11.01.1996

Labour and Tory unite to attack services

THE TAKEOVER of local government by the new unitary authorities in Scotland on April 1 will coincide with huge cuts in services if these councils are to meet central government’s capping levels. Despite motions of condemnation of the Tory government, Labour councils are preparing to collaborate with these attacks.

Dundee city council estimates that there will have to be cuts of £14 million as well as significant increases in the council tax, possibly up to 50%. This week it has approved a package of means-tested charges for home helps, meals on wheels and day care, which will save up to £2 million from the social work budget. On top of this there are strong rumours that a number of schools in the city are targeted for closure. So the young and the most vulnerable in society are being made to pay for the crisis of British capitalism by an unholy alliance of Labour and Tory.

The Labour Party can never be trusted to stand up and represent the genuine interests and needs of working class people. The attitude of Dundee’s Labour council is a taste of what we can expect from a Blair government.

The working class in Britain needs its own mass independent political party that fights for the interests of the working class and not for British capitalism. The sooner such a party is forged then the quicker we can set about reversing these attacks for good.

Nick Clarke