80s-style Town Hall revolt ‘an idealist position’

Published: 21 January, 2011
by TOM FOOT

The Labour group running the Town Hall is under pressure from its left wing to summon the spirit of 1980s rate-capping rebellion and refuse to implement government cuts by passing an “illegal budget”

MEMBERS of the Labour Representation Committee (LRC) – a national group of left-leaning activists – voted overwhelmingly on Saturday in favour of a motion calling on all Labour-run councils to resist “draconian cuts demanded by the government”.

But Caledonian ward councillor Charlynne Pullen – the only Islington Labour councillor who is a LRC member – said the move would lead to Local Government minister Eric Pickles seizing control of budget-setting.

She argues that initiatives such as the London Living Wage for council staff and free school meals for primary pupils could then be scrapped.

“There are people who want to vote against budgets, but really it’s an idealist position,” she said. “It’s all very well standing outside and saying vote against the budgets. Well, that’s not what it’s really like.

“The legal position is if we set an illegal budget the government has powers to set the council’s budget. It happens immediately. They could set any budget they like. 

“Pickles would be able to set it to his own priorities, or simply slash nine per cent off everything. 

“If that happened in adult social care or children’s services it would be catastrophic.”

Cllr Pullen said she joined the LRC in anger at the invasion of Iraq and the introduction of academy schools.

The LRC motion passed on Saturday said: “Labour councillors should, where they are in control of the council, refuse to draw up or endorse budgets for 2011-12 that implement the draconian cuts demanded by the government...”

In 1984, the then leader of Islington Council, Margaret Hodge – now Lady Hodge, Barking Labour MP and chairwoman of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee – led the rate-cap rebellion.

Trades Council secretary Gary Heather said: “This is my personal opinion: if they set an illegal budget Pickles will come in and I just don’t think the council can do that. If the council wasn’t doing something positive – it is maintaining school meals and the living wage for cleaners – I might think differently.”