Local government is of vital importance for the left. We can't build a mass socialist Labour Party if working class people's main point of contact with the Party is their Labour Council putting huge rises on the rents, closing their children's nursery and their granny's day centre.
We have to rebuild the local government left. Since the collapse of the local government left in 1985, we've tended to have a few left councillors but they've been isolated and unable to influence policy. Many have become demoralised and resigned. The work of left councillors must be organised and co-ordinated so they feel part of a movement.
Now we have a Labour Government there is much more point in trying to make something of local government. There are some favourable indications of changes in policies. Of course the Manifesto commitments do not go far enough. We need an influx of left Councillors to campaign for more money for local government.
One of the CLPD's model resolutions to Conference on the LiP proposals suggests an affiliated society of Labour Councillors, rather than them having their own section on the NEC. Although a gesture to Labour Reform, it could provide us with the organisation and structure we need to co-ordinate left councillors.
We have to draw up our bottom line principles. I would suggest:
We have to build socialist Labour Councils to pave the way for a socialist Labour Government.