Over the last couple of years Scotland, ana above al e veeside. nas oecome identified with the urban deprivation and social decay usually associated with cities like New York or Naples.
This was the context of the first ever conference of the Scottish Council of Tenants, held in Stirling on 24-25 April with over a hundred delegates from tenants and community organisations, political organisations and trade unions - including the Scottish NUM and several The STUC and the Labour Party conferences in Scotland have both recently discussed tne question or scotusa nous ing. Both produced resolutions arguing for a clear break from the massive interest charges on house building, from the speculation and profit making of the building companies and from the Government's cuts which bolster up Scotland's positon as europe s biggest stum But resolutions on paper are no threat to the banks or the construction bosses. The Stirling conference was the first opportunity to pull together all mosc DEparca lo zo Deyond WUrus. and take practical action on housing.
Some people, however, will use any excuse to avoid a fight. Dennis Canvan, well known 'left' Labour MP, refused so socar Decause sumo uars tom tre Scottish Labour Party was among the seren labour movement Mr's invited. Canavan, however, raised no objection to sharing platforms with the SNP or the Tory Party during the anti-EEC In light of that, the thousands living in Glasgow slums, the unemployed building workers, and the Scottish homeless may find it a bit difficult to understand the "principles" which prevent Dennis Canaval IrOn LaKuE Dar m a Out fight for working class housing. Red Weekly 6 May 1976