Cynical acceptance by Manchester Labourites

MAILADSIDAS LADUUT COUnCI WILl MANCUCCTEDIC Iahamu nannnil implement the Housing Finance Bill. The decision will be taken at the council meeting next month.

In a carefully-timed announcement, the council has just declared that the housing revenue account is in the red and rent increases are inevitable in October, even without the 'fair rents' Bill.

Now the Labour group, the most powerful in the North West, can say that it is a waste of time to oppose the Bill. Using the Bill will hit election chances ISLINGTON Labour council will be discussing the implementation of the Housing Finance Bill again tonight.

Although the Labour group has come down against a motion of non-implementation, 23 Labour councillors are still battling on, trying to reverse the decision.

Outside the council meeting there is sure to be a big lobby of tenants in support of the 23. In meting after meeting in the borough, tenants have hammered council leaders for their betrayal of the 'fair rents' fight.

One of the councillors against carrying out Tory policies is Gerard Flynn, who sits for the Parkway ward. A bus driver, he has been a member of Transport and General Workers' Union for 20 years.

"To say you can soften the blow by implementing the Bill is like the old story I know. The bloke on the scaffold was about to be hanged. For his last request he asked that his friend be allowed to pull the lever.

BOOKS says Labour councillor Our housing correspondent 'When they told him wouldn't make any differencehe would still be hanged-he replied: "He'll do more nicely".

This is the self-same thing.

The working class will suffer and pay, no matter who carries the Bill out.

I think we'll lose a certain amount of support if Islington implements. Tenants will become disillusioned-they expected support from a 100 per cent Labour council. Tenants are obviously not getting the lead they need and deserve.

'For my part I am a socialist and a Labour Party man and I can't for the life of me think why Labour-controlled councils should implement this Bill,' said Cllr Flynn.

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Dy law ine nousing revenue account must be in the black at the end of the financial vear. A deficit could be met by an interim rates increase.

As the Manchester Evening News' put it, however: 'An interim increase would be little short of political suicide because it would alienate householders throughout the city, whereas the rent increases would only affect council tenants who tend to be concentrated in certain wards.' If this is the group leaders, and thinking of Labour there is no evidence tion here. savour, "''People will just at any lulure turn out and vote.

and there's a lot of work done,' added Cllr Flynn. in the 'fair rent' addition. out and do battle. imposed Bill and saying the only way of fighting it is by implementing.

"Then there is the question of didn't mind going te jail "if it would help the tenants"

'I don't scare easily. Might is the main thing. If they had organized all the Labour councils it would have taken a lot of jails and Housing Commissioners.' Cllr Flynn said the majority had accused him and the other 22 Labour councillors of throwing the tenants "to the dogs' and acting "silly and big' in standing out against the Bill.

'As far as I'm concerned, renants are going to be thrown to the dogs by implementinghowever nice a way it is done. And this will jeopardize the Iahour Darto fastina elecnot 'We're fighting a battle here to be He was worried about rent strikes which if not organized properly could lose people their homes. To have any success he felt the rent would have to be banked on behalf of tenants. Nevertheless, Cllr Flynn was in favour of Islington council only collecting the existing rent and letting the Tories try and draw His idea of fighting the Bill was to come together with other business. On workers against the government. like that th 'The dockers did it and the communistminers and railwaymen did it. concerned. We could lead workers on all questions against this govern- when it was "They have backed down', said Force has ti Cllr Flynn but added as a note The workers of warning, 'the last kick of a Tories. dying horse is always the worst. Eventually—if Heath finds the workers WO time-the government must come same policies "There are plenty of oppor- have to com tunities for bringing down this government government. You name it and policy whicl the Tories are involved in it.

'This situation is solved by I'm for miners, dockers, tenants and so not the bu on coming together, being or- getting paid ganized and amalgamated on this when we tak to ine contrary, l is a most cynicar position. The Labour Party's main supporters on the council estates can be thrown to the winds.

The group has one eye on next year's elections under the reorganized local government structure and is no doubt hoping for middle-class support by avoiding rate increases.

In this situation the Labour group has come round to the view-it was never seriously against implementation at any time-that to carry out the provisions of the Bill will somehow reap Gerard Flynn, implementation ice you start talking ley label you as a -but I'm not too We've al ways proved strong s needed. And that time is now- -or we fall by the wayside. Yor u can't back down. o be met by force. : have to meet the 'You're ri last Labour:

working clas:

and on ght when you say in't stand for the ; from Labour as the government. We will mit the next Labour to a manifesto, a h will be for the nationalization and Isiness of someone for ever and a day ie them over. vencuts lor tue tendues. kanafito fan tha The capitulation in means that the other big the region-especially Liverpool-will no doubt soon be finding excuses to carry out Tory rent plans.

Indeed, the study group set up after the meeting of Labour groups ten days ago in Sheffield could end by sanctioning implementation. For Cir Joe Dean, chairman of Manchester's housing committee, is a member of the group which is supposed to be examining ways round the Bill.

23 Islingtun If in certain cases we has to compensate, let's set a figur on it and be finished with. An we have to put people in to ru the industry who understan what's going on. 'Let the workers have the sa:

How can you justify paying that money to men like Beechin and Marsh? Who's worth a that--and where did it com from to pay them? 'I take my hat off to thos three shop stewards on th docks who said come and get l if you want us. I wish you ha some men like these in Islingto We've got to put up a fight an stop things somewhere. "The fight will be won-bi it'll take longer to do it becaus the opportunities we'r missed, said Cllr Flynn.

CE MEETINGS

SOUTH EAST LONDON: Thurs. day June 22, 8 p.m. Deptford Engineers' Club (opposite New Cross Stn.). 'Stalinism'.

ACTON: Monday June 26, 8 p.m. Co-op Hall, High Road. 'Support the dockers. Force the Tories to resign'.

EAST LONDON: Tuesday June 27, 8 p.m. 'Aberfeldy', Aberfeldy Street, E.14 (nr Blackwall Tunnel) Build Councils of Action' SOUTHALL: Thursday 8 p.m. Community Bridge Rd. 'Force the resign'.

WANDSWORTH: Thursday June 29, 8 p.m. Balham Baths, Elmfield Road, Balham. 'Build Councils of Action'. Manchester councils in June 29, Centre, Tories to