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S. E. A. Statements

Just say NO!---McCann appeals to parties on water charges

peech by Eamonn McCann at meeting of Socialist Environmental Alliance, in Derry

Monday March 19th. 2007

Even with the election behind us, the dance of deception over water charges continues.

What's needed is for the parties which would form an Executive to tell Chancellor Gordon Brown that he can forget water charges and privatisation. At the meeting in 11, Downing Street on Thursday, they should spell it out that they have a clear mandate to reject the proposed water "reform." They should tell him straight that the mandate of the people takes precedence over New Labour dogma.

If Brown won't budge, it will be clear that it's the neo-liberals of New Labour, and not the Northern Ireland parties, who'll have scuppered power-sharing and devolution for the sake of an outmoded idea.

But instead of straight talk, the main parties are giving vague hints about charges being postponed or lower rates being brought in temporarily. Postponing or lowering the charges would simply be a way of luring people into paying them.

All of the main parties said during the election that they were against privatisation and charges which would come with it. If they now put this position to the Treasury in unambiguous terms, the water "reform" scheme will have to be dropped. We can then go back to the drawing board and work out a socially just and acceptable way of paying for publicly-owned water and sewerage services.

Many thousands of people voted for one or other of the main parties on the basis of their declared opposition to water charges and privatisation. It should be a matter of concern for these voters that the parties they elected now appear to be discussing the formation of an Executive which would preside over the introduction of water charges and privatisation.

Non-payment campaigners across the North appeal to the party delegations headed for Downing Street on Thursday---Just say No!

Events since the election have strengthened the case for non-payment. New Labour's "reform" depends totally on people paying up so as to provide private owners of our water with a profit. Whether there is an Executive or not, mass non-payment can defeat the entire scheme. The trades unions and other campaigners will continue to encourage and organise non-payment in the weeks and months ahead.





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