Press Release

Campaign for Socialism Executive

Labour Left Says No to Stock Transfer

The Campaign for Socialism strongly attacked the Scottish Executive backed attempt to get Glasgow tenants to transfer from the local authority to a housing quango, The Glasgow Housing Association.

At a meeting called by the STUC on Sunday 17th March to plan future activities Elaine Smith MSP and executive member of CfS pointed out that while in opposition Labour opposed stock transfer. She quoted Gordon Brown who said in 1995:

' Scottish Homes has ruled that - no matter what preferences people have - their tenants cannot ever become tenants of their own local council. And even insisted that any vote tenants have on who their next landlord should be cannot include the council on the ballot paper.'

Elaine argued that this was the kind of choice - or lack of it - now being offered by the Labour Party and Gordon Brown was the prime mover. She added: 'Despite the propaganda that a yes vote is guaranteed, the frantic spending on publicity, pens & pictures of detached dream homes indicates to me anxiety about the outcome.'

The CfS is not hostile to other forms of social housing. However, it believes the current transfer in Glasgow is driven by a desire to limit the role of local government and offer further opportunities to the private sector to take a role in social functions what were previously publicly controlled and hence offered without consideration of profit.

Vince Mills, secretary of CfS, pointed out that the financial basis of the current plan was questionable and cited recent concerns about transfer of risk especially in relation to the possibility of dealing with asbestos. He questioned whether the financial backers of the transfer would be prepared to cover the costs associated with such serious health and safety matters.