Young Fabians cover Labour's rent collaboration

FOUR WEEKS after the first increases under the Tories' 'fair rents' Act, the Young Fabian Society has come up with no less than a 14-point scheme to 'mount bureaucratic resistance' to the law.

But this worthless 28-page document, published • today, has to be seen for what it is: nothing less than an • apology for the collaboration by the vast majority of Labour councils with the Tory rent increases.

In fact it was James Goudie, who, as deputy leader and chairman of the housing committee on the Labour-controlled Brent council, north London, actually took part in implementing the Act in his borough. He is also a prospective parliamentary candidate.

The Young Fabians are a group of some of the worst outand-out reformists you could ever hope to find. And the very first page of the document shows the unprincipled and opportunist character of their so-called 'stand' on the 'fair rents' Act.

Most tenants still want know why over 340 Labour councils are implementing the legislation. But 'this pamphlet is not directly concerned with this controversy', writes the author.

'Labour's strong and fundamental objections to it [the Act] have been made cogently and persuasively,' he adds.

So that is why the Labour right-wing, nationally and locally, forced through the increases!

As the Labour leaders are also confirmed Fabians, this pamphlet really speaks for them when it talks of the Act's repeal 'in the period between 1974 and 1976'.

In other words, as far as they are concerned, there will be no direct challenge to the Tory government until that time.

In the meantime, therefore, while the Tories are supposed to remain in office, the job of Labour councils is to mount this spurious 'bureaucratic resistance'.

The 14-points will really shake the Tories to their roots. Included are such shattering demands that "councils should regularly apply for increases in the rebate and allowance scheme'.

Wortions 1972