Director: Lezli-Ann Barrett (director of Business as Usual)
The Militant-led Liverpool city council of 1983-1987 was the subject of vicious abuse. But the torrent of government and media lies, about "finanical chaos" or else "financial irregularities" were seen for the black propaganda that they were by the ordinary people of Liveropol. The Liverpool council's struggle against cuts and soaring rent and rate rises imposed by previous council regimes, following punative government cuts to the rate support grant in Merseyside, inspired an army of support to battle prime minister Margaret Thatcher and the Tory government in 1983-1987.
The council, led by Militant Tendency supporters (now Socialist Party), refused to raise rents or rates to compensate for central government cuts, and demanded extra money, in order to build decent houses and other facilities for the working class men, women and hildren of the city.
This film by Leslie Ann Barrett, shown at the Militant Rally 1985, captures a moment in that battle.
The Achievements of the 47 councillors who stood firm against the government:
6,300 families rehoused from tenements, flats and maisonettes
2, 873 tenement flats demolished
1,315 walk-up flats demolished
2,086 flats/maisonettes demolished
4,800 houses and bungalows built
7,400 houses and flats improved
600 houses/bungalows created by 'top-downing' 1,315 walk-up flats
25 new Housing Action Areas being developed
6 new nursery classes built and open
17 Community Comprehensive Schools established following a massive re-organisation
£10million spent on school improvements
Five new sports centres, one with a leisure pool attached, built and open
Two thousand additional jobs provided for in Liverpool City Council Budget
Ten thousand people per year employed on Council's Capital Programme
Three new parks built
Rents frozen for five years
1 мар 2011
