However, there is one big soug with all these reprehensible schemes - they are unworkable, given the present strength of the working Juncts to a determined march of the class. Rather than being added adruling class, they are responses to the defeat of its chosen strategy. which was embodied in the confrontationist policies of the Tory government. They reptesent the fragmentation of the base of the Tory party and indicate the weakness of the ruling class at this stage From that point of view Brocl Powell's project of seeking a seat in the Six Counties fits into this process of fragmentation, But Powell's plan has one major difference from all the other hare-brained schemes It actually provides an WEAKNESS alternative for the ruling class which contains all the elements which might make it successful.
The fall of Heath showed the weakness of the ruling class in relation to the strength of the organised workers' movement. The strength of the working class in the unions successtil and in the factories means no direct repressive attack can be successful. A prior defeat of the working class is needed before any strong state measures can be put into practice and used against the working class. The defeat of Heath was a defeat for the ruling class as a whole because his policies aired to carry out the overall project of the ruling class. That strategy is now checked.
DIRE WARNING
Enoch Powell's proposal sounds a dire warning. For where the working class is weakest is on the ideological front. The grear bulk of the working class can see the danger of the Industrial Relations Act and are prepared to light against it. But on the questions of racism and anti-Irish chauvinisin the working class sees no dunger. But it is around these issues that working class organisations could be divided. On this basis an actual repressive assault could be Powell is cultivating a base in order to show the ruling class that there is an alternative. The victory of the Loyalist strike has shown such a reactionary base does exist in the Six Counties. This base, which is alienated from the most immediate aims of the British ruling class, is the spring-board from which Powell has chosen to relaunch himself.
The policy it offers to the Loyal ist is the only coherent one. It projects i new Union with Britain by a linkup of the Loyalists with the most reaclionary trends in British politics. Although this policy las not yet been fully endorsed by the Loyalists - only Paisley proposes Union at this stage Powell's immediate goal, that of paining a wider representation in the Westminster Parliament comands total support from the Loyalists and has a large band of adherents inside the Tory Party. No wonder last week's Observer beadline declared that: "Powell Return Will Split Tories".
As far as Enoch Powell is concerned, the recent actions of the Loyalists serve as a model for the rest of Britain. Powell bases himself on this new found confidence of the Loyalists since their general strike. This base is being con tinually reinforced by the conces-