Workers' Liberty

by Janine Booth

Tony Blair’s government does the bidding of big business and attacks working-class people – exactly the opposite of what a Labour government should do.

Here in Hackney, Blair’s lackeys in the Town Hall have cut and privatised services while lining their own pockets. Council workers face attacks on their pensions and local communities are neglected.

Click here for details of forthcoming public meeting.

“The people of Hackney must join the unions in stopping the privatisers and profiteers getting their grubby hands on the East London Line and its extension. The safety record of the privatised railway must not be spread onto the East London Line. Profits must not come before safety.”

Edited extracts from a statement issued by Labour Party socialists after the local council elections...

“A string of policies have turned our own supporters against us. From the Education Bill, privatisation of public services, the cuts in the NHS to the war in Iraq, we’ve alienated our natural supporters.

by Tony Osborne, Aspland & Marcon estates

The ALMO (Arms Length Management Organisation), set up by Hackney Council to manage its housing stock, and now called Hackney Homes, ‘went live’ in April. It is supposed to deliver central government’s Decent Homes programme, and bring all Hackney Council’s housing up to a standard that is fit to live in by 2010.

by Tony Osborne, Aspland & Marcon estates

Hanover in Hackney recently announced a pilot scheme at one of its sheltered housing complexes to replace its resident housing officer. Hanover is the housing association to which Hackney Council has contracted the running and staffing of 30 of its sheltered housing homes for the elderly. Its plan calls for the resident post to be closed, and replaced with daily visits and an alarm system.

by Kevin O’Hanrahan, Boxley House

In March 2000, Hackney Council handed ownership of Pembury estate to the Peabody Charitable Trust.

The transfer process was hardly an exercise in democracy. Residents were offered two options: a Yes vote for transfer, with the release of funding for estate improvements, or a No vote with no improvements. No third option of self-management, or fourth option of direct investment in council housing in line with Labour Party conference policy, was on offer.

Housing campaigners up and down the country are signing a letter to Tony Blair demanding that the government allows councils to improve their housing without having to privatise it.

The letter has been produced by the Defend Council Housing campaign, and you can get a copy from Hackney Socialist Unity.

SureStart - the government’s project for children under 4 - has cut funding to some local facilities for young kids.

It is shifting its services to showpiece ‘Children’s Centres’, such as the Ann Tayler Centre on London Fields, but this seems to be at the expense of play sessions on estates and in the community: where they are needed most.

Mossbourne

Barbara writes:

“I am Barbara, mother of Marvin. He was born and raised in Hackney, and is a polite, intelligent child in all subject areas and in sports.

by Dave Osler

Water privatisation has had disastrous consequences in many third world countries. It has hardly been a roaring success in Britain, either.

Severn Trent – Britain’s largest water company – was ordered to reimburse overcharged customers to the tune of £42m, after deliberately supplying false information to industry regulator Ofwat so that it could press its case for higher prices.

by Robin Sivapalan

Health Secretary Hewitt says the NHS will benefit from pain and instability.

The picture for Hackney:

• Homerton Hospital has a £7million shortfall – not because of financial mismanagement, but because of changes to the national tariff before the start of the financial year.