09.02.1995

Gesture politics

THE LABOUR Party took control of the London Borough of Brent council briefly last week. This will last only until Tory councillor Richard Buckley rises from his sick bed. Its gesture politics therefore paint a false picture of Labour as defender of the poor and needy, a picture belied by the party’s performance where it has more long-term control.

While Brent Labour cancels the privatisation of old people’s homes, they are being sold off in Labour-controlled Camden. While Brent scraps ‘Tory’ increases in home help charges, the trail blazer for this great new idea was Labour-controlled Greenwich.

Labour’s lucky break came on January 30, when 28 Labour plus five Liberal Democrat councillors took advantage of their temporary majority of one to take control of Brent Council. Tory control is likely to be restored at an emergency council meeting on Monday, after only two weeks.

Today, Brent council tenants will receive official notice of a 6% rent increase - a great Labour achievement, for which they are expected to be grateful, as ‘Tory’ rent increases would have been higher. No doubt this will help the ‘socialist’ council service its half a billion pound debt burden to diverse moneylenders - a burden of exploitation which will be passed on to those who pay council tax and rents when the council sets a legal budget again on May 15, whoever is in control then.

Whatever the particular combination of council tax and service cuts, Labour’s promise of “responsible and prudent” management has nothing to offer workers in Brent.

Stan Kelsey