When talking about cuts to council services Glasgow Councillor Matt Kerr has rightly said “Local democracy, local government, its workers, and everyone who relies on its services don’t need more administration, they need leadership willing to put up a fight".

The problem is there is little sign of that fighting leadership coming from local elected politicians of any party.

We have long been facing a democratic deficit with administrations passing on Tory cuts amid crocodile tears. None of the main political parties at local level are prepared to defy the Scottish and British governments and say we will not implement cuts in budgets which are destroying communities and local democracy itself.

The opposition to the corporate bought and sold parties clearly will need to come from the trade unions and the communities.

Councillors will need to be compelled by action led by the organised working class. If elected members continue to be self-serving they will need to be removed and replaced by class-conscious representatives supported by the trade unions and the people.

For that to happen a class and political consciousness need to be built on the ground in the trade unions themselves and the communities.

But where will these class fighters come from? Outside the main parties, there are the 57 varieties of the left with more new parties seemingly being formed every other week.

Tony Benn famously said there are too many socialist parties and not enough socialists.

West Dunbartonshire Morning Star Readers and Supporters Group will be meeting to discuss Benn’s statement and crucially, how do we create socialists?

We will be meeting on Monday, February 19, at 7pm in Clydebank Town Hall and Councillor Matt Kerr himself will be at the top table along with Lilian Macer, the Scottish Secretary of UNISON, the biggest union in local government.

If you are in the neighbourhood and are interested in discussing strategy and putting it into action come along and join in.