We, the under signed, observe that the Parliamentary Labour Party in its firm opposition to the Tory anti-trade union laws and the Welfare Bill together with Jeremy Corbyn’s presentation to the TUC and his people’s approach to PM’s question time demonstrate that the Labour Party is currently a voice for organized labour and the working class in Parliament.

We also observe that individual Labour controlled councils will not feel able to oppose austerity cuts on their own and will therefore stay within the law and implement balanced budgets to avoid any commissioner being sent in.

For that reason we urge the Labour Party to organise a combined, coordinated and united national response so that Labour Councils act in tandem and support each other assisted by the trades unions.

To this end we call for annual national conferences of Labour controlled authorities and public sector trade unions (Unite Unison, GMB, etc.) for the purpose of building a united movement to defend public services and jobs and to oppose the imposition of cuts under the guise of austerity.