deal with the legislation in practice.

The fact that it is Tories. who are talking about threats to local democracy should not blind us to the fact that there is some truth in what they say. The careHeath - "carefully timed revolt" fully timed revolt by ex Prime Minister Edward Heath and other Tory has-beens was designed to give them a base among large and disaffected sections of the Tory Party.

The old-fashioned Tories know that the traditions of capitalist rule are maintained by the diffusion of political authority, SIX Militant supporters have been expelled from the Blackburn Labour Party. On the recommendation of the Executive Committee, the GC voted two to one to expel.

The six have been expelled and fear that the Thatcherite policy might in the end be a threat to them all.

Socialists in local government can have no confidence whatever that the Tories will combine to defeat the attack on democracy and services.

It seems possible that the difficult passage of the legislation may bring concessions, perhaps the dropping of the general powers to cap all rates (rather than just to 'cap' the spending of selected councils).

But even then the legislation will still hit all those authorities, to defendon, who busie fo ant who oe ocn social services. Selective powers will still diminish substantially the power of local authorities to provide services, in precisely those areas where they are willing to provide them.

Only the labour and working class movement can defeat the series of threats now being posed by the Tories to local democracy and services. The Day of Action in defence of the Greater London Council on January 24 should be the first of many such activities. Resistance to the Tory schemes and refusal to cooperate with them by trade unionists and councillors will also play an important role in ettorts to defeat them.

endorse the expulsions, and ininstead insists on the si ‹ being reinstated in Blackburn