Letter to the Editors from the October 1993 issue of the Socialist Standard
Dear Editors,
In the September issue of the Socialist Standard, the Editorial Statement called "Break the Link with Labour" says that the second Labour government cut Unemployment Pay. I have always understood that the Labour Cabinet voted for the cuts (although by a small majority) but the cuts were never made, as the Labour government resigned before implementation. It was the incoming National Government that cut Unemployment Benefit.
Bert Mayes,
London SW18
Reply:
We should have said "when the Second Labour Government agreed to cut unemployment benefit". On 23 August 1931 the Labour Cabinet voted by 12 or 11 votes to 8 or 9 (the size of the majority is disputed) to cut unemployment benefit by 10 percent, but fell from power before they could implement this - Editors.
This letter was untitled in the original Standard.
ReplyDeleteBert Mayes was a longstanding member of the SPGB, joining the Party as a teenager in 1934. His obituary appeared in the July 2003 issue of the Socialist Standard