Socialist Challenge No. 222, 18 November 1981
The scan: sc-no222.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
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Challenge
can smash t
No 222 18 November 1981 25p
policies
ON Friday 13 November Islington MP John Grant voted in Labour's shadow cabinet elections. Three days later he joined the Social Democratic Party. Grant had a clear conscience in this crazy affair. After all a good portion of the shadow cabinet agree with the policies of the SDP anyway.
Last week's row over Tony Benn's Commons speech defending Labour Party policy on renationalisation of hived-off state assets, illustrates the problem very clearly.
Michael Foot, Peter Shore, Roy Hattersley and the rest of the Labour right wing want a shadow cabinet veto over conference decisions - to allow the parliamentary party to prevent the implementation of socialist policies.
Tony Benn, far from being 'provocative' was the victim of a provocation from the *. right wing. He was absolutely right to refuse to respect shadow cabinet 'collective responsibility'. Such an undertaking would have made him a prisoner of the right. wing's
Unemployed and Strikers 10p
Socialist
Socialist
SDP
behind all the disputes is a simpe cue: ion: How can the Tories and the Socia Democrats be defeated? Foot and the right wing say that party feuds are damaging Labour's chances.
But nothing will ensure defeat for Labour more surely than the tired old anti-working class policies inherited from Wilson and Callaghan.
The only way to defeat the Social Democrats and their media bandwagon is to challenge them with socialist policies.
Labour needs to put to the working people of Britain policies which can solve the capitalist crisis in their interests - socialist policies such as opposition to unemployment, nuclear war and the EEC, and for the nationalisation of the monopolies and the banks.
In reply to the attack from the right, the fight for Labour Party democracy and socialist policies should be stepped up. A Labour Party which goes into a general election with SDP policies, will always be defeated by the real SDP.
JoBS
Jobs for NOT Youth BOMBS Demo 29 November 11am Hyde Park
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Ford workers in the front line
Transport for the people, not profit
By Mick Drake, Dagenham assembly plant FORD'S 54,000 workers are once again in the front line of the fight against government pay policy.
and better pensions has been rejected out of hand by the company. In its place Ford are offering a vicious productivity deal.
At stake is not only a wage cut but thousands of jobs. Greater mobility of labour between jobs, an end to demarcation and co-operation the troduction new
and WULK methods are only part of Ford's "less money more WOlK Payments Plan.
Halewood
Merseyside there have been fifteen walk-outs in a seven week period, including a one day all out strike in the transmission plant.
Riot
Two stoppages in the last ten days in Dagenham body plant have led to the whole plant being laid off without pay. The current stoppage involves body welders protesting the sacking of two co-workers for alleged clocking offences.
A stoppage in the paint shop over mobility of abour led to widespread Assembly Plant. lay-offs Dagenham
ICal riot and further stoppage ensued on the work when workers found
that selected inVUL dividuals had been picked
By Hazel Macpherson and Martin Eady
Denning may rule.
level.
society.
The inefficiencies and wastefulness of capitalism are highlighted by the present transport system which allows one section
compete against another, instead of utilising all the resources as fully as possible.
integrated transport system is needed Inal works for tne benelit of people, not the profit of Lie capitalists LaDOllI government would need to take special measures develop such a system, in
La lllassive programme of public investment i transport, win no strings attached.
It would also need to nationalise the road haulage industry without compensanion. Thatcher has sold off the it bly traffic that once went ran to ner menes in the private road haulage sec-
Private firms are now legally entitled to operate passenger services while rail fares are deliberately raised, or many ap opies out many people's reach and making the private services look more attractive: * Aihtransport..
Socialist Challenge
Their claim for f20 a week more, 35 hours
from among them to work
garage when everybody else was laid off.
Ford workers are beginning to realise that disputes and unpaid layOLES like Inese will be regular events if the company's Efficiency Payment Plan is accepted.
The aim total management control over line speeds and working Dracules. The choice the mass meetings, Inererore sol between reality on prose terms the war peace, but war will be rougnl
paint
La clue workers raring to go and simo beld back bv a hesitant union leadership The present disputes are largely defensive reflexes to management provocations. Attacks
Short time working has taken a heavy toll in most Was over the last elga teen months leading to the bleeding off of 4,000 jobs. Insecurity has been increased by the lengthening dole queues outside.
Both
umon leaders and the stewards' The drastic reductions of fares on London buses and tubes has been the Labour GLC's most popular measure to date, whatever Lord The next Labour government should develop this policy at a national Transport is a basic and essential service that has to operate in the interests of working people. It is the life blood of any industrial
of worKers regaretes. which sector they work in
have no interest in the privatisation of the transport neustry.
next Labour government should also renationalise privatised sectors on rail with 110 compensation. When the rall was nationalised in 1947 massive compensation payments
awarded to the and we're still paying for it today.
But to commit the next Labour government to such radical policies means campaigning now inside
Untortunate. ly, the leaders of our rail unions, in particular the National Union of Railwaymen, has worked hand in glove with
the interests of its members.
The Railwaymen's
Charter, published by the
NUR at the end of 1979 laid great stress on a 'com-
approach' between the 111011 British Rail Board (BRB) and the Las conThis approach has tinued with the
union
leaders making joint ap-
proaches with the BRB Lee government the trope or achieving increas."
Page 2
plant leaderships have
been unwilling unable
WILI where it is no longer possi-
attacks on obs practices a sectio staffing levels and by section, plant by plant Jevel.
Political solutions at a national level are now required to deal with many transport industry ed investment in rail.
The 1981 pay settlement and its understanding on productivity was another along the
ALCU same road. Speaking at the 1981 TUC
Concret support of a resolution acienang Halolansca in dustry, Sidney Weighell exnlained that the
to the public sector.
Trade Unions.
Cars on assembly line at Dagenham are getting smashed up in protest against conditions
day to day problems especially the 35 hour week and worksharing without loss of pay to deal with new technology and job loss.
This power to win has to be organised. The days of the sit at home strike are ove Regular mass meetings Transport workers have no interest in the privatisation of the
However, he went on to say: "These attacks are spearheaded by the Prime Minister against management and workforce month after month the eftorts of management and workforce are deliberately denigrated by a government which set out from the day it was elected to deprive these industries of investment and resources.
are needed to fully inform
what is happening. stewards committees stone de las ornedto fighting strike commitICCS with CALLC militants from the shopfloor and union branches elected to them.
The union organisa-
We only need to look Sir Parker's £12,000 pay rise to see just how much he is denigrated by the Tory government!
We have to make it clear to our union leaders, the membership and the public that the BRB's strategy for the industry is the same as the Tories destroying a 7 vital and public service.
tion must be geared up to win through mass involve ment pickets and delegations to other workplaces.
And Ford
workers should not have to fight
Claim atter •claim well over the Tories' four per cent limit are pouring in coupled with demands
his spy
By Mary Jacobs
Socialist Challenge
on rail.
wing provocation
tions about where exactly he worked.
secretary,
in the leaflet when he got back.'
be
desianed to do preciselv that
Mr Dudley's
action against the paper
members the members of the union.
viously thought the visit worthwhile
for shorter hours.
Pressure should be applied to the national union leaderships these tion.
Such united would not just force the bosses to retreat and that. cher do a U-turn. It would flush Tories right round the S-bend.
Sid Weighell sends in
LAST week a Mr Dudley visited the offices of
to obtain some back copies of the paper that had featured articles
Later he phoned asking for a copy of the 'Rank and File' leaflet which had been exposed two weeks previously as being a right
Claiming to be a member of the National Union of Railwaymen working in London, Mr Dudley was reluctant to answer any ques-
When asked if he did in fact work for the NUR itself at Unity House, the telephone conversation came to an abrupt end. Mr Dudley. it appears, heads up the NUR's Organisation Department and is considered to be general
Sid Weighell's, right hand man
Mr Dudley phoned the next day to say that he was sure "Mr Weighell would be interested
We explained that we felt sure he would
- notto expose une rigat wing and lascisi elements operating inside the union but to further witch hunt the left. The leaflet was
We suggested to Mr Dudley that when Mr Weighell returned, he should contact us.
reaction was that Mr.
Weighell might be interested in taking some
•presumably for quoting his vigorous defence of the right for
National Front to
Although coming along to pick up back copies of a paper is generally considered too demeaning for the likes of him, Mr Dudley ob-
In the meantime, the whole labour move ment should take up the defence of militants inside the NUR who are being hounded by the leadership, in particular by Mr. Sid Weighell.
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Picket Snipe.
been forced position now realised what's going on in the country. way the fight for jobs is being "led" by the leadership, and the need for a change.
After seven months on strike, Laurence worker, John Pandolfo told Socialist Challenge why he is going on the Jobs Train: I'm going to tell people on the Jobs Train how to fight for jobs - and the need to stick together, trethed unemployed and
The Jobs Express, which leaves Newcastle on arrives in London four days later, is part of the National 'Jobs for Youth Campaign' sponsored by the TUC and number organisations.
Much has been media see and Masters, the waste and despair
despairing about une were on the 24 October demonstration shouting.
Bombs' and 'Kick out the Tories'
They know they are fighting their future and have learnt the hard way that they can't rely on their own leaders.
Phil Penning, 20 year old TASS steward from Laurence Scott, spells it out: 'Boyd and Duffy stabbed us in the back. I'm going on the Jobs 'Express to tell fight for jobs you have to take on the bosses and the union leadership. But I'm also going to tell them that By Tessa van Gelderen NOTHING'S getting message from the picket line outside Mining Supplies in Doncaster.
Laurence Scott strikers began the round- theclock picket of the parent company to finally bring Mining Supplies boss, Arthur Snipe, to his knees.
The conference called for: 1. All trade unionists to respect and support our 24 hour picket of Doncaster Mining Supplies starting from next Monday. In the event of the picket being attacked we call on all trade unionists to support the picket line. ing for a mass picket on Monday 23 November and the following Mondays. 2. All trade unionists to black all Laurence Scott/Mining Supplies motors. 3. The continuation of the campaign inside the AUEW for the recall of the AUEW National Committee and the Final Appeal Court. We appeal for sponsorship from AUEW bodies for a national mass picket of the AUEW executive.
On behalf of Yorkshire's 68,000 miners I extend our best wishes to all workers at present in dispute with Laurence Scott, who
for themselves but tor all other workers in Britain as well. We wish you every success and assure you of our continued support. Arthur Scargill, President, S Yorks NUM We would request all union members not to cross our members' picket lines, and to render the maximum suppport and assistance to ensure work removed or destined from the Manchester factory should not be worked upon, to ensure that
successful conclusion.
John Tocher, No 29 Confed District Committee Secretary
This is the age of the Jobs Train
into a where I've
I've seen the
Labour
Scott Phil Penning November and
of youth
said by the about John Pandolfo youll There is nothing vouth who likes of Duffy and Boyd.'
CND The Jobs 'Jobs not
for youth, round Unfortunately, demonstration Dar lallcul
festivals and discos.
people when you time. factories in through. That's the
On Monday the We are callare fighting for the right to work not merely the dispute be brought to a satisfactory and
we intend to win and in so doing begin the process of kicking out the
Express could be an way message home to people, especially
the country. for Ind lobby of London. the youth appear to be fed a diet of rallies,
For Kerry Wade, who is 16 and sponsored by Bury Trades Council. this is not the best way to spend their
'We need to get round the for it. each town, have demonstrations at everv stop. We
After seven months on strike fighting to save their jobs, they have taken this acuaice ou Lne union leaders. Full support for this picket is vitally necessary.
Last time the Scott workers organised a picket at Doncaster, Snipe was prepared to make an offer.
It was at that point that the union leaders, led by Dufand Boyd of engineering union, insisted that the strikers accept the offer. wilnoul a guarantee vl no enforced redundancies, the workforce renused Boyd and Duffy withdrew
abused and missed tre
abused misused the book rule arallisi strikers.
Thus was no coincidence liaise caulcace Scott solidarity conference held on Saturday discussed how to win the dispute hand in hand with how to democratise the unions.
Jonathan Silberman, member of the AUEW in CHeSter. summed he feelings of the majorit of the 203 delegates at thi connerence "Laurence Scott shows you can fight DaCK against 3m unemployed There ai c people in the labour movement, like Boyd and Dutfy, who are an obstacle to that fight back: 650 have started WORKERS put the skids under the feet
The conference had a number of MPs speaking
Solidarity
should be making workers like Laurence Scott who are leading the fight for jobs.
Kerry knows what it's like to be unemployed. She was on a Youth Opportunity Programme scheme and was sacked when she tried to stick up for her rights.
'Once I'd done the basic training it turned into slave labour. The boss tried to make me pay for some paper
was ruined. 1 lola him couldn't make me pay so he started •yug to get me to work al nour overtime 'for a few weeks" to pay
When I told him I wouldn't do it, he sacked me.' Now Kerry is trying to get an apprenticeship in
as well as local officials from the AUEW. Representatives from disputes all over the counspoke, bringing greetings and informing the ot their struggles. And the message was the same - you have teaderships as yell as me take own DOSS LO WIll Writer Jim Allen pointed out that the Tories could not get away with strengthening the police, the army and the judiciary without the agreement of the right wing in the Labour Party Longbridge steward Grant Keir told the conterence that it was the right wing in the labour who had movement organised the BL sell out; it was Michael Foot who was now the leader of the right wing in the labour movement.
Three crucial tasks emerged from the conference: supporting the Doncaster picket; organisblacking, particularly in the mines, ,and building picket the AUEW headquarters.
Within one day of the picket Stallilig Doncaster, the local National Union of Mineworkers had blacked Laurence Scott and Mining Supplies. The pressure is now on Arthur Scargill and the Yorkshire NUM likewise Doncaster miners joined the picket line on Mon
Support youths' demands for jobs,
• Cardiff • Bristol
27 November
London
with engineering.
But the youth face obstacles at every level. John Pandolfo explains: 'I've been at Laurence Scott since l left school.
served my time there. But it's going
to be very hard to get another job -
I've not got enough experience.'
But the experience struggle for jobs at Laurence Scott he has made people like John and Phil
understand what needs to be done. John told us: We've learnt that the fight for jobs is a political thing. shown that you've got to stand up
and fight.'
Phil Penning knows what he's November 1981 Available strike headquarters 20 Roundcroft, Romiley Cheshire
while the South wale NUM sent observers to the conference, led by vice president, Des Dutfield, who pledged full support.
Arthur Snipe tried to
Monday's counteract picket with a loudspeaker system and a disembodied voice. The pressure on him has . to be kept up That is why the strikers have called a mass Dickel for the next two Mondays
23 and 30 November: that is why they still need full for their struggle, both against Snipe and Duffy
As TASS steward from Scotts. Phii Penning, said • We've struggied
. LI che 25: 4... montes die
MEETTHE JOBS EXPRESS
• Manchester • Sheffield 25 November • Birmingham Swansea 26 November Lobby of Parliament On 30 November those who have press will in the obs
train. I'm
I'm now 22 and I've
of the 'And I'm
Arthur Snipe, It's leaders, their system.
LAURENCE SCOTT
STRIKE BULLETIN
Issued by Laurence Scott Joint Shop Stewards Committee
movement will give it full backing.
Tony Benn MP
education, training and a voice
Newcastle 23 November •Edinburgh • Glasgon • Liverpool ,24 November Jobs for Youth Festival
March and Rally On 2all wilbe incar Londo
going to do when he gets aboard the going up and down talking to everyone and at all the towns we visit. I'm going to explain that the best way to get jobs, for including youth, IS Ic support those fighting for jobs, like Staffa and us at Scotts.
going to tell them that what we're doing is not just taking on our boss, or our union but the Tories and whole bloody rotten Donations and messages of support Laurence Scott workers are now in the front line for jobs and justice. I welcome this conference and hope that the whole labour -
Laurence Scott Benefit Saturday 5 December Concorde Suite Droylesden, Manchester 7.30 till late Live bands, Cabaret disco Organised by Manchester City Labour Porn
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The murky past of
By Geoff Bell It is easy to dub Michael Foot a hypocrite and a poacher turned gamekeeper. For example, his ultimatum to Tony Benn, and his insistence that shadow cabinet policy supercedes conference policy, can be contrasted with the following incident recorded in the recent book on Foot by Simon Hoggart and David Leigh:
'When Foot arrived at Westminster (in 1945).. he lost little time in making it clear how he intended to cally Ull. In October, at the first full meeting of the new Parliamentary Labour Party, he seconded a motion moved by Barbara Castle, worded in feline lashion to call on ministers "to preserve the unity of the PEP before they tong by consulting decisions went
the annual conference.' Heretics
Or take the following paragraph written by Foot in 1958:
"The British Labour Party can be made a most
instrument for achieving socialism nome ana peace abroad.
long perpetual remedial action is taken to prevent hardening of the Socialist Challenge 18 November 1981
Michael Foot
arteries, softening of the brain. the domination the young by the old or the domination of the heretics by the stuffy and the ultraorthodox, officeseekers and the power maniacs.
Today, it is Tony Benn who is judged to be the 'heretic' Michael Foot who is 'stuffy and orthodox' , and it is Neil Kin nock and other aco vtes ot Foot who are the 'officeseekers' and power maniacs'
And yet, it is a bit too simple to explain what has happened to Michael Foot by saying that he has 'sold
reneged on his past. For, in many wavs that past is not so inconsistent with Foot's present politics.
Foot's radical reputation was established because of the stand he took on number of issues. Support Michael Foot - young witchhunter, old Callaghanite.
Page 4
nepuducal spain in int cIvil war. participation ir the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in the rate 1950s and early 1960s denunciation of the US in
were his most notable causes.
More generally, he was OIC OI Aneurin Bevan's chief neutenants WICH Bevan was as popular in the constituency parties as Benn is today. And Foot himself has long been associated with the Tribune Group.
Indeed Foot became editor of one in yar and the direction in which
took the newspaper then gives • a clue to the direction he is seeking to take the Labour Party today.
Dried
By 1948, the radicalism which the Labour government had snown election three years earlier had largely dried up. But so too had the finances of Tribune. This encouraged Michael Foot to seek one ot his now tamous compromises.
In 1949 he
Jallual y negotiated a deal with the national headquarters of
Labour Party
the Labour Party whereby, in return for a financial donation, it was given IWC pages of Tribune in which to put over the official party line. This arrangement coloured the other pages in Tribune, which became less and less critical of the Labour government at the very time that this government was lurching more and more to the right. Backed Whethere in September 1949, was an economic ' crisis and devaluation Tribune backed the government's policy. 'even though it carries with it some increase
and even though unemployment may be inevitable'.
When public spending cuts were introduced October, Foot was critical of the government only for 'not presenting the cuts in
more understandable way.'
In the context of the economic crisis Tribune called for 'sacrifice' and 'self-discipline in the cause of British socialism'.
All this was written when Michael Foot was meant : to be a darling young. leftie What foretold was the Michael Foot who ander ea the Wilson Callaghan cabinets, and who sought to justify the rise in unemployment and decline in living standards
of the working class from
1976-79
Although this support for government by Tribune in 1948 may have been influenced by the financial contributions Tribune was then receiving from the national Labour rarty, Ivichael root ran the newspaper in such way as to suggest that his own sympathies were mov1n9 away ICE U rhetoric which Tribune had built upon.
Thus • solicited articles from non-Tribunites such as Roy Jenkins, who became the newspaper's main . correspondent financial matters and from Anthony Crosland. Sinished y Tribune published series of Jenkins' articles in a pam. phlet form with the title Fair Shares for the Rich
Cuddling up to the Labour right was one thing, but the treatment Tribune gave to those on its left was something else Under Foot's leadership the newspaper became venement antiCommunist, both at home and abroad. NATO
Internationally, Tribune had previously sought a 'third way' between American
erialism and the Sovie
Union. Now it became
Tribune expressed support for NATO saying 'any increase in world ten-
sion resulting from its formation was a necessary
US intervention Korea was enthusiastically welcomed. Although admitting this intervention was 'pre-meditated attack', Tribune consoled its readers with the news that 'the West had shown it will fight' Woodrow Wyatt in a column in Tribune even pondered whether or not the Us should be advised to drop an atom bomb on North Korea.
The expression of such views was a consequence of the cold war period. Foot became a spokesperson for British imperialism wherever it was challeng-
Tribune defended UK. US intervention the Greek war, declared that British in Malaya was necessary prevent the country going
'communist banneed not apologise for our dits' insisted: 'We mission Africa Whatever the reasons that took our forebears there we must stay. Bans
In Britain as well Tribune encouraged witch-hunts against Com-
supported moves to sack Communist Party members from the civil service and defended the ban on Communists from becoming officeholders in the Transport & General Workers Union
This variety of politics which Michael Foot wa: fundamental in promoting
Tribune may variance with the allegedly liberal, warm-hearted open minded peace. loving Michael Foot. But
the contradictions can b explained by the different contemporary political circumstances in which 'Foot the lefty' and 'Foot the anti-lefty' operated.
The Michael Foot of and the anti-Vietnam days was alve Wue! the crisis of world imperialism and British imperialism was not quite so acute as in 1949/50 and 1981. It was possible to be liberal without being anti-
Luxury
In the cold war period and today such an option becomes luxury& Michael Foot and Tribunism are forced to take sides.
In 1949 Foot took the side of British and US im.
perialism, and called upon
workers to make sacrifices for them. Foot's 'sacrifice' away his left wing 'conscience' for the good of the 'nation', the Labour
and Labour Party. For him it mattered little if tha
nation or was dominated b capitalism and its agents.
Today, the story is be ing repeated. He demands silence from Benn
arrivities or to ste of
activities for the sake
'unity' But Foot's owi history has shown what such 'unity' leads to.
For the left in 1949 it led to a liquidation of its Sociaur Party it led to 13 and the
Labour years of Tory government.
The lesson of Michael Foot and the Tribunism he represents that Tony Benn should just not stand his ground, , but he should march forward
Page 5 scan of this page
Photo: JEREMY NICHOLS
Interview with Reg Race
pensation, from the Shadow cabinet.
side the Labour Party.
Tony Benn's speech has been presented by the
tion. was it party policy? Why was he asked to do the speech? Was he set up by Michael Foot and the right wing? Is this declaration of war by the right wing of the PLP?
I don't think that there was an attempt by Michael Foot to deliberately set up
Tony Benn. But I do think we have to be clear what party policy is. The document 'Peace, Jobs and Freedom agreed by the Wemblev Conterence LWO year amo, and carried by over votes to 6.000 said in any or we were favour re-
assets taken into the private sector from the public without compensation. There has been no change in conference policy since that time.
This is a dispute which would have eventually occurred no matter what the issue. There are those in the PLP leadership who
have taken issue with Tony Benn no matter Wildl it they were looking for an issue to my lo isolate nim in tne parliamentary party.
ABOUR PARTY
•We need a new
organisation..'
Following Tony Benn's front bench speech last week in which he advocated re-nationalisation of hived off North Sea oil assets without com-
The seems certain to be excluded Phil Hearse talked to left Labour MP REG RACE about the row that has resulted and the ongoing struggle in-
The right wing are trying to use resolutions to the shadow cabinet counter the weight of the left in the party.
It looks as if Tony Benn won't be elected to the shadow cabinet just a couple ot months he got almost 50 per cent of the votes in the deputy leadership contest. Doesn't this mean Ine rigat nave declared Shouldn't the left go on. the left. the offensive clear out all these people who refuse to respect party policy?
The established procedures reselection and the electoral college have got to be used. response of the left is very important. We have to set lert in orch seaks to u the an organisation on the the left in the constituencies and inside the trade unions We have to do that as a delegate body with delegations from vi callsallulls inside the Labour Party to construct an or carsallull with a number of aims in view.
The first of these objectives must be to reverse the right wing gains on the and win back control TOI the letitimate left, the
Second we have to run a campaign to defend the
Party's policies against those in the shadow cabinet and the PLP who seek to undermine them. We can only do that by building up a campaign in the working class as a whole.
That's very important because just ask yourself the question: who is going to attack the SDP and the great threat it poses to the unity of the labour move-
from the shadow cati *? It's obvious that
those the LUCC shadow cabinet who agree with the SDP's even if they disagree with the formation of the SDP. They are therefore unwillSPAS Citing involved
of the
What we have to do in this new left organisation s to go all out and attack he SDP as the capitalist party that it is
One one uor or a con test for the leadership or deputy icaaersnip next year is a question which still has to be discussed we have to see if it is tacucauv correct when we're coming up to a general election
What you propose, the setting up of a Labour Party organisation uniting constituencies and unions,
But didn't the ference show the decisive strength of the
certain important unions.for example. Doesn't
Labour Party
80th ANNUAL CONFERE
Reg Race any organisation of the
which involves trade union activists have to fight to solve that problem?
That's true. At the moment the block vote tends to be split down the middle between left and right - a big advance from the fif ties and sixties. We have to defend and extend the gains which we have made in the trade union move-
ment for left wing policies
and show the trade union that the implementation of those policies is in the interests of their members.
The answer to the right wing domination unions like the AUEW APEX and EEPTU is the
left organisations and the bringing together of those organisations into a more
But the prerequisite is that the members of those unions have to change those unions themselves. We can support them from the outside, but they must do it themselves.
Coming back to the question of the leadership, isn't it clear that Michael Foot is a willing ally of the right wing not just its prisoner?
This is a very important
There are those in the Tribune group who stink the romahaie statis
the romantic starryeyed visionary left wing figure that he was in the fifties and sixties
Shere ne others who say that Michael Foot is now the Michael Foot in
the last Labour government who did several im-
jobs for Callaghan, and protected the Callaghan-Healey leadership very effectively from criticism from the left.
I found Michael Foot's statement issued on Friday very interesting that regard, because the crucial phrase was that members of the shadow cabinet who disagreed with party policy had an effective veto.
That must be seen as a total by Michael Foot to the right inside the shadow cabinet. It means in practice Denis Healey and others being able to veto the defence policy of the Labour Partv. market and crucial areas of the alternative policy, like a big extension of public ownership.
It means that Labour Party policy won't be implemented by the next Labour government Michael Foot has come off the fence and thrown in his lot with the right wing inside the shadow cabinet.
Should there not therefore be an ultimate objective replace Michael Foot as leader? Yes, quite right. At an appropriate time there
She left for leader and
left for leader denutv leader. • There is a great desire in the party for unity.
Our line is to say, 'We are willing unite on the basis of accep-
Birkenhead CLP
By Tom Marlowe FRANK FIELD,
the
This Friday,
their membership party questioned by ecutive committee head Labour Party.
porters under attack have been
behalf of the
of the Birkenhead Labour Party
plain their situation.'
Line general . meeting the
sion on the motion 'out of order'.
earlier this
Many mention of the IMG.
Fi nere are Socialist Challenge
parties throughout the country.
has accepted Challenge is Labour Party
article for the newspaper
are leading this
tober, advocated
candidates of the Labour Party
Led to be re-selected.
Field, should elections
candidates.
ter for
alineune
Challenge supporters
ting party policy? If the right wing agree with that, we could all be brothers and sisters tomorrow. But that is hardly likely.
Is the Tribune group an adequate form of organisation for the left in the PLP?
Whether adequate depends on what you consider to be the tasks of lett organisation the Labour Party. If you think that the task of organisation is to unite the left ir the three wings of the parthe trade unions and the the constituencies MPs, then it's important to ask what the Tribune group has been doing about it. Actually it hasn'
been deed ane Tribune
the group traditionally zaKe the that shouldn't get involved with extra-parliamentary activities. I think that is a
Socialist Challenge
Witch-hunt bid in
MP for Birkenhead, and his supporters
constituency Labour Party are going on the witch-hunt trail.
supporters of Socialist Challenge are to have
of the local the exof Birken-
Two of the Socialist Challenge sup-
'invited to attend' the executive meeting. There, a resolution will be discussed which says: 'At a public meeting of the Birkenhead Labour Party a leaflet was distributed on
International Marxist Group. The leaflet named two people to contact ... who we believe are members
'International Marxists are believed to have stood against Labour candidates, so we would like the two members to ex-
This motion was originally passed at
balancackl party. There the chairperson of the party, Labour right-winger Peter Roberts, ruled any discus-
The leaflet referred to in the resolution was handed out at a public meeting
year at which Frank Field, Roy Hattersley and others spoke. But it was a Socialist Challenge leaflet without
many DUOOUILCIS of Birkenhead Labour Party and indeed in constituency
No leading body of the Labour Party
that supporting Socialist incompatible with membership Only last week, Alex Kitson, recent chairperson of the Labour Party conference, wrote an
It is ironical that it is Frank Field's allies in Birkenhead Labour Party who
witch-hunt. For Field himself, in a letter to The Times on 7 Oc. parliamentary candidates against official standing
Field gave advice to any MP who fail-
Such MPs, wrote 'consider fighting byunder the label "sitting Labour MP', against official Labour
Whether or not Field has technically broken the rules of the Labour Party bi encouraging such divisive moves is a mat-
interpretation, but certainly, if Birkenhead Labour Party wants to ex-
credentials of any of its members it seems more suitable to examine those of Field rather than Socialist
Fi the Tribune group wants tr in fluence events in the conand the tic unions it has to organs?
It you also die i! necessary to fight the righ wing ther that something that also has o be done by this organisation. Since the Tribune group has made this fata! mistake, then favour of a new organisation The second problem about Tribuns me its membership of them are not on the left at all. Some of them voted for Denis Healey in the deputy leadership, more abstained. It's very difficult to sit down with Denis Healey supporter and discuss what the lef should do! I hope we'll be able to carry a majority of Tribune group members along with a new organisaLONE
18 November 1981 Page 5
Page 6 scan of this page
A FALTERING STEP
By Steve Longman
CND's annual conference in London. year's CND coined the slogan 'towards a demonstration of a quarter of a million'. demonstration has taken place, the culmination of a year of massive growth of the anti-missiles movement.
eMass were from CND
aelegales were nom groups and regions. While LICH decisions reflected the experience of the last yal. they also showed that not all the lessons of the rebirth of CND have been learned.
Among the most positive decisions of the conference were those to re-affirm cam-
aignıng opposition to
ATO and to call for an internationally coordinated day of action against the missiles. This would aim to mobilise five TAR TONI people on Lne streets of Europe. NATO
The decision on NATO is significant, despite being 'only' a re-affirmation CND policy. Powerful friends CND In the Labour leadership support
rmamen'
BAD
TASTE
Socialist Challenge
CND conference:
HUNDREDS of delegates met last weekend at
At last conference Socialist Challenge
One year later that
unilateral disarmament but are opposed to withdrawal from NATO. Indeed this has been the decision of the Labour rarty conference years running.
Although the resolution was moved bv communist Party member John Elliot delegate from Sheffield CND, some members of the Party the conference opposed the Icsolullull. on the gounds that British withdrawal from NATO would leave the peace movement 'isolated'! opposition NATO reflected a year's experience of the realities of the world Nobody in Ine aebate aerenaed the idea that the Soviet Union and the United States were 'equally responsible' for the arms race.
The discussion on an international day of action 18 November 1981 Page 6
against the missiles was in
mine conference The
conference. The proposal for such a day of action was moved by Redmond O'Neill from Greater Manchester CND, who argued for the action to be co-ordinated with a joint CND-TUC-Labour Party demonstration Britain.
CND national council member Alasdair Beal argued DIO posal on the grounds that CND could not 'impose" such action on movements in other counYouth
tries, and that the proposal represented 'British arlogance
O'Neill replied that the proposal, from representing British rogance represented 'the spirit of internationalism'
The proposal was over whelmingly carried, reflecting an increased grasp of the power and potential of
Some of the problems were shown however in the debates on youth and the labour movement. In the debate 01 LIC labour
HAVERUNS
Stop the missiles
movement detailed resolution was moved by Kevin Holmes, ting Edinburgh CND. He
slogan Bombs', tor a campaign for support from the lavour movelicul a even level, and for labour
in all CND activities.
It represented the feeling of a large section of the conference that the decisive well or wit ing the campaign against the missiles Was be tound inside the : labour movement.
carried hands, it was lost on a card vote. Instead a resolution stressing the importance of
TOR socially desirable alternative work
the allancil ill~ dustries' was carried.
The net effect of passing this proposal was to
the 'jobs bombs' theme, and to de- 1101 prioritise the orientation to the labour movement.
The discussion on youth only reached the conference floor after long fight the youth •workshop and compositing committees. While this
represented NAL
HE REA
small victory, it highlights a bizarre situation.
Anyone who took part LO G demonstration will realise that it was overwhelmingly composed of young people. A resolution was put to raise the age limit of youth CND to 25 and to make youth CND autonomous and self-governing
was defeated in favour of a resolution and for YAND to remain a ксср 'special interest group' like Christian CND, Teachers CND etc.
Although the resolution stressed the impor tance youth, reflected the caution of the CND leaders in recognis ing tne decisive TOIC youth, and in organising the hundreds of thousands of young people who can be won to the campaign.
The failures of the conference relation youth and the labour
demonstrate that the structures of CND
ting these crucial areas in
cesses, nor to maximising their invo vement in activi.
глото: pelt GRANT (Socialist Challengel This year's conference
voted increase membership of the CND national counci • OIL Bus reform is pitifully inadequate.
The conterence delegates really represented the local CND groups and CND regions. But the existing CND activists are overwhelmingly middle
the youth and labour movement are not organised in CND groups. need a more open structure so that major CND conferences can delegates from labour movement and youth bodies with decision-making powers.
Cruise
This isn't a question, as conne CND Mender argue, of making labour movement the onl area of activity, but recognising LuIC decisive weight and importance of the organised working class. Nonetheless year's conference marked some important steps forward, representing a year of mass campaigning.
Finally, a suprise
curred when veteran Com munist Party 'peace' campaigner JONI Cox defeated as CND chairperson and replaced with lett Labour Party member Joan Ruddock. reflected the decline in the grip of the CP on the apparatus of the movement.
ACCOCK told Socialist he tale of that although the task stopping cruise missies o 1983 normous grotto no, the enormous growth the movement made it a possible objective. That is certainly true — provided CND starts to organise its mass base in the labour movement and the youth..
nuclear
By Paul Lawson
conference last to Defence Secretary 21,
'warning'
Europe generalised the USA and USSR. still
rising anti-American feeling in Europe matter nave been clear tor years weapons
on the would be
occupation of Western Europe. In this sense, 'theatre nuclear whole
only
The neutron confirmation of this scenario.
agains Soviet class warfare breaks
calculation of We
have inevitable, there
constructing such weapons fact, the weapons neutron bomb, weapons or missiles aesigned limited to Europe.
Reagan's
NATO would the
presumably military installation
of
sevolut
conventional war.
What is
nuclear weapons OC-
wa. launch mashes
Soviet targets
Soviet Union,
that nuclear ale. Europe
La humiliating
its cities.
USA for fear of ultimate total Such is the 'new thinkers'
NATO will use
weapons first
'THERE SEEMS to be some confusion' said US President Ronald Reagan at his press
week 'about whether NATO has a contingency plan to fire a nuclear missile first as a warning in the event of war with the Soviet Union'. How remarkable that the US president is unable to find out what NATO's battle plans are!
The contusion of course is a result O1 contradictory statements on the topic by US Secretary of State Alexander Haig anc
Weinberger.
The issue of whether NATO could fire a
missile is part and parcel of the debate about whether it is US policy that a 'limited' nuclear war could be fought in
without being escalated into a exchange between
The contradictory statements indicate that the Us is becoming worried about
and anti-nuclear But the facts of the - it is just that Reagan's unfortunate confirmation of them, and Haig's confirmation of Reagan's remarks are untimeiv to say tile least
In the first place, it has been NATO policy for at least a decade and probably a lot longer that it might be necessary to use
first. Since the 1950s NATO planners have estimated that in the event of a conflict on the 'central front' (ie
East-West German border) NATO unable to noid une supposec advance of Soviet tanks for more than a few days. It would then become necessary to begin using 'tactical' battlefield nuclear weapons in order to avoid defeat and the
the notion of limited war • not The debate about 'escalation' in the early 1960s was precisely about this point.
bomb is just One of the major uses of the neutron bomb would be
if conventional out. were the NATO planners that limited nuclear war was impossible, and that once nuclear weapons of any kind were used then an all-out exchange was
would be no point in
Cruise, Pershing lance of and new the are all either 'battlefield' short and medium-range precisely war
about whether COATS ON fire warning against Soviet city or is hilarious but It has always been part of NATO battle plans to use nuclear weapons first if it were necessary to avoid losing a
different now, since the systematisation of 'theatre' warfare plans is that instead of it being assumed that there is a grave danger of this first use of
turning into generalised exchange, it is more and more assumed that the Soviet Union would not
the USA in retaliation for strikes against individual
whether these targets were Soviet tanks or targets inside the
hit by Cruise missiles
If such a proposition is valid it means war Covere confined •to and the Soviet Union could suffer defeat, accepting nuclea attacks against its forces and even one of
but not retaliating against the I destruction. temptation for NATO'S _ a series ot assumptions which make nuclear war thinkable. It's because of that that Reagan's 'confusion takes on a decidedly unfunny light.
Page 7 scan of this page
By Megan Martin THERE is growing evidence that US military intervention in Central America is imminent.
In response there military counter-mobilisation Nicaragua. tries have become convinced that the Reagan administration is planning to move militarily within a matter of weeks.
who defends the right of the peoples of Central America and the Caribbean to determine their own future.
On November ancented US administration officials leak-
press Secretary of State Haig
askedune Pentagon "to study a show of force' атонно Cuba. The York Times reported on 5
be 'a show of airpower, large naval quarantine the ment of arms to the island. a general blockade as part of an act of war, and an invasion Dy American and
Latin American
Leak
The 'leak' came in the midst meeting in
Washington
Lalill American army chiefs. number of Latin American diplomats in Washington said that the conference focussed specifically on El Salvador and on US charges of Nicaraguan and Cuban involvement there.
October the Latin American Weekly Report reported that Argentine armv commander Genera
US - keep out of
Central America
has been a general in Cuba and The governments of these coun-
The call is to mobilise in action everyone
Leopoldo Galtieri was to visit Washington in November 'to discuss the final details of plans to send Argentine troops to Salvador'. fact, several Latin American
if they might join in some ku ur mulary overallull. in El Salvador.
Worse It is the development the civil El ot Wal Salvador that explains the US increased inreal military intervention in the
Even administration spokespeople now acknowledge that the military situation in El Salvador FMLN/FDR-led guerrillas between the
and the Junta's army is in 'stalemate'. Other reports indicate that, from Washington's point view, the situation in El Salvador is much worse. In recent weeks the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front has widened its areas oil and Pictures on this page are from 'El Salvador: Repression and Revolution', an exhibition by Camerawork and the El Salvador Solidarity Campaign. Pioture at top of page shows
dealt sharp blows to the Jila
On 15 October the strategic Puente de Oro Golden Bridge) over ine
River was demolished This greatly FMLN commandos. complicated transport and troop movements between the capital and southeastern El Salvador.
Damage
The guerrillas have
inflicted heavy dISO damage to the country's electric network,
one-third On 7 November FMLN units staged heavy
installaallacks ul tions in San Miguel, the
city in the country, and the main provincial capital in eastern El Salvador.
Headway
Things don't look good from the other side,
lowever. Almost every week since Iviarch a new 'counteroffensive' by the Salvadoran armv has beer announced. But not even the elite Brigade' trained and advised by Us Green Berets, has been able to make headway against the
same time the
MLI and tne Revolutionary Democratic Front (FDR) have taken the of-
6256/7/8 for details.
Central America.
and Washington on the diplomatic calling for a political solution to the conflict. On 7 October, Nicaraguan leader, Daniel
the peace proposals the Assembly of the United Nations. Failed
In Nicaragua also the Reagan administration Is faced with a revolution ad
rapidly. Wash valle ington's two-year effort to pressure and DIDe Sandinista National Liberation tront (HSLN) into blunting the anticapitalist of the
anniversary the over throw Somoza regime, Daniel Ortega declared before a rally of half a million people in Managua:
•From this day on, the FSLN, the and all the people of Nicaragua are deciding the rules of the game. We are not going to permit the capitalists to keep on playing TOBINO WILd OuT revolution.' Arrests
Ortega reaffirmed this stance on 22 October when he announced the arrest of four big-business leaders. They were charged under a provision the September economic emergency decrees. guard at US embassy in San Salvador. Camerawork 121 Roman Rd, London E2. Telephone 980
This po visite Foreigin
illegal incite governments and international lending institutions
carry out actions make decisions that cause damage to the national
Ortega declared: "This revolution is not going to be turned around.
In response to the arrests Newsweek reported on 9 November thật *the
almost abandoned its last faint hopes that Nicaragua's Sandinistas could be persuaded to The exhibition is at
Torow a vraisi •a -and the hardline US policy toward America has turned even harder.'
Cuban and Nicaraguan leaders have made it clear the aid of the poun that their
to come to the popular forces in El Salvador in the event of a direct foreign intervention. Cuba has also reaffirmed its solidarity with the Nicaraguan and Grenadan revolutions
Since the Cubans sounded the us m the response of government officials has only served to confirm the charges The Guardian reported on 13 November that Haig had 'refused to rule out the possibility that America might attempt to overthrow the Nicaraguan government.' Britain
To some extent the bourgeois press has sought to portray the situation as a policy dispute between Haig and the Pentagon According to this version 'it is highly doubtful that the American public and Congress would support military intervention'
Certainly, military intervention would not be popular. Despite protests
Kitson attacks Haig
weekend by Alex secretary of the
Party NEC.
Speaking al a
policies in Central America
Europe.
son.
this is something important.
Socialist Challenge
from the Administration. the US Senate recently voted by 51-27 to attack a conditions future aid to El Salvador But ed to halt one a dance mined to the advance revoltor Central America and the Caribbean and the range
of ophion on nares
then to those who desend only 1 COVE right self-
mobilise immediately and massivel against threat of US military tervention.
An Anti-Interventir n Front was launched al a press conterence In Lol joint initiative of the de a don on 30 October tral American and Cari,bean solidarity campaigts.
Its aim is the creation an anti-intervention movement of the greatest possible breadth and unity in Britain. It calls for a halt to US political, economic and military against the people of Cen-
Caribbean and for an end
to British government support for US policy in the region.
The Anti-Intervention Front can be contacted at: 29 Islington Park St., London N1.
SOLIDARITY with Cuba, Nicaragua and the people of El Salvador was urged last
Kitson, acting general Transport and General Workers Union and a member of the Labour
labour movement rally in Glasgow, Kitson said that it was shameful that the British government should be supporting Reagan's
Haig's latest threats to intervene in Cuba ana Nicaragua could very easily lead to a holocaust ir
'Our people think that Cuba is nothing to do with them because it is 7000 miles away, ' said Kit-
'But it is only 5 minutes away when it comes to nuclear war. We have to say to our people that
18 November 1981 Page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
Photo: MORNING STAR
cut-no thanks
By Maureen Shevlin and Val Jones 4,000 school workers in Coventry, members of the
(NUPE) are in the second week of their strike response to the Labour-controlled council's attempt impose LBe following cuts in their pay and the services that they provide:1) A 10 per cent cut in the hours and wages of all school cleaners
removal of cleaners' option to work in the school holidays thus reducing their income by 50 per cent.
reduction caretakers' income by cutting the hours allowed for essential boiler duties over the weekends.
An increase in caretakers' rent ov a turther f2 per week.
Interview with John Doran, senior NUPE shop steward Why do you think NUPE members have been singled out for these cuts in pay?
The local council thought we were the weakest sec-
of council workers because many of our members are women who work part time as cleaners and school dinner staff. They think that women just work for pin money.
family on one wage. Also with the present level of unemployment some of our members are the only breadwinner in the family.
How important do think this dispute isto
We win this one Defeat will open floodgates for other authorities to alter
of service for their workers. If we lose, it could the transport
workers teachers and
NALGO members next in Coventry. Alcady we
know that the city counci will try to £3½m off the budget for 1982/3.
What has been the level
of support from other
local government
unions?
Most unions have sent out
instructions their
members not to carry out
Socialist Challenge
M
Coventry: 10% wage
reduction in the hours of school meal staff
take effect from 30 November, in line with the gradual run down school amed services and price rises.
These cuts are the outcome of the fake referenclin on ale se rule cuts staged by the Labour council at a cost of £88,000 which helped to set the scene for Heseltine's new legislation on local government rates. Rather than organise a campaign with the trade unions, tenants and community groups against the Tory government, the council referenaum gave workers a choice of cut in their income through rate rises or a lurther cut of f2.3m in ser-
Rather than challenge
The Council must
withdraw its proposals'
NUPE members work. Large collections have been held in schools for the hardship fund but NUT members have received all instruction from national level to cross our picket lines
The local NALGO branch officials seem to be sitting on the fence. They have instructed SHCHUCLO to respect our picket lines hut refuse to instruct them to close the schools or organise levy on members. Nor have they organised SUDOULL
who refuse our picket line.
This is despite a petition calling. for the union
GWU stewards called fo
i one-day stoppage in sur
ort of NUPE of all loc
council workers and no
crossing of picket lines to
make deliveries
It is clear that action
must be escalated and sup-
portcu by
completely shut down the
schools and colleges if we
are to defeat the council.
While they can offer of schooling
our action will be urder-
mined.
What efforts have boan
made to inform workers
outside the lacal 78 Novomber 1981 Page 8
NOCUTS
the government's withdrawal funds local government, the council is quite happy to continue doing the Tories' airty work ov uncreaseu charges and cutting jobs
Now they SC VICES want to cut the pay NUPE members.
The fight for socialist policies in the Labour Party must not be sabotaged by the right wing of the Labour group council. Labour Party ac-
the wards and constituencies should seize the opportunity to isolate these traitors by going out
build support for the NUPE the workplaces and on the council estates, and try to impose a 'no cuts no rates raises policy in the Labour group authority of the reasons why NUPE members are on strike?
A special strike bulletin has already been distributed to engineering firms and the local coal
and NUPE stewards have spoken
local workplaces. see a return to workou On what basis can. The Council withdraw the letter containing changes in terms of employment. If we return
to work on anv other basıs it will be a defeat. We cannot negotiate on the basis of accepting any proposed cuts wages Some councilople
that the is quite happy for us to stay
because it will save them money this But stands to save a lot more if we are defeated.
Interview by Maureen Shevlin the van sones.
SUPPORT NUPE
STRIKERS
On £12.50p strike pay for full
time workers and f6.25p fo
par NUPE members
Will soon ar
Send messages
support and donations Little
would come in
legislation,
Umons, would
mes.
enormously
government's moves.
Livingstone's
Lords, either
TURANT roocanst Chanenge
to at our say
no getting
THE DECISION by the court appeal under Lord Denning that the raising of a supplementary rate by the GLC to. pay for its cheap fares is illegal poses a massive challenge to Ken Livingstone and all his supporters. In effect it is their last chance to show that they can push policies in the interests of working people through in the absence of a Labour government to back them up.
Until now, it had been thought that the major challenge to the Labour GLC
the new year when Heseltine's new bill went through. That
despite some concessions made by Heseltine last week in the Com.
have deprived authorities of the ability to make firms pay a major share of the cost of pro-working class high spending program-
In effect, the passing of the legislation will mean either that councils implement the cuts, put up household rates
alternatively, united fashion, start a massive campaign of mass action to defeat the
crunch has earlier than expected however. If the Appeal Court decision is upheld by the
fares in the London transport area will have to go up 60 per cent (at least) or the GLC's finances will be thrown into chaos. Either way, a major plank of Labour's GLC manifesto will have been torn up, and it will be a matter
London Fares:*
off the bus now
evicted.
cidental factor local
for that mobilisation will be here.
come is exactly what is needed.
the courts and the Tories.
of time before Ken Livingstone is
The class and political character of the appeal court decision hardly has to be pointed out. Leaving aside the in-
that Lord Denning.
Master of the Rolis, has a unique belief in the 'creative interpretation of the law, the decision shows the ability of the legal system to defeat progressive social change. It is another vivid indication of the inevitable confrontations with the apparatus of the bourgeois state which any progressive government, local or na. tional, will inevitably be faced with.
Ken Livingstone has always said that in a decisive confrontation he would appeal to the London labour movement for mass action to defeat the Tory attacks. Unless the House of Lords overturns the decision of the Appeal court, the time
The Northwold branch of Hackney CLP has passed a resolution calling for the GLC to publicly declare its intention to defy the ruling and to call on the transport unions to refuse to collect the increased fares, and to call for wider industrial action to back up the fight. This
There is no doubt that cheaper fares are enormously popular. It is a measure so obviously in the interests of working people that it is good terrain to take on
A fight on this issue can motivate and mobilise the whole labour movement.
Page 9 scan of this page
67
WOOD GREEN
EGP I3SJ
By Ken Livingstone
and jobs and
Britain the 20 private firms paid no tax at all ast year so their only direct contribution to the provision public services was via the rates. This is the reason that industry and commerce have been demanding that the Tories change the rating systemsen their fas
Heseltine agreed to do under the guise restricting Tale increases new legislation which he intends
push through parilament before next year's rate making has several features which hit
Latesavers Heseltine will decide how much each council should spend.
If councils spend more, then the extra spending
ratepayers with commerce only London next year the aver London next year E0.0t a were in order to keep £1.07 a week
in order to fares at the present level under the new system the cost would be f2.65.
Those councils most above the new Tory ruidelines woulc lave to double the rates next yeal for domestic ratepayers or make cuts in services on a scale which
IOss 0l a quarter of a million jobs.
Already SULLIC
easurers are talking about rer
creases of f6 a wer fares and massive redundancies for teachers firemen, transport workers and other council staff
If council fails to make the
I done
Defeating Heseltine
THE LABOUR Party finds itself in a dilemma. For years we have increased the rates in order to provide services
to minimise rent and fares increases. Because over 50 per cent of rate income is from industry and commerce there has been a redistribution of wealth in favour of ordinary people flowing from this policy.
largest cuts then the extra quired is to come in the form of a supplementary rate OI Will C referendum.
To ask ordinary families to double their rates while wages are pegged at a 4 per cent would be as now making the cuts required in order to avoid the rate increase The This requires Labour also to revise our strategy. place we must fight the legislation with every means possible. at must also reconvene those First bodies which manifesto in order to determine a resourse cumstances. fall There is no way in which can fudge the issue or muddle domestic through. There comrades who will argue that we average should resign from the Tories make the cuts and boycott the resulting by-elections but or contest the elections grounds that we will refuse to take our seats.
Such a course would be completely wrong. It would leave the workers in each council exposed to massive attacks because
Ordinary families munity would never understand council why the Labour Party failed to defend them and doubling resist the cuts alone.
leeds to be changed in respons to the government and the situation in which
and BP.
practice.
on demonstrations.
court. impartially:
There is no
books under
through the
evils.
By
them taKe
Tate ncrease.
income re-
October •subiect to a
Grant.
MCCast unacceptable
full rates
posals from the
In the first
services and jobs
drew up the
and community to these changed cir.
we 1s now ano ev
will be some their members jobs.
paign must
councils, let possible
behind our stand.
on the back Heseltine's new law. nOW practice.
they
in the com-
ilay
left them to ception of Norman
This anti-trade basis of our policy
ment.
Reprinted we find
The 'impartial'
Lord Denning
KEN LIVINGSTONE has good reason for hoping that the law lords will overturn Lord Denning's ruling on London's fares. In the first four months of last year they rejected ten out of ten of his judgments. These "judgments' included the following: * Steel workers were acting illegally when extending their strike to the private sector. * Secondary picketing at Express Newspapers was unlawful. * Documents relating to sanctions busting in Rhodesia need not be disclosed by Shell
The Master of the Rolls is 83, eight years past the age at which judges now have to retire. He believes that judges should have the power to set aside new laws they think unreasonable and tries to put that into
It was Lord Denning's ruling this year that refused Youth CND permission to march in London at a time of selective bans
It was his ruling that stated that Harriet Harman, National Council for Civil Liberties' lawyer, had no right to show documents to a reporter which had been read in open
But in case anyone thinks that Lord Denning's judgments have shown just a teeny weeny bias on his part, remember the words of one Margaret Thatcher, commenting on Denning's latest ruling: Judges give decisions on the law and the evidence before them. They do so totally
What more is there to say?
ourselves. Labour councils must refuse to vote for cuts in services or rent and tare increases. But we must also refuse to vote for rate increases under the Tories new
way in which Labour councils can balance the
the This is the classic case of the final straw breaking the camel's back Labour councils have struggled
last 2 vears creasing rates in preference to cutting services and jobs because they saw this as the lesser of two
closing off that option Heseltine may now unite Labour councils in opposition which will
outside of the law.
There is no point in rate intenses yelled wane job.
would have
beyond that. councils have been forced into massive rate increases by government cut backs in Rate Support
We should merge our campaigns for a restoration of the RSG cuts with our opposition to the new legislation by imposing a
freeze in next year's one budget and voting down any pro-
Tories for in- union creases in rents and fares or in
We must now prepare for this struggle by a major winter campaign involving the trade unions
realise that the fight to wait until after the legislation will not be able and
if they are to defend unite the widest of
Labour Party Conference in an emergency motion voted to
councils which defy We must carry that decision into
The movement has been bad- lotally dedam ed rate increase rs
rate increases. doing more than any other Minister (with the sole ex- some
Tebbit and union legislation to hasten the fall of this govern-
legal from
Master of the Rolls
act to maintain
lower fares
Interview with Martin Eady, President of the London Transport National Union of capacity)
WHEN THE fares were reduced, by the Labour Greater London Council, attitudes from railworkers. The majority were completely in favour of it because they could see that this would be an insurance for their
The more people transport system, obviously the better it is for our jobs.
The union leadership played upon a fear present among some of the more backward sections of the workforce by claiming that the reduction in fares reduced the value of our be free pass. In fact we got a
off payment response to that and the
leaders played on that by beating the old drum about having cheap desatccuse railway workers.
reaction in the depots and stations to the Appeal Court's ruling on fares is that it's an obvious
open intervention by democracy. People still have a lot of illusions ir bourgeois democracy.
Publicly
think the unions should come out very publicly and say that Lord
Denning's ruling
unwarranter interference. They should state that they're in favour of lower fares and that they're prepared to take
kind of action to maintain them
It's a very difficult area to get into. There are many
problems with refusing to collect fares at all or refusing to collect
- a law unto mmsel
The unions should
District Council of the Railwaymen (personal
there were two
who travel on the
parts of fares. But this is ine sort of approach we should be taking
I've a feeling, however, that our right win leadership in the NUR wil
. sayıng very little and quietly chuckling over the situation. The London Labour Party should issue a call for industrial action particularly on behalf of council employees. Strategy
The special London Labour Party conference
12 December, which has been called to discuss a strategy for fighting the Heseltine Bill, seems ideal opportunity to begin that process.
There would be a battle with some of the unions, obviously, but the more shop stewards and middle and level officials that are involved in the conference, the better the chances of winning. A call for industrial action could come out the conference.
Emphasis
It's worthwhile emphasising we point that the capitalist state will come crasting down and will no allow democratically elected
local governments, indeed national govern-
OHL the policies that they wish to if it's not an e interests u capitalism.
Split
that the Labort gdiup in understanding te ule Is split dowl the middle between taking Lothian implementing cuts and taking a line of opposing cuts one way or the other.
Resign
Obviously there are different ways of doing this - - putting up the rates or whatever The putting up ine rates opuon is ocle
squeezed out by events as
Challenge has been saying for a very long time.
My own feeling is that either resigning and calling a new election on this one single issue or moving into opposition whilst retaining a majority on the council would be the sort of areas which would have to be looked at. Others
The other Labour councils up and down the country that we don't hear anything about which are also cutting fares. South Yorkshire and the West Midlands, in particular, must be drawn into the campaign People talk
about not letting them get chopped off on their own like Lothian did
This has got to be pu into action. It's got to b organised on a nationa basis.
Socialist Challengo 18 Novembor 1881 Pago 9
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Towards the Labour Pa
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Americas
what the response o socialisss interna Socialist Challenge events
By Ray Burns LONDON:-
Fourth International).
Interest in the items on the agenda Poland, Central America and Ireland - was reflected in the attendance or visitors from the New Jewel MoveHe L the FDR of EI Salvador and from Peonles Democracy of Ireland.
The other major discussion, around Ine significance of the rise of une currell. altracted number OT visitors from the Labour Partv and the unions.
Opening the
CUllference a moment's silence was observed for those who had fallen al the hands of the class enemy since the last conterence of the IMG, particularly the ten heroic hunger strikers of H Block murdered by Ine inalener government.
Grenada
Solidarity With the fight against imperialism was a continuous theme in the conference.
The growing threat of direct US intervention Central America and the Caribbean was the subject
La resolution passed unanimously by delegates pledging support for the oliones interventionist front both
britain and interna-
A standing ovation was
from the revolutionary movements of the region.
stirring speech Frederick Emmerson brought greetings to the conference from the
Neit JewelMovement.
Jewel Movement. Stressing the tremendous voslalics that had been put in the way of the
people by previous dictator Gairy,
Emmerson coll auc thanked the IMG for bringing their case to the attention of the British labour movement.
Poland
Jaime Lopez British representative of the El Salvadoran FDR also underlined the role that the British labour movement could play assisting their struggle against the Duarte regime
Of key significance to the outcome of both these revolunons is tne support of Cuba. Delegates began
discussion which will continue after the conference evaluating the Castro leadership team and its relation to building the Fourth International today.
The major event since the last conference of the IMG was undoubtedly the
the ten-million strong workers movement in Poland.
Delegates heard
report bad returned that
had returncu inal week from Poland plaining the roots of the Polish crisis and the birth of Solidarity.
Again delegates decided to continue the discussion on Poland after the conference and pledged full solidarity with their
• Over 500 delegates, observers and guests met from 29 October to 1 November to hear the discussions at the conference of the In. ternational Marxist Group (British Section of the Polish brothers and SISCIS
The importance of practical internationalism was underlined by greetings brought by the United Secretariat of the Fourth International; the IKB (Dutch section of the Fourth International) and Lic siste . OI the IMG: Peoples Democracy of Ireland and
American Socia list Workers Party.
The session on political perspectives had been preceded by four months of discussion in local IMG branches around documents submitted by the majority of the outgoing Central Committee
Unlike the Party and the Communist Party, IMG members have equal access to a discus
bulletin, SOME alic bureaucratic bans are put in the wal organising into 'tendencies' fight for their views. Nue discussion preconterence tendencies, A and B , were formed against the line of the majority of the Central Committee and a third Tendencv C. gave critica support to that line. Equal we was aver lo icnuchcies to present their views
points of difference.
Labour
reporter
duvalliare towards develonments
Pullulg Socialist Challenge as a
Pledge
The lasks resolution moved by the CC Majority received 72.5 per Cell the votes of delegates after amendments proposed b Tendency C were accepted and thes dissolved. Tendencv A received & pe cent of votes for their counter line document and Tendency B gained 21 per cent of votes cast for their positions on the Labour
The incoming Central Committee was elected to reflect the views of the organisation and again,
Socialist Challenge News.
COIN HEADWORTH (Socialist Challenge
Photoe.
unlike the reformist and Stalinist parties, representation of minorities on the leadership was in line with the support they received a une correrence. way the whole organisa0101IM01 08 120 1017 the policies decided by ma-
vote at the conference.
Industry
Progress made in the objectives of building the IMG's in in-
presence dustry and among youth since the last conference of the IMG was reflected in the composition delegates attending conference. these, per cent were male and 35 per cent women; per cent delegates were under 26, with 26 per cent being members of Revolution Youth; 75 per cent were union members, of whom 31 per cent were in industrial unions; per cent were students and 18 DC. cent training schemes or unemployed.
The role which the IMG had played in promoting industrial struggles
out greetings from Ln f
aurence Scott strike com mittee and the t2.000 collection raised after delegates had heard an account from a Longbridge steward the fight against Michael Edwardes in British Leyland.
Youth
Delegates also pledged ' full support to building the conference of Revolution Youth on 18/19 December after hearing greetings Tomune Ivanonal com mittee of the 200-strong organisalon
Throughout the conference delegates confirmed the need for the IMG to strike out In lne fight to build the foundanons lor a mas. revolutionary party in Britain.
By Phil Penning ON BEHALF of the members at Laurence Scott Engineering welcome this opportunity to speak at this con-
The conference time when occurs al d Thatcher and her government seem hell bent on destroying jobs, unions and the strength of peo. ple like you and me.
At Laurence Scott's we aren kidding ourselves that we alone can change the political outlook of this country. But we can give it a lead. We have led by saying: 'Enough is enough'. We ALONGSIDE the fight for
class struggle programme we have the aim of building a class strug gle left wing in the unions and the Labour Party.
This left wing, •similar in type to that of the Minority Movement and the National Left Wing Movement of the 1920s will, in this period, be built as a product of the evolution of the Bennite current.
The decisive feature of this current in relation
SEE page 14 for report
of the Socialist Workers
Conterence
its decision to close
down Womens Voice
groups. A future issue
Socialist Challenge
will the recent
Communist Party con-
gress
Greetings to th
Laurence Scot
have led by occupying
factory and telling •VI the boss to piss off. That we were of being preached to like Hitler.
I was looking back the other dav at some ot the things we've been up to during the seven monts of our struggle; secon dary picketing. occupying, eviction, court ac tions, withdrawal of officiai backing.
In spite of the union leaders such as Duffy and Boyd; in spite of the Communist Party who've been dragger
The importanc
the left wings of the 1930s and the 1950s is its mass base both inside the constituency Labour Parties and the industrial unions. This base, still moving to the left, aims to prevent any more anti-working class governments the Wilson/Callaghan type.
Control
To this end it fights to bring its bureaucratic leadership under democratic control, starting with the Parliamentary Labour Party.
The movement supports important aspects of a class struggle pro. gramme; notably opposi tion to wage restraint, the reduction of the working week without loss of pay and unilateral
Page 11 scan of this page
ty, Industrial Battles and Youth
EUROPE!
strikers
in spite of the media, we've shown it's possible to fight.
The thing that made the difference at Scott's was that we the fight out of the factory. We've organised by forging the different work places together and forcing the Labour MPs into the fight. And the response has been excellent. We have obtained over £100,000 in donations. It has shown that the working class wants a lead to take on the Tories.
The situation in our
of 'Bennism'
disarmament.
We unconditionally support this against the right wing. We support Benn in the leadership battle that continues inside the Labour Party.
We build long-term alliances specific questions of policy. We place ourselves within this current as part of its developing class struggle
left the Benn
The leadership represents that small section of the bureaucracy which seeks to put itself
the head of the radicalisation inside the working class.
AES
The programinic around which the leadership attempts to head off
IMG conference from the
dispute today is that we are out on the street with no strike pay, no official backing, but we are pushing forward by calling a national solidarity conference and campaigning for the recall of the Final Appeal Court of the AUEW to get back official support.
At last the workers Ot Laurence Scott realise that the so-called 'lefts' will not take the fight against the present right wing of the unions and Labour Party all the way.
We want the unions and the Labour Party to this movement is that of the alternative economic strategy. but me movement as a whole does not share this political framework.
Struggle
We anticipate that as this movement increas. ingly collides with leadership which is not prepared to wage a con. sistent struggle against
Tories and the right wing of the bureaucracy
process ferentiation, which has
begun, Hontinue and divide the Bennite current between class struggle and class collaborationist currents from top to bottom in the
Building a class struggle left wing needs atten-
be fighting
struncils and we the Scott shop stewards believe that the IMG can and will give this lead within the labour movement.
The IMG's role in the dispute has been one of advice and help, par-
IMG ticularly due members being in local factories.
And that's the reason why I'm here today to give greetings and thanks to you - the peo. ple who have helped us more than anybody else.
Thank you. tion now. We seek to build bodies like the Labour Co-ordinating Committee and trade union broad letts from which we can reach a wider audience for our politics on the basis of:
*Practical support tor struggles industrial, social and international.
*Taking the questicn of government and Labour Party democracy into the
unions, and fighting for political debate and accountability. *Joining the debate on the programme for the next Labour government.
Extract from Tasks resolu-
tion passed at /MG Con-
Socialist Challenge News
Federick Emmerson from the New Jewel Movement gives greetings to the IMG conference Special Socialist Challenge NUM supplement
fight back against the Tory government.
particular in South Yorkshire,
These sales teams
announced.
Challenge NUM sales team. Conference Challenge This money has
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are to reach our target, it's up to you.
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installing our new computer :o carae
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NEXT week Socialist Challenge will carry a special four page supplement on the mining industry, the NUM presidential elections, the pay claim and the
We will be making special arrangements to sell the supplement in some of the key mining areas, in
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will be organised for the weekends of 28/29 November and 5/6 December before the results of the presidential elections are
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boosts Socialist
Challenge funds
A MAGNIFICENT £2000 was collected at the conference and donated to Socialist
given a considerable boost to our £16,500 Quarterly Fund Drive. This is the amount we need every three months to successfully produce our paper and run
Our quarterly total now stands at just under £8,000. So with seven weeks gone in total are we're the ento let in to
Now is not the time to let things slip!
There are still many regions where supporters have yet to send us anything — if we
We regard the conference collection as an expression of confidence in our paper and our campaigns over the last year and for the coming
A measure of the success of our fund drive is that we will in the next few weeks be
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REVOLUTION
SOCIALIST PAPER FOR YOUTH
LOBS
NOT
BOMBS
Appeal to Socialist Challenge readers
Help build a
revolutionary
By Richard Rozanski AFTER THE SELL-OUT at British Leyland a
tion:
all right Jack". I was fighting for the older
to pay off.' on strike for a shorter working week led by the young militants.
Throughout the world it is yoi are leading the fight against mis ry and oppres
heroically gave up their lives for the right to be
who led the mass campaigns of solidarity with these hunger strikers.
Youth will be holding a major rally in London to celebrate the struggle of youth worldwide for
the revolutionary youth in Ireland
a woman's right to work and abortion.
On the same weekend, 19/20 December,
our perspectives for the next year.
Central America and the Caribbean.
to build a mass campaigning and democratic Labour Party Young Socialists.
tion Youth to find out about our ideas and ac
across the country.
to: Revolution, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP.
Name..
Address
Age......: Occupation
Socialist Challenge 18 Novembèr 1981
COME TO THE REVOL Conway Hall Red Lions Gondor
youth organisation
young militant from Longbridge told Revolu
'Personally | can survive on the money get. I could have turned round and said "I'm workers who have families and a mortgage
Within a week the Longbrige workers were out
I people who sion. In Ireland ten young anti-imperialist fighter treated humanely in prison. And it was the youth
In El Salvador the vast majority of workers and peasants led by the young fighters of the FMLN are facing up to the mighty power of US imperialism
In one month's time on 18 December Revolution
socialism. There will be speakers from Nicaragua and Grenada to explain their revolutions against poverty and exploitation. There will be a speaker from Peoples Democracy to bring greetings from
And speakers from Revolution Youth will show how our organisation has fought to unite youth in action against Cruise and Trident missiles througn Youth CND, in support of workers fighting for jobs as at Laurence Scott and Staffa, and in defence of
Revolution Youth will be staging its first national conference since its launch in May 1980. Members and supporters of Revolution will meet to discuss the balance sheet of the last 18 months work and
The main reports will look at how youth can lead the stuggle against the Tories as happened in this summer's youth rebellions around the country
We will discuss the fight for black liberation as a major part of the struggle for socialism, as well as campaigns in solidarity with the revolutions in
We will also assess the role of the paper Revolution, in particular the role of its supporters working
The conference and rally will be a great oppor tunity for any young people interested in Revolu
tivities, and to meet Revolution supporters from
If you are interested in coming to the Revolution conference then fill in the form below and send it
Page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
'Winning
VINCENT DOHERTY member of the Block/Armagh and the national committee of Peoples Democracy, the Irish revolutionary organisation. He attended the Ard Fheis (annual conference) of Sinn Fein on the week-end of 31 October - 1 November. Below, he outlines his impressions of the significance of the outcome of the Ard Fheis for the future development of the Irish struggle.
In the course of his contribution to the Ard Fheis, Gerry Adams, president of Sinn Fein, delegates that the movement had to concern itself not merely with 'winning the war', also with 'winning the peace' years ago such a remark would have
short shrift delegates. This year it was warmly applauded.
The 'winning the peace' remark came during the discussion on federalism which, along with election strategy, provided the major debates at this
On both questions the CONCICICC. traditional leadersmip Republican movement serious set-backs at the hands of what has been called the 'Republican left'.
The federalism debate particularly important as it dealt with the nature of Loyalism. policy of Sinn Fein was developed in the early 1970s when sections of the Republican leadership believed that the British government was seriously considering withdrawal from Ireland.
As one speaker at the conference put it, federalism was seen as an olive branch LOVAIISH WILA proposal to establish four provincial parliaments within a united Ireland, one of which, a nine-county Ulster parliament, would have a Loyalist majority.
At the Ard Fheis the Republican left argued that this policy outdated and that it represented a 'sop to Loyalism'. Danny Morrison, Sinn Fein director of publicity and editor of An Phoblacht/Republican Vews, went further when he stated that federalism was 'an inverted form of sectarianism'.
The speakers in favour retention of the federal policy read like a 'Who's Who' of the Republican 'old guard'. Ruadhri O'Bradaigh, Daithi O Connaill, Sean McStiofian, Richard Behal and Christine ni Elias saw federalism as a mechanism for decentralisation and local control
In the final contribution from the floor to the debate, Paddy Bolger, who is also associated Republican left, contended that if there was some validity in the federal policy after the 1972 overthrow of the stormont unta. It now represented a policy of appeasement'
Lovalsun.
For him, federalism was 'the back door He argued that Loyalism and the Northern State 'must be smashed'. The motion to drop the federal policy was carried by a substantial majority.
The other main debate at conference was on elections. Only last year the Ard Fheis re-affirmed its traditional opposition participating in elections, with the Socialist Challenge 18 November 1981
the Peace'
is a National H Committee,
socialist
vice-
told the Republican
but A few exception of elections in the 26 counties.
South, changed all that. of This year's
year's if elected to Northern councils.
Practically Une declared suffered participation
Republican was from fighting
The federal
Lne was of the H-Block been cattica by uncision
with the
towards the
Page 12
Anti--Block/Armagh candidate
Photo: DEREK SPEIRS (IFL)
Vote Carron X
CoCa government moved
But the effects of the H Block struggle, and the electoral successes which accompanied it, North and
conterence complete turn-around, with a motion calling on members to take their seats
every speaker who favour electoral pointed to the lost trom the movement's abstention the May local government elections in the North.
oblacht
REPUBLICAN NEWS
The front page of the latest An Phoblacht/Republican News spells
out the Provisionals' new line.
Ireland,
Danny Morrison, one of the leading left Republicans.
Even Daithi O Connaill, who
La resolution givilig leadership authority contest elections, said that the Republican movement was 'wrong Northern local government elections'. Such admissions of the fallibility of the Republican
are correspond to a new mood in the movement.
The abstention of the Republican movement, the main anti-imperialist organisation, from the May elections left the ground open for an electoral victory for the collaborationist Social Federalism rejected positive electoral policy adopted
me remuit whal we are.
polilical prisoners of war
BY BALLOT
AND BULLET
Democratic and Labour Party and the the Irish Independence Party, a more nationalist grouping which split from the SDLP in 1977.
The Democracy in these elections showed the real political potential of electoral participation. and •a00 former SDLP leaders Gerry Fitt and McAnulty Paddy Devlin and won two seats on Belfast's city council.
The opposition participation came from orthodox Republican old guard led by Jimmy Drumm. He was supported by alounci Belfast McDermott.
She castigated the conference for 'abandoning the served the organisation for so long' because the Irish Republican Socialist Party
few organisations have had a few local over neit successes' criticisms were of opposition to electoral was defeated overwhelmingly.
The decisions of the Ard Fheis represent the growing confidence and political maturity of the Republican movement, in Republican left. On many issues at least on a formal level, this left has proved itself to be far-sighted.
Certainly, issues and in the trade unions remain seriously under-developed, but Sinn Fein must now largest anti-capitalist party in Ireland
Gerry Adams, Danny Morrison Jim Gibney and others represent a completely Republican leadership: working-class, ridden by taboo, more articulate and more open to criticism.
Where there was no criticism at the conference was struggle or This was despite London. testament of Republicans, and it has been stated onel enough continue until Britain willingness to withdraw from Ireland.
That concluded that leadership now seem determined to build Sinn Fein into a mass political party and to transform it from what it has been up to now, a support group for the IRA.
In the Marxist analysis, the IRA or. any armed organisation must be the
unsavoury,
February election, seat as then the Loyalist Parties.
Loyalist of Peoples horror'
PD's Fergus O'Hare
SAS humiliated Republicans,
to electoral Party, ine ultra
Republican Mary
'pro-IRA:
policy which has
them in a reference to PD and
Mickey Mouse voiced
such no avail: the Antrim. participation to become Bradford.
have particular the
both preparation. work around political
support
be considered the
the can lave urban, As class conscious, less
week:
on the armed 'the war' as it is called.
late, the bombs important Support for the war is a
faith amongst militarists
that the war will inappropriate.
indicates its
much said, it must be
the Republican development.
Robert Bradford - а тап 01 Oliver Cromwell, massmurderer of the Irish.
A man of God?
THE REV Robert Bradford who was assassinated by the IRA at the weekend was an
violent and sectarian individual.
ne nirst came lo orominence u
1974 when, in the general ne won ne own nels a candidate for Vanguard, most sectarian of all the
He quickly won a reputation as a reactionary. In the mid-1970s he said that, 'British ineptitude could lead to
politicians forming 'disciplined army' to deal with IRA
In the course of a parliamentary career Bradford also called for the
'summarily execute' and demanded the return of capital punishment for all members of the IRA.
He later switched to the Unionist
but didn't modify Bradford's utterances. In May 1978 in the House of Commons he publicly named seven workers at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast as being
The seven all denied the allegation, but Bradford's naming oj
left them prime targets 1o Loyalist assassination gangs
recently, Bradford had support for lan Paisley's actions in mobilising hundreds of men for 'drilling' in the hillsides of County
I said five years ago that the day could come when we might have
Queen's rebels, said
'Ian Paisley, myself and others
repeated Cromwell's wors which are very relevant now: "Trust in God and keep your powder dry Perhaps the moment has arrived for
prayer and defence
group used only at the discretion of the revolutionary party.
Nevertheless, Irish revolutionaries and their supporters internationally
only welcome the growing politicisation of Sinn Fein.
Vincent Browne, Ireland's leading liberal journalist put it this
"The recommencement of the English bombing campaign is only
Hall significant developments within the Provisionals
and perhaps the least
"The old characterisation of the Provisionals as right wing. nationalis
could hardly be more For reasons of diplomacy they would object to the characterisation "Marxist", but this in fact is what they have become
Whether or not the Republican movement contains a Marxist current is open to debate. What is not in question is that the Provisionals have moved significantly to the left, and in the process have become more open to political dialogue. Revolutionary • Marxists. can only welcome. such a
Page 13 scan of this page
BL: Despite the sell out the struggle goes on
Among MPs supporting Staffa from left to right are: Jo Richardson, Stan Orme, John Tilley, lan Mikardo and Ernie Roberts
By a TGWU shop steward Longbridge THE workforce at BL's giant Longbridge plant produces a IC W Mini Metro once every minute. Over the past three years according to company figures the plant's productivity has risen by OVer 30 per cent.
Yet in the same time thousands of jobs have been lost and pay levels have decreased by thirty per cent in real terms.
However these figures only tell half the story.
Direct production areas such as the produc tion track have increased their productivity way excess figures quoted above. It is arcas that earn the much talked-about bonus
not just for themselves but for the whole factory.
These areas consistently reach maximum bonus
BL Longbridge: 39 hours,
no strings attached!
By a TGWU shop steward Longbridge By the time you read this, the 1800 of us who have been on strike at Longbridge will have met to decide the next stage of our fight over the implementation of the 39-hour week. Management are trying to impose a cut of 25 per cent in breaks allowed to workers during a shift. allowed 12 per cent rest allowance -twelve minute breaks in addition to our lunch break.
and the management have been playing the whole thing very quietly. for our money to run out.
this will
mounting pickets to bring the rest of Longbridge out on strike with us stopping the movement of cars as well as going to other plants to look for support.
assembly areas who started the strike and the decision to end it must be theirs and theirs alone.
stewards have been so united over an issue but the sitting on the fence of the works committee has not provided the leadership dispute. sions of the membership having advised them not to extend the strike and look for support
plants blamed for the return to work but if we don't confront the probiem of
over this dispute together plants like Cowley then the problem will only return to haunt us again.
unless it is turned into effective picketing and blacking action. We must demand support from all levels ot the union from the works committee up to the national officials themselves over this issue.
organise to take it for ourselves.
strings attached! Spread the strike action across BL!
TIME TO
IF EDWAN
Mass meeting at BL earlier this month
payment targets and exSIROSL Yet it was only last
bonus payment of £22.50 was paid out for the first time ever. Ironically it was paid out during a week in which a strike over furUp until the week before last we were three
Already we have been on strike for two weeks
They know they can sit and wait even if we get official only Rather than sitting at home we should have been
It was the direct production workforce in the
It is a long time since the workforce and the
necessary to win this As always they can hide behind the deci-
We all know that it was Longbridge who the other
our local and national with other
So far we have had unity but this is meaningless
The company will not give us anything unless we
Make the union fight! For a 39 hour week with no
MICHAEL
CAll YOUR - EOWARDES
THRAATEN
A RIGHTS
OF WORKERS
ther cuts in rest allowance time and labour level had brought Longbridge to a standstill.
Thanks to Duffy (who else?) the implementation of the 39 hour week was supposed to be 'self financing'.
By Toni Gorton
for the Staffa
strike for jobs.
Ernie Roberts, MP for Hackney North, mented that the meeting between Labour MPs,
worKers supporters very usual
'It is the first time to That a meeting of this sor knowledge' he said, has hạd Sharacter*, such
organising the first time that a strike committee has been set up
the House of Commons.
Among decisions taken were: o a national campaign to block grant of £4.5 million to aid management plans move to Plymouth •a resolution of support to go the Labour
execullve mittee •an earv dav motion to be debated in parliament
Trade Unions.
BREAD A138 The company has used this catch-all phrase to try to force us into accepting a loss of 11 minutes rest per day shift as well as a cut in labour and an increase track speeds.
Following the return to work after the sell-out
Staffa at the House of Commons
Orme gives 'unqualified support
THE shadow cabinet minister for industry, Stan Orme, declared his 'unqualified' support
workers at a meeting on 12 November in the House of Commons. Staffa's 390 workers are now in the eighth week of their
within the week •the establishment of a steering committee,
Workers f
Staffa representatives Greater London Council to direct the campaigr • MPs to be organised to go to picket lines regularly In discussion of the issues involved in the fight to save the Leyton plant, which is owned by Brown Sharpe, ÚS-based company, Stan Orme declared: 'Your problems are the same as Laurence Scott in Manchester and Linwood in Scotland.
Masks 'We can Chou desperate the employers have become. At Laurence Scott when they used helicopters to break the picket line, .the men. who
38/ JIRMICK 30 Fee WORKER MENTA DI HERINE
A DOT TAKES
CAB over the pay claim the management obviously chose Longbridge weak link in the chain of BL plants.
What they didn't bargain with was the fact that in general the direct jumped out had masks on, film like in a James Bond
He went on, 'I am the shadow industry spokesperson in a situation where the government destroying industry. You have my unqualified support, my committed support.
*I am prepared to fight publicly for you. We are fighting for the maintenance of manufacturing base bring end the unemployment of three million people'
Dave Green, the convenor
eplied: 'This is the sort support we're looking for. I would like this question taken up in the House of
also like to add something.
'This campaign has got to be taken up in all the unions. We need blacking campaign in every union. It we can get the support of London MPs ana the embargo, then we'll win.
The problem of job
loss in the London are
production areas such the track, who suffer the worst working conditions, voted to reject the pay offer and went back to work undefeated, full of determination not to be sold ou again by their national officials. again George Antony, president of the London North district of the AUEW reported that his membership From 35,000g0no had down to 15,000 in a few years.
He urged 'have a go
saying 'this dispute is a beacon London This will encourage other workers to put up resistance of the same character.
Eric Deakins, MP for Walthamstow, pointed out that: For the first time
grant being paid for a move that results in an actual loss of jobs. Under the last Labour government, the treasury was very strict on this.
Frank Gorton, trade union liaison officer for Hackney North Labour Party said: 'This dispute pariament, but MPs can cannot wor change the awareness
: public, that when workers see Staffa and Brown and Sharpe on a machine or on a crate they will put under was referred to time and embargo. This will change
Socialist Challenge
When the management attempted to force their proposals on the 39 hou week directly onto the
following the worklorce. failure to agree and
procedure a
national level, it was th stewards who had been most active around the pay claim strike who organised the shop meetings which
resist the management's imposition with strike action.
Small losses rest allowanci labour levels and small increases
may not sound very significant.
but when • the jeve is movement on the job timed to a fraction of a se-
track is a time to • either have a cup of tea or go to the toilet , you cannot do both in the time they give
you Every second of rest is
DICCIOuS especially night shift which is 10¼ hours long.
Furthermore winning a
MIKE TURNER dispute like this one is an
important step towards re establishing the confidence of the shor stewards inside BL who have taken a real Dealing along with the member.
Photo:
ShID OYCE the past tou years.
That why this dispute is of significance not only to all BL workers who will be next in line for the chop if the Longbridge dispute is beaten but for all workers who are struggling Tory tacks yet find the gap between sick | 1001 and the union leaders their first biggest problem. the balance of forces bet ween Staffa workers and the management and between all workers and all bosses.'
Last week the bosse went on an offensive of their own, writing letters
all . workers starting 'Dear dismissed...
They recommended that the strikers go back to work, and provided ballot paper to vote on the issue.
Voted
AUEW. a meeting
members on
Novembe major voted continue strike action. While meeting was going three lorries and a came to the factory site remove machinery crane driver turned ar: when he realised that official union strike was = operation
Action must be step-
ped up in support of
Staffa strike. mue resolutoR dhase.u all messages of suppo:: donations and telegrar: to Chris Newsom, ALE
Strike Condie. W2 Somers Road, LARSLOW E17. Phone 01-539 0886 or ASTMS on 01-520 4902 ext 3.
18 November 1981 Page 13
Page 14 scan of this page
Workers Party took a number of decisions about its future strategy which reflect a decisive shift in direction for the organisation. In our view, the comrades of the SWP are from the which confront the working class today and towards solutions.
class struggle and their ostrich like attitude to the crisis in the Labour Party, have provided the basis for these errors.
their conference report in Socialist Worker (14 Nov) the SWP states: 'The SWP itself has been affected by the lack of industrial struggle ana by sectionalism... As a result,
SWP Lilt Cone cuce decided shift our
intervention around industrial disputes by every member the key to activiCampaign is central to that Thẹ Right Work shift. Shift
The clearest example of what this shift will mean
the proposal Women's Voice. The conference agreed to disband the Women's Voice By Yvonne Taylor IN THEIR no-holds-barred fight to end legal abortion, Life has always been ready to plumb the murkiest depths. So it was no surprise to find them, in the run up to this year's Private Members ballot, another contrived medical horror story.
Because this is really what the whole Dr Leonard Arthur case was about. Life hoped that, in the aftermath of a suc-
Arthur they would be able to our over tie dererce between the foetus and the newborn child push through Parliament a new piece anti-abortion legislation.
During the weeks preceeding the Private Members ballot November, Life was busy circulating model Bill through the House of Commons, hoping to find an MP to sponsor it.
The Bill has two clauses. The first part proposes to make it an offence to give a drug or to withold treatment from a newborn Baby. 41 V because of abnormality. sociallet Ch
SWP changes
direction
AT its recent conference, the Socialist
turning away broad political questions
crude economistic
The SWP's pessimistic view of the
groups although the magazine Women's Voice will remain.
JUDITH ARKWRIGHT argues that the SWP are in danger of their DOCKS OR the struggle for vomen's liberation when women's voic was set up in 1979, there was a growing movement OI women who were prepared to take action to change their situation.
We disagreed . strongly with the SWP at Le une for setting up Women's Voice women's movement in the style German movements of the 1890s.
We pointed out that women were coming politics from all sorts of different directions. It was
LIFE's tactics -
a certain loser
hitting the headlines with
The second clause proposes to amend the 1967
way that it would be illegal to give an abortion on the grounds of foetal mality - even if the menLal or physical health of the mother would be damaged by having a handicapped child. Abortion on the grounds of foeta abnormality would only be allowed to save the mother's life.
Thus, who contract rubella in early
through serening, would
through be unable have legal abortions The clause also prohaves to moore it illegal to LECT grounds of the foetus' sex, which tained. through pre-natal
Pago 14
a sectarian approach to expect women campaigning around abortion, the right to work, battered wives, nurseries and so on, to join Women's Voice on the basis of solidarity with a full socialist programme. Polemic
In our view, the con
'ades of the SWP had no understood relationship Lital revoltona organisations should have to broad social movements and united front campaigns. They persisted in seeing such structures merely channels of recruitment to the SWP, and counterposed their
organisations and structures.
The decision to dismantle Women's Voice as an organisation, rather than correcting this tarian error, has merely compounded
‹C0mpanied as it is by a strong polemic against any kind of autonomous women's movement.
In his article in International Socialist Journal (ISJ Series 22 No.13) Tony Cliff maintains that the whole History the women's movement in Britain and abroad, from the time of the suffragettes has been one in which only the
of bourgeois screening.
Fortunately for US.
Life heavily miscalculated. The last thing they wanted was initiate public discussion about an issue which until now had been kept behind hospital doors. They were not interested in debating the dilemma which confronts 21l paediatricians and many parents who face this sort of decision.
They wanted public condemnation what they found was public sympathy and a great willingness among people to think about and discuss the ssues involved
At first, Life must have been heartily pleased with themselves when the Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to prosecute Dr Arthur. Just previously, they had failed
convince the DPP to bring a case against Professor Hugh Jolly leading paediatrician for allowing a Spina Bifida baby to die.
No doubt the DPP felt that together with the severity or the baby's handicap,
News
women flave been represented.
According to Cliff, working class never have been and never will be able to stamp their needs and demands unese shovements. Hence they are of no interest to Lne working class or to socialists.
Socialist Challenge starts from a rather different assessment, one which is shared with the Fourth international and its sympathisers who have been involved in the construction of the autonomous women's movements in various dit. ferent countries around the world.
Everywhere in the last decade, women have been organising themselves to fight for their interests
More and more, women's interests have been taken up inside the labour movement and among class WUllicil. there is a mass women's movement supporting the revolution; Iran, the women's played a key role in drawing women into the struggle against the Shah; in Europe, , the campaigns led by the women's movements for abortion rights have brought down
governments and have involved many working class women inside and outside the organised labour movement. Fetish
Thus the autonomous women's movement is not a fetish or an abstract principle, it is a living movement all over the world which would present very
strong case in court.
Dr Arthur was not so
fortunate. He had no na-
tional , standing the
medical profession and the
baby he had allowed to die
appeared, on the initial evidence, be suffering
from a lesser disability.
This makes it all the
more surprising that he
nad such
and sympathy -- in much
of the press, on the many
television
programmes
which were shown on the ISsuC people generally.
Both BBC's Panorama programme and the Sunday Telegraph
November) conducted their
own opinion polls which
indicated that most people supportcu made by the Dr Arthur to lanc into the wishes of the parents deciding whether to allow
severely hendicapped baby to die
The draw for the Private Members ballot has produced at least two anti-abortionists.
who
WHITE COLLAR WORKERS
Pucting they
has played the main role in driving women's issues into the labour movement.
The SWP baldly assert that only the working class has the power to achieve women's liberation and we agree. But working class women face a double oppression — as women and Dr. Leonard Arthur
might be sympathetic to sponsoring Life's Bill. But . given, the, overwhelming
sieces fatether
as workers. It is they who
have to spearhead the fight
for their own liberation
and it is they who will fight
most COSSECTL the
labour movement for their
interests to be taken up.
The SWP are condemning themselves to the sidelines in this process -failure of Life's • it would gees once • again, foolish. politician indeed
turning out when there's some activity and trying to recruit a few members.
This type of attitude to the women's and indeed to the workers' movement as a whole will neither aid the struggle for socialism nor help buik Ine DWr who was persuaded to place his money on a certain loser.
Page 15 scan of this page
The Labour Party should support the Bradford 12'
Anwar Ditta interviewed:
IT IS 7 months since Anwar Ditta brought her children in triumph to Rochdale. Here she talks to Jenny Flintoft about her life now the reporters and TV cameras have vanished from it. Many people think all your problems
now.
That's not true, is it?
No. The defence commitlce sun owes ti We haven't any hope of raising inat at the My husband Shija is still unemployed. The jobs' situation is terrible in this area. vou know - all the mills closing.
LOLS people work in the mills and they
JUDO any other work. There aren't even labouring jobs.
Shuja welder,
welder.
There have only been 6 or 7 of those jobs
duverused since he got the sack. He went for all ot them DUll when he got there, they said the jobs had gone.
He gets dole money • £35 this week. We don't claim social security or family income supplement
anything. Mainly we live off pillowcases (The ground floor of Anwar's small terrace house was covered with pillowcases, and Shuja and the children all WOrKCO on them as we talked.)
Do you still get paid the magnificent sum of 1p. for each pillowcase? €1.20 for 100! I have to do No. about 4,000 to make a living WaLC. The sewingmachine week to hire, and then 1 costs £4.50
Wales Labour women back woman's right to work
y Helen Slyomovic.
lasnewydd women's sectiol
A woman's right to work was the recurrent theme of the second annual conference Labour Women Wales. A resolution calling for support for next June's Labour Party demonstration on this theme was passed unanimously.
Jenny Lynn from NUPE explained now women at Hoover in Merthv Tyafil were fighting for equal rights
as part of their general fight for job. at the plant. And Ann Clywd EuroMP. women are now the sole breadwinners in their families.
Unilateralism was also pushed to the top of the agenda
coolution opposing Reagan's limited nuclear war plans for Europe and supporting le inclusion or unilateralism in the next Labour Party
South Glamorgan councillor,
sald. yve aon t want to be Reagan's puppets.
There was a general air of militan-
from LICi comerence Severa resontons were against the advice of the Womens Committee, including resolution on nationalisation.
Alan Williams, Swansea
MP and a Healey supporter, vited as a guest speaker. women's sociolo ane me marchers wrom Greennam common
Tony Benn.
have to pay tax and insul alice Homeworkers are really exploited - of
they lave unions. to a lot of
and conallu LICI course I'm not working.
One week not long ago I only earned f2.50.
You 're still going to just a:
nany meetings
the well CLO Women's World Congress in Prague at the beginning of October. I spoke about my case and the immigration laws here, about
and about the Bradford 12.
I met women from all over the world. Women
talked about the pre third
women third world. woman from the
US
about how American Indian women are forcibly sterilised the authorities. But the
bomb was Ine main issue.
Then today I'm going Bradford to see the Bradford 12 people.
One of them was involved in your defence campaign, wasn't he?
Yes, Tarlochan GataAura. He was the chairperson. It's dreadful, those voung people have been in prison 3½ months, the police kept opposing bail applications.
The police have prepared 500-page
ALAN JEFFRIES summed up the bitter mood of AUEW members returning for work at the Rover plant in Cardiff. earlier a small majority at the 450 strong plant voted to defy Duffy's return call and to continue the strike.
Wales Collins echoed the une in five she told Socialist Challenge:
wasn our we shoute Edwardes.
Africa with slave labour when an Another AUEW was passed Davies,
moderate workforce went for strike ac Lion uns tuner like this. This time need had holling. DeTOre.
As the plant. deteriorating even got a canteen meals between the machines.
TOUr fair to the com passed turn round with a lousy offer. Wales
lines shared a fear that deteriorating con ditions are just the thin end of the wedge was inSeveral
There is Wales for the growing militancy in walked out when he began to attack rin some of the woren's'sections to be
inflected at the lovel of organisation
dossier on them what meetings they've been to, what demos and evervthing, trving to provi they're dangerous political activists.
Now they're out, they can't attend any meetings and they've got to be home by ten o'clock at night.
What kind of support has me acuon commuce gol!
After they were arrested, there was a public meeting
'Edwardes didn't
defeat us,
Duffy sold us out '
Led to
Just 24 hours
pickets
One of the women pickets, Carmen aCEC
views of many when 'Duffy's a sack nim. As for he still thinks he's in South
member, Pauline these moderates Lne usually Callic We've had small disputes there's never been
'There was a terrible atmosphere in
Our working conditions are une plant. Lue. we haven't Convenor, We have to eat our We've been this pany before and now they
Rover workers on the Cardiff picket
obviously a need in
•News.
Bradford, and about 800 people turned up mainly Resolutions went through Trades Councils in Bradford and Leeds.
like see Labour Party more involved in it, doing more work around it. The committee , organising a demo Bradford on 12 December - we want it to be really big.
Their gear box production could be mov-
Solihull and the plant wound sunke they hoped to make a stand against this.
Mervyn Mulcahy told us why the
Cardiff were particularly Duffy's sabotage ‹ together we'd have stood a chance. ana conower. What's Edwardes We could have kept this plan
›pen. Now they'll walk all over us
But shop steward, Kevin Brady hold up hope that all is not yet lost: 'The vot
very encouraging. This but a lot of
usuany a mouciale viall on the
when the vote to continue strike action
"This vote shows that people want to fight redundancies. It is l hard to tell if the sell-out will cut across this, we'll have to set wnat we call ao wiel we gel back ir
Dave Coles confirmed determination of the plant leadership to continue the fight when he told workers at the final mass meeting: After taking a stand we now have to recognise the national vote and go back together. But our vote shows there is a will and a foundation to build upon in this plant'.
and for this militancy to be turned outwards towards supporting struggles around unemployment such as • 'at Hobver in Merthyr Tydfit.
How are your children getting on? 1worry about them won't let them answer the
phone, because
TaCI telephone calls.
don't like them going out
abuse. And even when
they're out with me,
DCU
What about school?
English language help, but only about half an hour a
bullying. unev
you were thinking of suing
the case to the European
Committee still desperatePoliceman accused of
lying shock
MANJIT Singh Sehmi is lucky. He was in court charged with maliciously throwing a petrol bomb with intent to cause grevious bodily harm and to destroy or damage police property during the 10 July riot.
But the Old Bailey judge, James Miskin QC, ordered the jury to return a not guilty verdict and acAdrian Wold or lying ess cused witness the court.
PC Webb had told the court that he had seen Sehmi throw petrol bomb at police officers in Southall and chased him into e Miskin alley way. But Judge pointed ou that this conflicted with
videnc given by PC
Webb another CONTE 'One or the other statement may be true', said the Judge, 'the other therefore false'.
That left the jury with the word of one other police officer to go on Judge Miskin noted: 'No sensible jury trying a case where in its view it had
been id ever believe
I am proud to
count myself a
militant'
Scargill tells South Wales miners By Barry Wilkins, Cardiff North CLP
Union of Mineworkers.
'We must learn the lesson
nuncreas
Chid in have ted a
1S a Doul unese
shours te, that's right applause ant
the National Cool Board to
une to movest mit e urgeo 'we don't have the right
expentencea in pickeung, par ment for a non-contributor
chough for cue ponce and ar
THIS
AN POLICE SOUTHALL
another in the same case and who can blame them?
He therefore dismissed the case
Manjit Singh Sehm was fortunate. Young peo ple convicted on similar
in: Mandhestel Moss Side have receiver
Socialist Challeng
LAST Sunday morning at 10.30 it was grey and cold
But it didn't deter six hundred miners from packing a hall in Hopkinstown to hear Arthur Scargill present his policies as candidate in the December election for president of the National
Scargil exnlained. "The NIN
mincts in every area. A mi. win ores dem is essentialo centray to lose he concluded
DIC.
La place in the House of Lord lial Wormiev nao peer ottered a
because
South Wales leadership, calli Thing biated ad
Sale minest of the soun
Not everybody thinks our police are wonderful
jail sentences of up to six ycals But Manjit did not Buring the scuffle at his completely free arrest he received a frac tured skull and a broken nose. •İsni our police force 'wonderful? 18 November 1981 Page 15
Page 16 scan of this page
IAN PAISLEY and the rest of the gang of bigots, thugs and reactionaries in the leadership of the Loyalists of the North of Ireland are threatening the Catholic murder.
rantings from Molyneaux, the leader of the Official Unionists, and John McMichael of the paramilitary tion.
On Monday, Paisley threatened to 'show that a third force' euphemism for Loyalist 'vigilantes' — 'has already started.'
On the same day James
Socialist
Challenge
That's what lies behind this week's
Paisley, James
Ulster Defence Associa-
Molyneaux also talked of organising a 'third force' adding that it would be armed. And John McMichael declared: "The Israelis have the right attitude. You seek out your London N'
enemy and destroy them.'
For McMichael and the UDA the 'enemy' is anvone in the North of Ireland who happens to be born a Catholic. The UDA are the main organisation
Laurence Scott
Mass Picket
Loyalists plan
mass murder
behind the many sectarian assassinations of Catholics which led to the retaliatory killing of Robert Bradford MP.
Although Paisley,
Monday 23 November
Molyneaux and the others issued their strongest threat Bradtord's death, they issued similar days leading up to his assassination. November
Carr's Hill Industrial Estate
Molyneaux announced: 'It Is win a deep sense responsibility that I must state inal une umon Is endangered. To meet that we are taking immediate steps to form a Council for the Union.
The next day Paisley paraded several hundre
villages in County Antrim. hooded nick though
rally on 23 November at r
' on 23 November at a 'strange venue pretec as meaning Catholic ghetto
All these moves were in response to the talks between the British and Irish governments which agreed to establish an Anglo-Irish council.
Nevertheless, for the Thatcher government and the parliamentary leadership of the Labour Party the only injury they
, the only deaths they mourn are those on Luc Lovalist side in the North of Ireland.
Politician after politician stood up in the House of Commons on Monday to praise Robert Bradford who, was
bigot.
Ireland Secretary James Prior went on telévision to plead for Loyansts to re main 'calm'.
Such hypocrisy was well answered on Sunday by Ed McWilliams of the Belfast 'Silent Too Long' group, which people killed by Loyalists and the security forces. He said, 'There was none of LS ve outrace wiel three Catholics, including
councillor, murdered in North Belfast
Lovalists three weeks ago. No-one was looking
gicale. because three Catholics were killed.
The question of security for the Catholic community now looms large in
Socialist
Challenge
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the wake of the Loyalists Certainly seems unlikely that the leadership of the Labour Parti willing recognise this question The party conference may have decided to campaign for united Ireland', but in the Commons on Monday Labour spokesperson DOn cannon was playing the old bipartisan tune. He called for: 'The people of Northern Ireland to sup port Mr Prior's appeal for calm and to support the police and the security forces... we will continue to support the Secretary of State.
The political situation in the North of Ireland, is one that has always exploded into violence or teetered on the brink of violence. when the state itself was Тошное! 1921 British government gave in to une physical threats of the Unionists and created ortnern Ireland agains! the wishes of the majority
Until there is majorit rule of all Ireland there will be sectarianism, blood and acaln. political monsters like lan And there will be
Paisley. It is in the nature of the North of Ireland State breed SUCl creatures, because LOYalISI sectarianism what that state has always represented Whatever socialists this country lla ye about the Republican resistance Loyalism, or about the methods that resistance employs, such as the killing of Bradford, full support for the defence of the Catholic community in the North of Ireland and for those who are doing the defending is the need of the hour.
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← Socialist Challenge No. 221, 12 November 1981Socialist Challenge No. 223, 26 November 1981 →