Debate and discussion: Red and Yellow and Green and Blue

Submitted by Anon on 17 July, 2004 - 7:57

In the 19 June issue of Socialist Worker there is an article bemoaning the failure of the Green Party to agree an electoral alliance with Respect. This is used as an excuse for the failure of a great electoral breakthrough.
But people who think the Greens are any kind of radical alternative to Labour and worthy partners in left electoral alliances should take note of what has happened in Leeds.
In the local elections Labour lost control of the council for the first time since 1980 - though they are the biggest party with 40 seats. Now the Lib Dems (second biggest party), the Tories and the Greens have agreed to a governing alliance. This will rule the council for two years. Yes, the Tories!
In Leeds the teaching unions, together with education workers in the GMB and UNISON have balloted for action to avoid compulsory redundancies. The unions were close to getting the Labour council to not make redundancies. The Tories are unlikely to agree to this policy. But what will the Greens do to stop thier new friends?

A Leeds teacher

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