As cuts impact on young and old, which way Labour?

Published: 16 December, 2010

THE Labour administration is reaching the crossroads.

Following the govern­ment’s announcements on Monday time is running out for the majority Labour group.

To oppose the cuts – or to accept them, and blame the government?

Seriously intended opposition – driven by ideology – may be rightly thought to be out of tune with today’s political culture.

Trade unions have made a great deal of noise in recent months but have taken no action in contrast to unions on the continent.

Even the protests by the students against tuition fees and the elimination of the Educational Maintenance Grant, beneficial to poorer school pupils, did not arouse them. 

As for the Trades Union Congress, it is caution personified.   

A sign, perhaps, that the TUC has the pulse of the nation.

As for seriously intended opposition by the Camden Labour group, this would have to be essentially driven by conviction politics, and that does not appear to be on the horizon.

This suggests Labour will introduce a budget next year that will dutifully obey the diktat of David Cameron and his Chancellor.

This week we put flesh and bone on two defenceless sections of the community, the young and the old, made victims of the cuts, Plot Ten and the Great Croft club (see pages 2 and  6).

Other cuts will have a slow-burning fuse, not felt until deep into next year, or even in 2012.

But worried Town Hall staff are  beginning to get the picture, judging by the well attended Unison meeting on Monday.

Mostly, voluntary redundancies are the order of the day, but more and more posts are being compulsorily wound up. And, as usual, it is the lower and middle grades who will feel the axe.  High earners appear to be safe.

Labour’s strategy is to blame the government, hold on tight, and hope that at the next elections the voters will support them.

In Islington the Labour group is going further in its public opposition – a protest march to the Town Hall yesterday (Wednesday) against the cuts was led by its leader, Catherine West, who, schizophrenically, will be expected to impose them next year.

While Camden has not been hit as severely as Islington both will probably allow themselves to be reined in – with much protest –  by Whitehall on the political assumption that come the next elections in 2014 the people will not hold them responsible.  

It’s a gamble that may not come off.   

One week in politics is a long time.

 Anything can happen in four years’ time.