Forum Topic

Will local Labour consult its own members?

I see local Labour will be holding a "local manifesto consultation" at the Civic Centre on Monday to thrash out the policy platform on which it will be fighting this year's local elections.According to its Facebook page, Momentum Hounslow is petitioning for the adoption of a radical manifesto which, after all, would only bring it into line with the national party and the manifesto with which it fought the general election last year.We know the attitude this lot take towards consultation with ordinary residents but will they, I wonder, be any more inclined to listen to their own grass roots members?  Or will they treat them will the same contempt as they show to the rest of us?I reproduce below the full wording of the petition, purely in the interests of debate:Commit to an anti-austerity manifesto in line with Labour’s 2017 national manifesto*  For a no-cuts Hounslow Labour budget*  Council houses for Hounslow’s people, not private build for developers’ profits*  State schools, not faith schools or academiesWe call on  Hounslow Labour group councillors to Commit to an anti-austerity manifesto in line with Labour’s 2017 national manifestoTo support Hounslow’s people, with distinct policies from the Tories’ austerity agenda, we call on Labour councillors to support the following pledges for the 2018 Local Government Elections.*  A no-cuts budget *  Stop privatisation of services and bring contracts back in house where possible*  Withdraw pledge not to increase council tax. Consider alternative options, including raising it by up to 6%, or a progressive tax, where those in higher value properties see a larger increaseSpecific policy commitments to include:Housing*  All homes built on council-owned land to be council houses, using Public Works Borrowing Board funds up to the max Housing Revenue limit*  Freeze council rents, stop evictions related to rent arrears.*  Use CPOs or Empty Dwelling Management Orders to acquire properties that have been empty over the long term*  Double council tax on empty properties*  Provide shelters for rough sleepersSocial Care*  Restore carers, meals on wheels and home help*  Re open day care centres that have been closed over the past 8 years*  Bring service contracts back in house, paying London Living WageHeathrow*  Make clear Labour’s opposition to third runway in our public campaigning*  Join the anti-third runway campaign Local Council NetworkEducation*  Build new state schools as annexes to existing schools, as an alternative to faith and academy schools *  Restore Youth Centre funding and re-open those which have been closed over the past 8 years

Phil Andrews ● 2716d21 Comments

I am still astounded that Labour chose to freeze Council Tax for 7 years when most reasonable people would have been quite happy to pay the small increases to maintain a reasonable service as provided previously by the ICG / Cons coalition. The Borough was well maintained and well managed. Instead the Labour lot chose to cut services by refusing to increase Council tax and by paying fat cat unnecessary redundancy packages and stupidly high salaries and pension contributions to the dead wood.  And then they complain and wine and whinge and cry  about reduced funding from Central Government. Talk about lack of financial management. They don't seem to understand that their behaviour is exactly the reason central government has to treat them like irresponsible children and amateurs.

Steve Taylor ● 2712d

Good grief!  Is it only under 8 years since the tyranny, havoc and chaos began and this Borough was designated 'most rotten' ?

Steve Taylor ● 2713d

A decade?Your party has only been in power for just under eight years

Paul Fisher ● 2713d

You probably don't know what national Labour policy is. It is to remain within the law (for a start) which restricts us to raising revenue from council tax to partly offset the continued reductions in funding from central government.Our income as a council will continue to decline for at least the next few years even if we raise council tax by the highest amount permitted, which in any case we have done only once in a decade.

Guy Lambert ● 2713d

Our manifesto will be in line with national policy, of course.  Exactly Guy - as I've just said:- Is all this largess to be paid for by the comparatively few really top billionaires in the country or will Labour have to go down the salary scale and raise taxes on ALL those in paid and gainful employment.  Pretty sure there are not enough billionaires to meet the bill  - if there are now, there won't be, they will scarper pretty promptly.  The really rich can move quite freely to any country taking their money with them.

Jennifer Selig ● 2713d

Labour held the council tax frozen for 8 (I think) years despite enormous cuts in the grant from central government and have only put it up in the last two years, by 4% each time.We have no powers to put up council tax more on expensive homes so that doesn't arise.Our manifesto will be in line with national policy, of course.

Guy Lambert ● 2713d

Blimey - what a rosy picture we have to look forward to!Is all this largess to be paid for by the comparatively few really top billionaires in the country or will Labour have to go down the salary scale and raise taxes on ALL those in paid and gainful employment.  Pretty sure there are not enough billionaires to meet the bill  - if there are now, there won't be, they will scarper pretty promptly.  The really rich can move quite freely to any country taking their money with them.

Jennifer Selig ● 2713d

To be fair though Steve, it is a two-way flow of economic policies.  Mugabe got the idea (and the printing presses) he used to destroy his currency from the Callaghan government.  Similarly, Ed Balls borrowed his 1% annual property tax idea straight from the Greek Government. Not sure Mr Balls did quite enough research though, as that particular policy collapsed their housing market and caused the mass economic flight that led to the country officially going bankrupt, the IMF stepping in, a 25% reduction in public sector numbers and similar reduction in salaries for those that hadn't been culled, oh and the removal of most state pension provisions.

Lorne Gifford ● 2713d

"Many Momentum members were present and put forward their views. This is the way Labour party democracy works."The way Labour party democracy works is that you listen and do what you will.  Labour democracy = Despotism. Labour have taken the punt from Robert Mugabe & Jacob Zuma. I could name a few more.

Steve Taylor ● 2713d

Don't want to make any political suggestions, but a years council tax for free would make national headlines and give voters the impression that Labour has instigated budgetary prudence.Might even get a positive comment in The New Spectator.

Lorne Gifford ● 2713d

Out of curiosity, what was the answer to, 'How much progressive tax and what is the definition of a higher value home?'Also out of curiosity, is Hounslow Momentum correct that the council currently holds £170m in reserves?  As that's almost exactly a years worth of council tax from each household is there any chance of a year for free?

Lorne Gifford ● 2713d

That's a politician's reply to rank with the finest.  I await the publication of the manifesto with an anticipation so eager that I find it difficult to contain.Maybe though Guy can help relieve the unbearable tension just a tad by answering one straight and simple question - will local Labour be fighting the May elections on agreed national party policies?

Phil Andrews ● 2713d

Lets hope that 72% of the party members get what they want eh Guy unless you and your comrades ignore their wishes as well as those you represent

Paul Fisher ● 2713d

We had a lively debate last night to which party members from all shades of opinion contributed their ideas and views to the forthcoming manifesto. Many Momentum members were present and put forward their views. This is the way Labour party democracy works. I think people will be impressed by the manifesto when it emerges - brimming with ideas and energy.

Guy Lambert ● 2713d

I have no idea Phil.  May be the local labour party look at things from the point of view of someone that actually lives here, since here is where they live.  I read 'additional tax on higher value homes' as 'taxing those that have already had to pay through the nose to find somewhere to live'.  And since no figure is put on what a higher value home is, I suspect it'll be anything more than the national average.Of course, the other point of view, possibly from the demographic that momentum appears aimed at, is that anyone living in London is rich and should be taxed until they bleed.

Lorne Gifford ● 2714d

Some interesting points Lorne, thank you. What intrigues me though is why a petition has to be put to the local party, as it considers its imminent election campaign, urging that it adopts its own party policies for the purposes of that campaign. And, should it choose to reject the petition, which policies (that are not Labour Party policies) will it be presenting to the electorate, and on what basis will the candidates standing on the distinctive local manifesto be representing "Labour"?

Phil Andrews ● 2714d

The manifesto actually has some really worthwhile and good things in it.  Trouble is, when you look at how they intend to pay for things you come across the standard position labour has used since the 1960’s; namely to increase existing taxes and introduce new ones: “Withdraw pledge not to increase council tax. Consider alternative options, including raising it by up to 6%, or a progressive tax, where those in higher value properties see a larger increase”Of course, it’s pointed out that you as an individual don’t have to worry as ‘someone else will probably be paying and it’s only a little more that they can easily afford’.  And so the cycle begins.I shan’t elaborate on where the cycle ends, but I do wonder if anyone in this ‘momentum’ group lived through the latter part of the 1970’s, or Gordon Brown’s tenure as chancellor and then PM.Before anyone blindly votes on this manifesto can I suggest they ask one question:“How much progressive tax and what is the definition of a higher value home?”.  And please bear in mind that any type of home in the south of England is a lot more expensive to buy than elsewhere.The last labour proposal along these lines, during the general election, indicated they were aiming at introducing a new property tax that would be 1% of the value of your home. To be paid every year. 

Lorne Gifford ● 2714d

I see this morning that Momentum has killed off another Local Labour Council group Leader in Cornwall in a coup. Well I never!

Robin Dickers ● 2715d

Absolutely spot on Vanessa.  And what's more it represents nothing more than what is already Labour Party policy, so if it is not taken up then it will be clear that on top of everything else the present ruling local clique are not even Labour.  So on what basis then do they presume the right to lord it over us and dictate to us, bearing in mind that voters will have elected them in the belief that they are something they are not?

Phil Andrews ● 2715d

All you can say is that if they listen to their own members the way they listen to residents Good Luck! Quite honestly this petition is no more than you should be able to expect from a Labour council in the normal course of things, the fact that it is being presented as a 'radical manifesto' just illustrates how far the bunch who have been in power for the last few years have strayed from the principles of the party they claim to represent.

Vanessa Smith ● 2715d

Beware The Ides of March.The blades are being sharpened as we speak!!

Robin Dickers ● 2715d