extend nationalisation.
can these chains be broken?
For the Labour leadenship the answer is simple: they can always call an clection. But even if Labour won the clection with a secure majority (hardly certain given its mealy-mouthed reformism), could it then carry out Conference policies unhampered"
The power of the ruling class (despite all the nonsense that is put about) does not rest on Parliament. It lies in the immense economic power of the capitalist class, and in the capitalist state machine.
We have had some important reminders recently of just how much control the "Government of the day has when faced with opposition from these quarters.
*During the recent reactionary strike in the North of Ireland, the Labour Government chose to rely on the Army to carry out its policy. Despite the fact that this was a thoroughly pro-imperialist policy. the Army carried out its orders to deal with Loyalist workers with far Jess vigour than it has shown against the catholic population. This undermining of Labour's plans by the Army was an important factor in assisting the victory of the strike, In the recent campaign against nationalisation organised by big busi ness, the main bosses organisation, the CBI, has made open threats about what would happen if Labour tried to pursue its policies, and the capitalist press has mounted a big red-scare campaign.
The big companies will organise outright cconomic mbotage to get their way. For example, in February the Prices Commission rejected a request from the Shell Company for an increase in the prices of theit chemicals. Shell replied by threatening to cut off supplies of essential industrial chemicals to British companies, and export them instead.
The civil servants in the Prices Commission and other 'concerned" Government departments then opened talks with Shell to discuss the way in which a fresh upplication could be 'resubmitted.' Last week it was announced that Shell had been granted a price rise of 165 These are the sort of things that a Labour Government with a solid majority would have to deal with. It would have only two choices: either give in to the demands of the capitalLast week the Labour Government suffered two humiliating defeats in Parliament: one over its proposal to refund taxes collected from unions who had refused to register under the Industrial Relations Act, and the other over its plans to These two votes lay bare the chains which bind and gag the Labour Party: chains which are held firmly by the opposition Parties -the Parliamentary spokesmen of the capitalist class. How List class, or mobilise the working class and use its organised power to smash such ruling cliss sabotage.
But that choice faces Labour today.
For the mobilisation of the working class does not require a majority in Parliament, and a mobilised working ¿lass is quite capable of sweeping aside the sabotage of the bosses-whether it's taking place in Parliament, in the Government departments, or in the factories:
Of course the Labour leaders will not do this. Wilson's recent announcement of the secret atom bomb test is Labour Party Conference decisiloping new death weapons, while the "defence of capitalist interests is much greater than their concern king class.
action against the ruling class's serve the workers' interests, and workers' movement to carry those measures into eifect.
Wilson & Co. to call an election. It can begin today. a sharp reminder of just how casually ons are chucked out the window. The plans lo spend £100 million on devenurses are kept hegging and the health service is run into the ground, shows that the Labour leader's concern for for the most basic needs of the worBut whatever the Labour bureaucrats do, the working class must take schemes. They must force the Labour Government to adopt measures that must use the organised power of the That is something which need not wait until it suits the convenience of The front ranks of the large IMG contingent on the demonstration last Saturday called to show that the struggle against racism and fascism for which Kevin Gately gave his life will be continued and steoped up