Labour councillors need to stand up for voters

Derby Trades Union Council secretary Moz Greenshields seemed to imply that they're going to make the cuts in order to protect the people of the city from Whitehall-imposed agents doing it.

In Plymouth we had the spectacle this week of the Labour-controlled council voting "with heavy hearts" to pass on the 10 per cent cut in council tax rebate to the city's poor people.

Will we see the same sorry and inexcusable scene in Derby?

Every Labour council faces the same choice - side with the capitalists and make cuts or refuse to make them and do the job they were elected to do.

So far only a handful of Labour councillors have shown they have the understanding, the foresight and the courage to defend the people.

Ms Greenshields is correct in saying a mass movement in every town and city is needed to stop the cuts.

When that mass movement forms, as it surely will, Labour councillors who made cuts - with or without "heavy hearts" - will find they will have to make way for others.

In that process a new, mass party of the working class will be formed and the deadly dull mediocrities who make up most of today's Labour Party will be spectators.

Rob Rooney

Plymouth