Socialist Challenge No. 28, 12 January 1978
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HOME
Editorial
Socialist Challange, 328/฿ Upper Street, London Nt.
Advertising 01-358 8371.
WHILE TOURING Bangladesh, Callaghan told joumaliste who asked him questions about racism in Britain to mind their own business. In india he was a bit more pointo ano clamed mar britain was construcung a multi-racial society ant racist lawa in te word, mis was in place ord comment on the McKinnon affair.
homework properly they could have asked Callaghan of
decade in aiding racism. Callaghan was well-known as a racist Home exclusively to black people but admitled by Crossman in his recently published diaries.
Forit is a fact that Labour is now paying the price for its failure to do anything to help curb the rise of racism. Joe Ashton's effective anti-Nazi broadcast, as we have already streesed, was a step forward. essentially motivated by a desire to prevent the fasciels from taking too many Labour votes in the local and national elections. Labour's immigration policies and Ite package of social and economic mesures encouragad the growth of racism. Uniess Labour Party members recognise this fact they will not get anywhere In combatting the cancer.
McKinnon's racist remarka should not come as a
privacy' of his club or al dinner parties fairly regularly, Stanes bien sudiscardswossuie display of racism which the reprehensi bie Un ess ine covernment is utter y subine Mckinnon will probably be sacked or asked to resign, à a Dobson, Thorn is, however, amora imponant point. l Is the way in which judges are appointed in this country In 1975, for instance, 68 per cent of the judges appointed to the High Court went to public schools, and 74 per cent to Oxford and Cambridge. The class basis and bias of the judiciary is well known.
Professor J.A. Griffith (The
extremely effective fashion
It is a revealing comment on British Labour that they have refused to institute any reforms whatsoever in the
occasion on which they have been in office since the Second World War, The belief that judges are 'neutral' is patently ludicrous. words, that a judge must act like a political, economic and social eunuch and have no interest in the world outside his court when he comes 1o judgement'.
Labour MPs should not remain content with calling tor Mckinnon's dismissal. A Labour and Trade Union Inquiry into the workings of the judiclary, comparing it to the system of justice in ather bourgeois-democratic societies, should be set up to propare a report which could form the basis for a discussion within the labour movement.
For black people in Britain, Mckinnon's outburst
British Justice is not colour blind. It is racist to the core
crisis-ridden present. A black person in a magistrates
offences which if commitied by a white would result in a fine: The brooortion of blacks in prison is extremels high when compared to their proportion of the overall population.
Thus the best method of protection is not through the courts (who will protect black people against the courts?) but by organisation at the level of the community, which should include self-defence. If black tawyers wantto norp tre puk ar blocs poopre wao the t this country they should not restrict their activities to the courts. defence centres in the heart of the black communities. This remans avite need Even i Mckinnon is broughi down, there are several hundreds more to po.
SOCIALIST UNITY STEERING COMMITTEE
Sunday, 15 January, at Boon Venue: please note change — 328/9 Upper Street London N1.
(scarest tube: Angel or Highbury and Islington)
WANT TO KNOW MORE? If you agree wish these prisciples and want te be
Involved in activilles by Socialist Chafienge sup-
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ADES........
Seo ip Socialist Challenge. 328/329 Upper Street,
Lundoa NI.
and had the most advanced
But it was
have liberal finde press A recent book by Potitica of the demonstrates tns ian
The implication is, in Griffith's
In the name of a 'united student movement' the leaders of the National Union of Students have taken a big stride down the roud to the destruction of the student movement as an independent and campaigning force.
The NUS conference in December represented • decisive shit to the right in NUS policy, and a consolidation of the alliance berween the leaders of the Broad Left [a coalition of Communists and Labour students] and the Federation of Conservative Students, argues COLIN TALBOT, a member of the NUS executive and organiser of the Socialist Students Alliance.
Student union organisatica came under direct attack in
Lesbians
fight back
hy ANN BOND LAST Friday a group ol women Irom Action for Lesbian Parents, Gay Sweat shop. Spare Rib, anarchist and socialist feminist marched into the offices of the London Evening News in Fleet зиса Ems acon was i те of the publication of an article # the previous evening & vews aboul investigations into a doctor helping lesbian women to have children by the artifical insemination method,
The forty very militant and very determined women sat down in the editorial offices of the News and demanded to soc the editor and the journalists involved. Harassod manage nent proceeded to call in th police and threatened ss with eviction. Bur we replied that if they chose to do that, then we would return as many times as necessary and that we would bring more and more wonsen with us. Suitably impressed by this statement, the managing editor continued to negotiate. For about an hour News staff were adamant that they would only speak to four "pokes men'
womanet by thouand nf warkers cagago in Nact a insistion shouie be based an the
NUS under assault
Student leaders sap
union strength
1971 when Margaret Thatcher proposed to astitute public control' of student union finanocs. That external threat was soundly defeated by the higgest mass mobilisations of students in the NUS's bistory.
WITCH-HUNT
Today that is restarting, aided and abetted by Tory students within the unions. As before an atmosphere of witch-hunt i bein created by the education authorities in preparation for an all-our offensive.
Isolated colleges have afready come under attuck, like the union officials at Birmingham Polytechnic who face possible imprisonment for making union donation to striking firelighiers.
The response of the NUS NOIS OUIS SEISEAISONKE around the philosophy that If
enemy might not be able to catch you Before the attack has even started in carnest, the CALCULIYC accepted public accountability" of union funds, and denounced those who want to tight as wreckers". Ву в
IL RES
Angly women accupy Evening News office. refused by the wonsen involved who insisted that they all had something ta say about the scurrilous story. When the managing editor conceded to hy a very harrassed-lookine our demands co de breseDe er mune. we agreed to have ooly four speakers. lo put OUT demands to the News Editor.
Amidst flashing cameras and more abuse from people outside the offices we confronted Lou Kirby, editor of the Evening News. and Stuart Kuttner, ome 0r Cop investigative journalists. The
OUR POLICIES
1
minute majority this position
endorsed hy NUS conference,
Parallel to the N'S retreat on union independence bas come
action and more subissons torbe Gorerement and lobbies of Parliament. The anly exception to this has come on the issues of grans and overseas students.
The position of studenis who (supposediy) gel discretionary grants and the tale of overseas students, now racing vicious racist quotas, has becoms so bad thai the NUS has heen Torced to cail some action so these students can let off steam' il nothing else. That's why the NUS has called demos on quotas on 22 Febriary and on grants on 3 March. Havine cales there actions le Nus executive will de only the hare minimum to build thent, being more interested in the delegate labby of Parliament on grants on 2 March.
AUTONOMY
The Socialist Students Alliance is planning an all-oul first demand presented to them ains for the right of reply to the articles — a demand which was granted with surprising rapidity
Kirby. Alongside this was the demand that any further investigations being carried out hy the News should cease immediately and that apologie should be given 1os the invasion of privacy cotailed in le investigations.
was put to Kuttner and Kirhy that the story was a
3
- strageline fur their liberation
iutun
4
BOCALIST CHALLENGE 12 January FEre pog0 =
union autonomy and develop AJOUTE demands of further oducation 80d overseas students national conference on student autonomy has been called for 1R February. It has adready gained endorsements from a very large number of student union officials
SPRINGBOARD
Al the same time the SSA is
of the 2 March into a day of In the -localities, including mass pickets of local authorities and occupations of colleges This is a direct challenge to the NUS-called lohhy of Parlament. It will be used as a springboard io build massive support the demonstration the following day also being produced to build the quotas demo on 22 February.
Derais of posters ond legfiers grants quotas contacting Colin Talbor of che 1554 0n 01 359 4371
Magrant breach of the NUT code of conduct, shich
grounds of sexual preference Kirby's reply emphatic. No. they bad not broken the code, nor had the aversensationalised thestory believed that published the public interest* because it highliented "abuormal procreation. 1 am not concerned wich sexism', he said, refusing to give an apology Needless to say, this provoked a good deal of anger, and a meIber DE Lia Swealsto produced a sensational article
decrying their plays for children as "sex plays". Another woman produced an article -again by the same journalists sensationally the
queer bashing?!, Kirby was asked.
And of course it is. The story in the Evening News Pictous himal avery LINTOUS SINCEI generalised attack
of poople to determine their own sexuality and lifestyle is coming under attack from all the reactionary sides of society, and wherever these attacks occur, socialists should follow the example and demands of the women who zappod the News.
The laterests of workers sad capite
CIPLINE DE HID COLY CATHICE world market, if has roole world pratics. Thus me light for warbing raws anils un an internatural stale. THs usin wiE in the long ran be derisie in defealins borh 1h imperialist regimes in the West and the houts dielstorslios rhey sucain ta lalin Amenes,
dian-withormat of Insh snaups Fram Teelaad and kentine the lish people deiermine thrir emen
wings hase ans mrasinghul sirales
poolulinears surialist panie are more nect dey than ever hefarr. Conditions Iodas m mare ferosteble than aver the pring lect decades. But such parlies can ont be hailr hi
Misi This menes the right in organes
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HOME NEWS
from
Mugger
GEOFFREY SHERIDAN.
and coons" flourish".
casc" judge"
Even the Daily Mail — in the same pro-Tory camp as Exprest felt obliged renitler ih a sub besd unc thal Labour MP Martin Flannery was demanding 'Give him the sáck* - - a demand endorsed by the Ohserver the following day.
It requires only a "cursory
of Judge Kinnon's remarks to compre bend the horror with which they have been undoubtedly received by any social democrat who retains the faintest liberal conscience. For
casy to mistake McKinnon's summing up of the case — before the jury reached its verdict - as a speech by KOAD TOTMCE chairperson of the NF, himself.
FAMILIAR EQUATIONS
course we cannol accomodate here unlimited numbers of immigrants coming into this country, but it is no something to be ashamed of' McKinson doclared. He went
cquanon' familiar to all who have heard the Nazis propaganda.
*Coodness knows we have 010 AID half million unemployed already and all Immigrants are going to do is to occupy jobs that are needed by the local population. Homes are scarce.
And when the all-white jury rook the hint determining that Read did not intend to incite race hatred with his "Ooe down a million to go" speeeb alter the nurder of Gurdip Singh Chaegar in Southall. the delighrful cpithets he employs to describe black people the Mugger told Read: "T wish you well'.
RACIAL INCITEMENT
Under the 1976 Relations Act, it will supposedly not be necessary to prove
intent' in order to convict for THOH HE KCIACOE DUL as uiG Sunday Times pointed out in its
of the new legislation: doubr whether wolld be proof against the infantile
cences and averily political SCTBORS which nassed lor Judge McKinnon's direction lo the jury.
The ruling class will not
Old Bailey decision
McKinnon
Two headlines on the weekend neatly summarised the contrasting verdicts on the most outrageous racial "justice' so far dispensed by a British court, reports
"Long live free speech!" proclaimed the Daily Express, a sentiment which in the context of the events at the Old Bailey on Friday roughly translates as: "Let the haters and murderers of *Niggers, wogs,
The Daily Mirror, which has lately turned over some of its front pages to the anti-fascist campaign, took a different approach to the acquittal of Nazi leader Kingsiey Read, announcing: "Fury over **wogs
be happy to allow the Musger's ludacment to remain 2 unqualified precedent. 18 months since Read made his 'One down' speech, many mote blacks and anti racists have gone down" in the upsurge of Cillings, stabbings, lire-bombings, and other more "subtie" manifestations of intolerance.
ZEBRA CROSSING Kingsley Read speech in London's East End. where just a lew days ago a car that had slowed down to allow a black to cross the road at a zebra crossing immediately acoclerated at him when he had. stepped off the pavement. It narrowly missed. every. black anti-racist militant knows. lhe kind ol murderons acuviry which is now and CAOCTICLILU spurred on and made respectable by the likes of McKinnon and his cohorts on the bench, in the right-wing press, and the rest of what establishment.
But it is the respoose of the black community 331-9801S1 movement will make the ruling class think twioe. Black BAEHSLCLS already announoed chat they ECFUSC TO appear McKinnon's court.
Indian Standing Committee has called on all blacks ro do the same.
SIGNIFICANT DENT This Tesponse significant : dent io tbe charad
Race
bbetele
We
Nazi-style justice
In the
of 'impartiality' which the courts are meant so represent. made his
The 18 months passed since the Southall killing anti-racist and anti-fascist MaYE SI aBICIU BS I activity, onstrations of many thouands during that bloody summer of *76; there have heen numerous demonstrations against the and TaNciss Succ some o Enem violenl.
which HUNDRED MILITANTS
All this deeply concerns the upholders of Who would have thought a passes for the short while ago that it would be
passibe to mobilise over hundred militants to counter an
and the NF paper sale in an arca such as
Croydon, as happened the day WHICI alter McKinnon's Judeement?
The leaders of the race TESTBi OSu that Mugger McKinoon bas
The West Heaparaire baw pirading wita
RaTe BOW Sam Silkin, General, to rectify the damage
the he Unde lam who
decided to take no action against Sar Richard Dobson's
makes "wogs" speech and countless
similar pronouncements. It just tor thes remesel of you armintes selehbeura Ewis yas wst. o eileel lan to prases yau Sa
Neil McKinnon, The ruling class will not be happy 1o allow the Mugger's
that have which brought read court.
There were dem- and Obi Egubana.
has forcefully CUSTHEICT
Chalienge
law and order*. blunder.
fried by a full jury.
Abolition verdicis". jury verdict
Jocal commurile.
TESETU!
pleading with Attorney detence Keictions Act.
known.
castrinuted by
Bokassa
Nation of
people,
following the
national
1 take
The impending
anoounood,
Tribune
Fiction so happens that twn people have been successfully prosecuted for incitement under the Race Relations legislation
Read to Buey were achac 3 who both freedom. just happened to be black.
Whether or not Silkin moves apainst the Mugger, the latter
revealed the and nower thar ceatre pages resides "t e repeal, cherelare the whole judicial the the demands thal Sociafist review
put forward at the timne af Macistrate Oakley'
* Abolition of the magistrate now by sistemi and for all coser to be Doug Hill.
of majorify bnr a aronmaoa should be
* Elecsion of ail radges by the
The Labour Government, the hetfer judiciary, and black self
see Editorial.
Meanwhile in
Leamington..
IN LEAMINGTON SPA on Monday, the magistrates court decided to posipoce heuring a ces agaiest Brilish Movernen:
Jascars Mick Cole and George Jomes wetil 6 Februury. They ation te are heing churged under the incitemeni to racial harred Catberine It2in seczions of the 1976 Race
Cher a hundred arri-fascists pickered the court, demanding acrion agains the rocisr tiugy whose activifies in down ore well
Will Mugger Mc.
Kinnon's choice remarks pur the Leamingion magitrates in a quandery as to whas to do? A
will depend on whecher trom Chile. decider jo sack him or Mor wTites:
News
nowhere
Emperors of the *From World Unite A RECENT copy of the Pyongyare Times, the Englishlanguage information weekly
North Korea, recently publishod a message from the Great and Belaved Bosank ITe Eopeean
Korean Tantasist wrote his new friend:
-On the occasion of the first anbiversary of the procla
the Central African Cmpis l wisn to dogees 30 the name of the Governmentt of ne CODESEBEU whlic of Korea and the Korean
wel as in my own name (surely this modesty is Reg unnecessary - NFN) my warm pongratulations to Your Maj esty, and the Governments and people of your country
*The Korean people are and
great progres: being made by the Central African Empire under tbe leadership of Your Majesty in its strugele to consolidare
independence and bulld a new sociecy..
this oecasion to sincerely aish our maicsts grenter success in his work for
the prosperity and development of the country?
Cexacl dae ot one coronation Pyonevane nas sei to ne
- Stranger than Science
Tr let-socal de mocraco ls of left-social democracy. editor is Dick Clements, the scourge of the far-left and a doughty defender of press
It is commonty accepted that the rwo lieliest sections of the puper ure the pages which Dick does not edit: ihe letters pages and the twe
WOIETURWEL arts. should be acknowleged that Tribune's
pages marE consistent and more effective than those of the far-left press. They huve heew edited until
La libertarian mamed
Some months age Hill ran into trouble. He wanted to priat an anticie critical of the recraiting tacties of SLADE, the designers anion, logether with a cartoon. Captain Dick Tuasen TO e permission. Surely It wonld have been SE.ADE the righr uf reply tan DOnETSE not te publish at all. In any cuse Hill wus offended by the
might Teure within the mext fen months.
LUE TALL ALDE HS Y ELEL a sclence fiction novel, accepted for publication by Pan Rooks might he a further inducement. also Rumours that tbe book & s suh-conscious account of how Trihune is ran have been from the
wigerously denied. Not even Hill has the reguisite imagin-
ANSSL. new Literary Editor is likely lo be
Racal Welches on Sanctions OUR disclosures ib this column Tegarding Racal Electronics have resulted in some more information coming our way. 11 appears that the firm has recently got a massive order
A correspondent worked for the •DULLE
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 12 January 1978 page 3
from
August 1978 November employed by Racal Tacticom in their department at the Racal marine tamory ar brosusims, Kent. The ultra-reactionar haracter of the Racal group c companies -was sue mase reason | left.
About once a year, the Town Traus UnIOn would come around and leaflet the production line. I never got to •SHH AO MATA S. AMO DaN BOLE about this afterwards. A people joined the union. Bu the management wont aroun these people and them lo revake 1!
1 br the ameo ot tot te
me by
Boreham, in a unionbashing pep talk he grve us alterwards. It was poinled out that if tha unionised, then managemont
worktorce would be permanenty ar loggcannoo and we would have to fight fer concessions, insiead of being given them by a kind and generous company
What struck me particulary WNS OH about unions shown by the management. This was bom QUS BSL AUEUS WARVER the 5.G. Brown lactory, awmed by the Racal group. This Is h WATa E nRS TOCOuLT LOrd years Bgo, bellore] boen unionised
mel the production manager, who toid me he had been one of the main movers of WN ONISN HE NGOS. SrII factory sub-contrecis work out to the production line in HMOSRSRRRCIOIV THCHEH be normal practice within th Racal group for him lo visil th Brosdstalrs tactory Bor qualg contral, progress control, similarchecks. This he was nol ORTIO OO nE Eme that this was because of hi pro-union wark. Obviously th group management does want other companies within the group to be 'contaminated
In December 1976, the Racal group grented all its amplog ees a 12V½ per cent pey ris loutside the Govemment's pay Femirali endedo hane 197. payable whon Racal was informed by Department of Employment that It would receive no lurthe Government contracts until this rise was withdrawn. All of this was quite public though not, l imagine, HHIFKROWE
Emplayee telen n
Umpioer explaining situation, withdrawing the
cent and awardin Instead a producimly bonus to be paid when the restraint ended We were lold 'oll the record" that this bonus would not be less than 12%2 per cent of gross wage backdated t DETENIPOTD
About one month later it was announced that Racal had boon wade HoH Office contract worth E4 million
heard rumoured in LREOUT CON- GIRU ROLCA
withdrawing contracts, government had SiBo TTTHH RIHE expose Racal's sanction breaking in supplying military communication state and to South Africa.
It Is true that there is a South African subsidiary, Racal South Africa. times works Joinlly with Racal companies in England, though whethar trade sanctions ame METO DOON DIORETS HOUSOE rather tochnical quasiion depending on the nature of the
volved.
In the period 1976/7 the Kacal Group made about 23. million profit on a tumover o £100 million.
Page 4 scan of this page
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Page 5 scan of this page
"Fight on with new leaders'
T struggle
trade union movement as a whole.
NOT
IN HUINHURCH 1UP PBU strikers besieged the BBC
BBC's 'biased and misleading" AUREL BLIC BISTE strikers carried placards read1b0: bonwide support the Armywide', and 'The BBC and WILS JOU SWEETE LEUTUE facts'.
They said the worst offender was Nationwide with ins
"Firewatch Seature that con centrated on the heross
miliary and isnored the PHI
complained BBC
extensive coverage to 200 union
WELLOCES IN LEILLALLI favoured calling off the strike, but ignored a rally of 6,000 in
HOME NEWS
Socialist Challenge went to press before the results of the FBU delegate conference were known. The indications were that the vote to continue the strike would be very close, and the areas in the forefront of the
such as London and Glasgow decisively reject the executive's recommendation of surrender. Whatever the outcome of the vote the FBU strike, argues RICH PALSER has many lessons for the
VIVE
TO LIVE
EXIST
Media bias
protest
Gilasgow which was behind the strike.
The Edinburgh strikers did not let ITV or the press off the hook, however.
Holland, for the committee said, "To begin with, we were glad that they didn't fires, but now they are covering dying because we haven't heen paid: of This kind of Edinburgh was taken by FBU members independent of their lenders, *Ir was an initiative trom the membership, Bruce Holland, "we'll tell the executive later.
The FBU strike is the first official national strike in the union's bistory. demanding MERC industrial wage, plus 10 per would and file members of the FBU
WOU YOLLO LOCO SUL SISL knew from the start tbey wee taking on the Government.
There was less certainty
about the role of the TUC After all the September had voted for an immediate return to free collective bargaining' and
had rejected pleas by the
Government to accept a 50 per cent limit.
DECISIONS
Eventually these decisions meant nothing to majority of the TUC's general council who on 21 December voted by 20 to 17
Government's incomes pousy mastered oy tas acceptance of the 12 month TUE. factor, Last Monday, justto ram the point home TUC
Murray publicly called for the strikers to go back. For him the terms of surrender endorsed executive
It is an indication of the SaDIES 01 among
members of the FBU that his intervention probably hardened TOPPOSIO surrender. advances for Murray can be
ranslated into the scrapper
if cow dung for rank and fil trade unionists.
ADVICE
advice of Terry
accept the
treated very
Perry's opposition to the
strike was there at the start,
was shown throughout by his
inaction to capaign
support among other trade The Liverpool FBU solidarity conference — inciuding a day of action on 16 January and an emergency TUC steps in the right direction. But TIC TECHNO TO ROSSELT would have had mare teeth if Communil Party delegate; Had nor BELOUR strike action on the day. solidly CP delegates lobby of parliament instead of strike action 'change in the situation'. This Bruce "change' WiS strike than Thursday's FBU ference. But in the days leading up to such a conference. need is to step up rather than retreat, Policies for winning the strike cannot be people
Dy Sarune possible outcome of a future conference. action in The
retreat and first to discuss unemployment said in February
concerns workers' movement around the
FBU and TUC
confirmed by In mendation to return aVErAge
FBU return to Congress in such an alternative.
there.
SUNDed Up I0 8 the waved as
strike. Their leaders
TESTED
ProYco top truce!
secretary Len
the FBU ecall of the TUC
are very sub-
backing
file
return to bargaining' *Substantial boch
strike action, As for beyond
ship.
Neither is it likely that the
to the ramy offer will b seriously.
for
Liverpool
conference
LCDTU
- mapped out political importance.
Conference
boen successful in
call for bring
went for a
of
more Con-
the activity. demands.
Workers from Ine SIDENCONS
CP-led LCDTU has
inactivity. Called
despite the
unions, and was finally
This recom
The attitude of both the majority in the TUC general counci and that in the FEE executive has been the main stumbling block to a quick successful strike. Wben Hampsbire members of the
voted to support a wark its chairperson, Tom Garland was quoted as saying. The men are very dissatistied with the offer.., but they can see no alternative bur to accept it" A fighting campaign led by
САССИРСАНО supported by the general council would have provided
But an alternative is still confererice
One aspect of it is placard the Scottish executive were meeting to
left
•nose who occasionaly
Pould so entelle in
members of the general
the strike abould take up the
More decisively they should also commit their own unions to
STUTE of workerstbattakes up the call
of the September Congress and strike for 'an immediate
free collective This megn: financial assistance, and ultimately solidarity
the FBU, it i doubt that its executive no longer reflects the wishes of its member
Even if tbe delegate conference accepts the offer. it will do so by nothing like the 13-3 majority by which
executive vote to accept
Whatever the outcome of the delegate conference and it should be noted that the vote of the 7,000 part time firemen uhe have scabbed on the strike could be decisive - a major issue
-CARTION Government's pay policy — the
CHAS been postponed until March, in the
alsO heard arguments from the Workers Revolutionary Party delegates in support of a resolution to
down the Labour Government — and rejected them for che madness thes represent, But delegates accepted an amendment Buckinghamshire's FBU foe other sections of workers chiefly power workers and the TOWL tanker drivers to take action now on their own pay
Thornett of the Socialist League cah. bathi insistence that such action was counter-posed to the das action was correctly rejected by
Sociulist Chullenge supporters
wete delerales campaign of boycot against emergency tre services by workers, was carried.
will remain. That issue centres on the leadership of the TUCand FBC, who have ignored the arrived at decisions of the trade umon movemcar wir the same enthusiasm as they have scabbed on the strike
A major campaign lor the
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at luper word Desire
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SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 12 January 1978 page 5 removal of these is now the
immediate need. That way Callaghan's talk of a new round of incomes policy with a five per cent limit can be reduced to a pipe dream. A defeatnow for the 10 percent
even stop pipe dreams.
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Page 6 scan of this page
Speke strike 'not a one off affair
HOME
in this country. in the present strike.
Since last March, Leyland management in Speke have been trying to push the line speed up from 14% cars per hour 1o 1732 Cars. DONE I two month strike, it estimated that 400 workers have left Speke to take other jobs. Many stewards say that because these workers have lett there is no way the line spoods could now run at 17%2 cars per hour. which certainly proves that British Leyland mean to
mutuality agreements as well.
COMPONENT LACK
Speke plant workers, now in the second strike, came back to work in November after layoff, caused by a lack of components due to the Lucas toolroom workers strike. Within one hour of returning 750 production workers walk ed out when management tried to up the score to 17 cars per hour.
A section of the shop stewards' committee wanted to occupy the factory but senior stewards swayed the vote
AT A STRIKE Committee meeting last Friday, the Grunwick strikers decided to use thie provisions of the Employment Protection ACT seek union recognition Thsy accepted a proposal from APEX General retary, Roy Grantham, who attended the meeting, to ask ACAS to hold another ballot time with greater efforts to seck the opinion of
WORKERS at the Leicester Mercury offices were leafletted by demonstrators from a 100-strong march last samur day, to protest the paper's refusal to advertise Gayline people for gay people in the city.
The Mercury didn't stop with its refusal to advertise editor explained his reactionary views in an editorial. Making the obligatory attack padophiles, the COLESTINE
abelled gays as 'perverted" and claimed that Gavline's ities are not 'a proper subiest to set before readers in the family home'
Mercury readers are advised to wistfully recall a time "when people who practiced unnatural vices did so in secret, or at least with some discretion. message for those 'with
deviant problem' is to go to a doctor or psychiatrist. But say
NEWS
Leyland to sack 30,000 l
Over last weekend the news leaked out that British Leyland's new boss Michael Edwardes is planning to sack up to 30,000 workers in the next 18 months. This represents one quarter of all Leyland's workforce and is the biggest threat so far to the future of carworkers
Edwardes has already threatened the Standard Triumph Speke plant in Liverpool with closure, But the threat is seen as a bluff by the shop stewards committee at the number two plant - an attempt to smash the current strike at Speke over manning levels. TOMMY HEALEY, former deputy convenor at Standard Triumph Speke, outlines what is at stake
against this. What took place Insical was a pictor de gates. The picket was made up OfY or shop stewards, and l not insolve the rank and file.
When a mass meeting was called, it voted to continue the But Full-time trade union officials in the transport workers workers unions had been bending over backwards to sell it out by making deals with management, to agree to the and new manning levels.
The shop stewards" commnice turned down te scape and was supported by TGWU. Talks with ACAS are
Grunwickst) and Labour MPs on Merseyside have made fine speeches, But words won't thwart Leyland's first real attack on manning.
WHIZ KID The British Leyland attack on manning has started.
Dran 1D cut TATE BETEL throughout the British Leyland Combine has promised by the
Grunwick strikes on
strike-breakers working, following the ruling of the Court of Appeal.
A nass meeting of all the strikers which followed was solidly in favour of continuing the strike. of the strikers is a victory for the APEX leaders, who have Secall along campaigned for resolving the dispute through the courts. Grantham and Co. have fought against the mass action on the picket line this and the building up of action to cut off servioes to George Ward which were capable of
No free press'
by JAMIE GOUGH people don't need the 'help' of the medical profession, wetteed solidarity of other gay people:
Gayline sepporters are taking this case to the Press Counci and have already The hackine of the Leicescershite National Union of Mercury, The Mercury ial management should forced 10. implement union's policy crimination on the srounds of and give space to Cavline for a reply. the paper's editor has not only refused the right of reply, bul has cut off all correspondence on the subject.
The Leicester Gayline operates from 7.30 /0pm, Leicester
executive. Now, with whiz kid Michaci Edwardes at the head it has chosen Speke, whic model, as a first nut to crack.
ONE-CAR PLANT Speke was chosen for a number of reasons: it is one-car plant producing the TR7 (but the number one plant does produce the body for the Dolomite which is finished ar Canley in Coventry).
Leyland hoped for, so Speke's ER Is not a large Pome co like the Mini or Allegro.
the Anotber reason B that
workers weakeneL by had veek's work since Augus The workers at Speke are also one of the tea plants who voted overwhelmingly against engincering the Leyland plan for corporate
bargaining This given all plant-by-plant ballo 202094 when results by the Electoral Reform
the ballot results was never given
the committee or the trade union of the
So this is no one-off strike: it (remember is a ruiness compan bi
Levland to rip agreements throughout the combine on manning, If Speke it defented, Coventry, Oxford or Longhridge will be next. Every trick is being used by the Leyland management smash the strike. threatening ciosure. The dirty
The tricks department has
putting out callels alleged signatures. he Leyland DECE SCHOs who want lo Drcak the
strike could have an effect
still winning the strike. As long
ago as last August, Grantham said There can never be a victory - i draw is the bes result The APEX burcaucrats pursued this line with vigour to regain control after the The decision full-time official to attend
every meeting of the Strike Committee. They got control aver the Strike Committee's funds by making it compul sory for an contersign the strike fund's cheques. And they were ably assisted by lom Jackson and Lie costal workers execulive who inflicted heavy fines on members of its London District Council for supporting the Grunwick summer. John Taylor, London District organiser was fined E500 — a total of £1,400 were meted our in fines.
The APEX leaders favour continuing the strike because they want to reverse the legai Josses suffered by George Pard has not only exposed their inability to win won the
recognition and reinstateJournalists, ment at Grunwick but nas
thrown into question the COLLOI whole strategy embodied in
the Employment Protection
the Act for all sunilar industrial of to dis disputes.
continue the strike is a correct one. But the APEX leaders To dale reliance on the courts will lead
only to demoralisation defeat. The Strike Commattee must think again.
MAN
COMBHILE meetings which involve
TRT sport:
get the
happening at The TR7 A TICH Coventry) who
close.
at Speke have been
lay-offs, with
only one
the action.
Leyland Company
square in London
closures.
up existing
including
with 100 The 100 last weekend to They have sent a
official to
LEIU and body plant
'This afternoon
blacking of mail over sabotaged
the BSE QUCE-
ANGRY REACTION
ACAS.
The Socialist
among Dagenham.
The decision 1o
OWNED UP
One abd
and assembly plan stewards were sacked"
JONATHAN SIBER- The workers"
the shop stewards call more mass the rank and file, instead of playing the wait and see tactic.
If the warkers at Speke win the strike it would put hack the plan to smash manning levels and close down other plants. To win this strike. They must
support of CONCI Leyland factories. The workers SEES ALBEC MUSTANC fall information on what is
Speke. It must not be left to the likes of Eddy MeGarry (TWU conventor at
waits like a vulture to see if Speke will
The strike at Speke can be won if the action is spread throughout the combine, and Speke workers have to spread the action. Now that Leyland executive say they will close the plant, it is vital for the shop Stewards committee to spread
Edwardes and sit in Berkeley They have the full backing of the Labour Government for the plans lor manning cuts, redundinacies.
But 6,000 workers make a mighty flying picket — to Coventry, Oxford Longbridge — or London.
on the offensive
THE National Abortion Campaign mapped out plans at its national meeting in Sheffield offensive in light of the failure on the
Widens on of the anti-abortionists to come up with a restrictive bill this parliamentary session. Top of the list is support for a nationally co-ardinated campaien for day care abortion turure well as plans to draw together
Ford worker
victimised
by STEVE HARPER which ON 4 January the managemen: -cused. of Ford Dagenhan slampine
issued a company bulletin, It stated
an employco was aavisen that he was lo bo dismissed and diet
strike'.
underbody and urinated in an
The worker in question is Tom Birmingham, a General and Municipal Workers Union Shopsteward, and a member of
Workers Party
The attempes by management to sulcar and sack Birmingham
have raised an angry reaction
shop stewards in
departmenr's shop
committee's bulletin has ac
cosed the company of coving
"towards the same situation as
1962 when in the paint, tom
17 shop
Danger at the
attempted sacking is well
Abortion campaign
by JUDY WATSON
positive legislation.
Outpatient abortion facilitie could provide safe and quick abortions on the NHS. In most areas facilities for abortion are totally inadequate. Plans for
clinics have been shelved, thaoks to curs in NHS spending. And where clinics founded. Another worker has already admitted doing the damsee to the underhody ol
Birmingham was ac Topping.
Transport and General Workers" Cnion shop steward told Socialist Chullenge, "I will be caling for total support 1o1 brother Biringhai and for the unions to call an official
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 12 January 1979 page f exist, doctors' anti-abortion attirades make cortain that their full pocential is never reached. The campaign bopes to work closely with local cuts committees, trade unionists wonten'a groups and student organisations.
A special student committee has been escablisbed and the Trade Union Liaison Committee proposcs to organise with other pro-choice groups all all-trade union conference in the autumn. In
spring, national
lation implications of NAC's demand for a woman's right io choose
— what it entails in theory and DETENCE necessary demand in the fight and who it is a
of women to determine their own sexuality ABORTION CHARTER
To lay the basis for further activities- and possible legislacion — NAC hopes to dran: up au Abortion Churter. The campaigo is also considering the possibility of using government and council elect ions to raise and extend the discussion on its aims. me
Maureen Colqohous, Lah-
eur MP for Northampton
NOrth, EASt HeCK WOn Be
appeal against the decision
of her constituency party te
drop her us their • MP. The
Special cHi Pant Bat
lonal executive enquir:
Colguhoun was invalid on
"procedural grounds.
If argued that when the
briginal motion demanding
Colquhonn's sackieg was
moved in the Park Wurd the
MP had not been given prier
notice of it, and this was
against "nutural justice.
The technical nature ol
this judgement conveniendly
avoided both the disgusting
anti-lesbian campaign con-
dected against Colguhoun
support of racist statements
Page 7 scan of this page
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What about the axcellent that the paper should run regular articles exploding
A Trotskyist
'Arts Monthly'
THE Christmas Issue of Socialiet Challenge reflected the strength, but also serious paper. Although any attempt to cover issues not normally
Worthwhile, the undoubtedly worthwhile, Kmas issue failed to do this in
Any socialist paper strike a clear balance belween CRANE STICINN Interest and value to experienced militants, and those WAlen are oruse to lose no have only recently been drawn Into socialist politics.
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Does this mean that Big Flame's analysis 10890n9 for these problems 15 accurate? When the project of small print,
according mean that analysis of paper are conjuncture, and with specific
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devolutiona get se
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John Arlicles such as the review
reviews and reviews, are need to Articles such as the ine last zo yours or Brish painting are panthey are at present win the
Are the comrades trying
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TOM VAVDIOLICAAIY INT expect to bypass
the
the state we are all at. change was WES done unity in action ve. the present
this question create a class BIT OL ocialist Challeng: realistically the streneths and CONE HERE stage common
areas of common could way forward regroupment. run.
organisation.
to small, changes would
examples that followed up reviewr of as a lorm Imelerant In provides the
ment, whilst Trotskyist Arts VIRUSIN
precondition for support.
Soc- LEWIS EMERY, Brietol
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vould liki
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such a5
den court.
TOls Amount LeieDancaster, Bury most advanced and conscious sections of the working class do not yet support and relate to
seems lo them and reach straight out to the broad
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on a realistic assessment af
As for the counterposition of
debates on procramme. Bie Flame's latter contains the answer itself or firat editor
The develop-
groups
convening of a
STRE suggested, the drawing up of a
revolutionary possible.
activity all offer TOE CHOSE ARE the Fonger
davalooment or including properly democratic centralist
filled by journal ialism.
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go some popularising It in the manne
dicated dy Big Flame, As to
socialist of organisation that unity in action neceasary to lead to regroup
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example. the kind of regional profile that this week on Newcastle. I has
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Balance not quite right
TONY HEAL [5 January!
missed most moonon enticimEn
made of Socialist Worker. This is not that 'some BEEN
directed solely towards party building', true as that may be, but that Its political lavel is abysmally low
This is not accidental, but a
Imposed on the paper when its
Roger Protz that sWp's audience is primarily young workers without political or
SW has therefore to be brash. simple and sensational as
The lack of serious political analysis or discussion In the paper means that it presents littfe challenge to serious
SWP DUSCEIPHOL members leaving a gap which Is hardly
the rather irregular Soc-
Unless the revolutionary
more than one well-produced weekly paper [and it is obvlous that no single organisation or section of the left is in that fortunate position| then any Tre to appeal ou try to appeal to a number different audiences. There is t modest popular audience for
ideas among
men and black as well white, who are not involved in
THOR UNION. alone political, aclivity.
must be relevant
There is also a sizeable of audience of trade union and
knowindge and experience. A
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 12 January 1978 page 7
effective sub-editing of art-
These are among the reasons we are now anxious to employ
views bave already taken place HOE WE WUNHER OCCOLL woman comrade to Jou the staff as soon as possible. Bur, as our readers will apprecie
have financial problers. That is why we are launching the Sponsor a Journalist campaign.
To nid us in expanding the editorial team, the target is 11500 a year, which can he realised through bankers orders of E125 a month. If you are able to make a regular monthly dobarion - anything from El through a group - then please
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(name of yourbank [branchi paper must be relevant o them. And finally there ans the
manition, aspecialy ry
organisations, especially
POUCHE the paper. paper has important role to play In
HUNC them, too, and providing means for some sorts of discussions.
Maybe il is utopian to think that a single paper can till the roguiremenis of dilferent layers land others these
Certainly Socialist Challeng Is too uniformly heavy lor thi first audience, as l am told
of the
paigns found - to that extent Big Flame and Tony Heal ang
But for the third audiences Socialist Challenge is tilling a vital role
it is true that aren this framework, there is rather
Vol a biae towarde the sense. we should be careful aboul saying this that sort of articie should not appear, a position which oilen
that trade union BROUTE interested in painting. or serious flims, or whatever
indeed patronising and philistine.
The key question all th time is that of the balanc within the paper, This Isnt quite right at the moment, but
NOT FOSE OUT DAMACI altogether in emulation of Socialist Worker. Rather, Tony Hag! CUEH spondents have argued Flame and others should now join the USOE WES BE ASH
building on Its real achievements
MARTIN SHAW. (Hull).
Page 8 scan of this page
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 12 January 1978 page 0
The events of recent months in the FBU strike, at Grunwicks, and in the NUM symbolise the turns which have taken place in the class strugele in Britain over the last few years. In 1968-74 a series of mass working class struggles rocked British politics. In the summer of 1975 however the Labour government introduced an incomes policy which was followed by a huge drop in mass trade union struggles. The working class suffered important setbacks on the economic, social and political fields. Wilson was replaced by Callaghan, who proved to be an even tougher and more ruthless ruling class politician. The new upturn of struggle in 1977 suffered some important defeats.
happening. A strategie debate opened up on the left wing of the workers movement in Britain. Socialist Challenge believes that an understanding of what has taken place is a vital task confronting the left today. In the first of two articles on the analyses of the left, JOHN ROSS disputes the explanations given by Eurocommunists and lefts within the Labour Party for the defeats of the last period, and the perspectives which they offer.
IN ORDER to understand the impect of the events of 1975-77 on all classes and layers of society in Britain it is necessary to go back four years in time. When, in the winter of 1973-74 the
cht down the Heath government they ictory since the Second World War. It came in the wake of six years of mass working class struggles, of a kind not seen in this country since the early Twenties.
As a result, not merely the left, but virtually every major force in society expected this victory to be followed, perhaps after an initial loll, by an escalation of the class struggle which would lead to further working class victories
They noticed not just that Heath had been defeated by an important trade union struggle, but also that the Tory Party in February 1974 lost a major proportion of its working class votes — votes which are vital for any governmental party in a society as heavily proletarianised as Britain.
The Tory proportion of the vote was the lowest this century. Furthermore the implications of the rise of Scottish nationalism for the unity of the British state, especially given the fact that the Scottish National Party had replaced the Tories as the most dynamic party of the bourgeoisie in Scotland, were well understood by the ruling class.
An important section of the ruling class felt that major political and constitutional changes were necessary to control the situation. The Tory Party manifesto for the October 1974 clection raised the question of a peacetime coalition government for the first time since 1931. There was talk of proportional representation.
Devolution became an issue of some importance and ruling class journalists prepared their class for major changes in British politics.
All this from one angle might have seemed a somewhat exaggerated, if not hysterical response, to the overall situation. After all the return of a Labour government was hardly a new experience for the captains of industry. They knew that in the Labour leaders they bad loyal and lested defenders of the system. The real reason for their consternation was not the Labour government. It was their fear that the relationship between the Labour government and the mass working class movement had shifted decisively in favour of the latter and that
APEX
OFFICIAL
rick: Bourgools leaders dishoreed on whutnerto back van
These changes in the political situation saw attempts to explain what was Labour would not be ableto effectively police the
In 1968-70 a Labour administration had been forced to withdraw In Place of Strife which embodied its anti-trade union proposals. It had been unable to prevent the beginning of the biggest strike wave for 45 years. In 1970-74 the trade union bureaucracy was unable to prevent the major struggles which led to the defcat of the Industrial Relations Act and ultimately brought down the Heath government. The political positions of the most important sections of the bourgeoisie following winter 1973-74 were based on the evaluation that the Labour bureaucrucy would not be able prevent the masses launching further magior ciasr strugeles of the type of 1968-74
In that situation some different, more powerful political formula would have to be found. A National Government would concentrate all political forces against the working class. Proportional representation would hopefully prevent Labour ever gaining a majority again. It meant, at the very least, that the Tories had to be supported against Labour not merely in February 1974, when it appeared possible they could win, but also in October 1974 when it was obvious that they would lose.
THE LEFT
This appreciation of the relations between the masses and the Labour government was shared not merely by the ruling class, but by most of the left wing of the workers movement. It was almost universally anticipated that the working class would again move into struggle and gain victories. The only major difference was on what form this new advance would take.
The Labour left and Communist Party saw moves forward being inaugurated by the reformist left. The revolutionaries expected a collision with the Labour government that would sap the illusions in the Labour bureaucracy held by soctions of the working class.
In the event neitber the perspoctives of the ruling class nor of any section of the left were realised. After allowing some limited economic concessions in its first months in office the Labour government moved, in the summer of 1975, to Introduce incomes policy and austerity
mensures. This in itself didn't surprise anyone as the ruling class had urged it and the left predicted it.
Whor was dromatic and unexpected however was that the hage attack on the working chess launched by the labour bureaucracy mer nod mess resistance, even after an intrial Taft, but on the contrary led to a major downtum in mass sorwegles. The 124½ per cent cut in real wages in two years — the most rapid declive in living standards for a century; the doubling of unemployment; the savage cuts in the welfare Mate; a series of attacks on trade union and democratic rights were met, not with a mass fightback, but by a fall in the number of days lost in strikes in 1976 to the lowest level for ten years.
Furthermore there were other disturbing symptoms. The growth of electoral support for fascists and racists, the fil in mobilisations on major international questions such as southern Africa and Ireland to levels far lower than even two or three years previously, not to mention 1968: the stagnation of the revolutionary left and the decline of left reformism.
BALDWIN WITH NORTH SEA OIL
For the ruling class of course it was relatively easy to respond to this new situation, If, contrary to expectations, the Labour bureaucracy could control the masses then support should be shifted to the Wilson and Callaghan governments. Whereas in 1974 there was talk of how to change the electoral system to prevent Labour ever getting a majority again, by 1977 Peter Walker anticipated the fulsome new year tributes to Callaghan which filled the bourgeois media by characterising bim as Baldwin with North Sea Oil'.
By the end of 1977 some important working class struggles hadtaken place - - the toolmakers' strike, Grunwicks, the FBU, But, after initial flutters, the bourgeoisie retained its confidenoe Eat me bureaucracy ma te sugaon under control and made it clear that they thought Callaghan and the Labour government were the best people to handle the situation
This unexpected boost for the ruling class was bowever. a matter of grave concero for the lett. How had the ruling class been able to achieve this unexpected victory? Why hadn't the expectations of the left following the victory over Heath been realised? What could he done in the
even nominal socialists. They found a pale reflection even on the front page of Tribune of 6
THE CENTRISTS
The reformist and centrist left has not been slow in coming forward with Its explanations of the situation. Setbacks in the class struggle always produce a host of intellectual apologists who rush forward lo provide sophisticate rationalisations for accommodating capitalism. The specific form this has assumed in the last period is an attempt by a whole series of reformist and centrist forces — in particular the offshoots of Eurocommunism in Britain (Purdy Prior, Roberts et al, as well as the official CP Seadersto and various toross in the Labou Party left such as Ken Coates, Cleoff Hodgson, Peter Jenkins, etc. — to ascribe the setbacks in the class struggle not lo the role of the reformists but to allegedly overwhelmingly unfavourable factors of capitalist society.
On the theoretical level the common thrust of this current has been the attempt to demonstrate the supposedly invincible might of bourgeois institutions in general, and bourgeois democracy in particular. Whether it is bense soviet power is less democratic than parliaments (Hodgson), because democracy is classless (the various Labour lefts), or simply because the ruling class is overwhelmingly powerful and won't tolerate anything else (Poulantzas), the essential goal of the Eurocommunists and centrists is to escablish that is is impossible to successfully challenge the most basic ruling class political institutions
The left has therefore to give up any idea of the sovereignty of workers" institucions, dual power, or any strategy leading to this goal. The best that can be done is to work to transform ruling class instinations through their own contradictions → although of course a few workers' councils and the like may he able to play a useful role in pushing this process along a bit.
The transicion from this overall anslysis to explanations of the present sicuation bes in detining what has been the most essential element in the defeats of the last period. Acoording to the Eurocommunists and centrists what has occurred
Trotskyists" suppose, some sort of "betrayal" by the labour buremucracy. On the contrary it is an affirmation of the tremendous power of ruling class institurions
The working class was unable to go forward, and suffered defeats, because of this bourgeois power — although whether the allegedly decisive role was played by democracy, culture, or general idcology differs from version to version
The answer in the present situation is to
recognise this power and move sharply to tight to link up with other forces who may partial contradiction with it. This Tor Purdy Prior and the most consistent E communists — the important thing to do i give up the ridiculous economist against incomes policy, and instead make a with progressive sections of capitalism whe the working class accepts wage cuts in retari TetOrms
For Ken Coates and the Institute of Wor Control, what should be done ls to avoid wages struggle, which 'splits" the lat movement, and instend form a bloc with po such as TUC chairperson David Bassett other supporters of incomes policy to try persuade them to make a campaign ag unemployment. This will 'unite "divide the working class. For the CP leader in the student field especially, what is needed avoid any alliance with the revolutionary abd instead form a bloc with "progre Tories'.
in each case, however, the analysis and an is the same. The present situation is a stri manifestation of the power of ruling institutions. What needs to be done, therefo to scale down activity and get closer to sections of the bureaucracy — or even to par the bourgeoisie itself. This entire 'explana of the present period is, in reality, both the cally incoherent and at variance with the elementary facts of tbe situation.
We will not deal bere with the underl falsity of the theoretical argument concernin nature and power of ruling class instituti This has heen done elsewhere recently in Soc Challenge (see for example, 'A "Third" Rot Socialism?" by Dave Bailey in 8 December is What we will demonstrate is that this argun neither fits nor explains the recent developa in British politics
Let us first look at the thesis which s from the allegedly invincible strength of nu class institutions, capable of derailing defeating any revolutionary strugele by working class based on forming alterna organs of power. The centrists are wron believe that these institutions can never historically challenged.
Ar present however they are indeed c sufficient to derail any move to vio revolution or insurrection. Doubtless if the fighters, presumably propelled by to "insurrectionist left", had attempted to transf their strike into civil war aimed at harit socialism, then bourgeois hegernony would prevailed. The capitalist class would bave wi
However thia argument is quite bopeless. attempt to explain the current situation Britain. Victory in struggles such as Growi the FBU strike would be an importam forward in the working class They prepare the way for bigger successes in future. But it wouldn't even remotely over bourgeois democracy, let alone raise tbe que
insurrection. To attempt analyse that the present situation is in any directly determined by the alleged utis dominetion of bourgeois democratic ins
theories of low the bourgeoisie can d revolutionary upbeavals hased worl councils is noasense. It is iterely a dive whose aim is to draw attention away fron CALM TOTTEN SHORTIOn
If we ture from the general theory to the of the present situation we see that even a r sophisticated version of the Eurocommu centrist argument is equally incapable of g an analysis of the pass period. This argu
Page 9 scan of this page
Peter Hain speaks af Labour Party conference Tribune meeting maintains that the ability of the institutions of the bourgeoisie to begemonise "day to day life"
ben the real dominant cement in this period, even though they do not operate in a direct" Fashion.
But the exact opposite is nearer the truth. Far from an almighty display of ideological and repressive power of the ruling class, even struggle initially involving a small group of workers, such as Grunwicks, produced significant problems within the bourgeoisie. Far from a powerful response, bourgeois leaders started openly disagreeing over whether or not to back Ward the row over the Scarman report revealed this most clearly.
Furthermore, as with the Pentonville Five and the NIRC fine on the AUE, it wasn't institutions such as the bourgeois courts which were determining the situation, but on the contrary, the judiciary carefully followed every twist of the struggle before determining its olicy. Indood what the Scarman report and bourgeats policy in the summer confirmed was that following the mais demonstration of 11 July, Ward and his supporters could have been defented by further workers' mobiusations, Whar allowed the defeats of the late summer of Grunwicks wasn't the huge power of ruling ciass dustirations but the fact that Grancham ond Jackson stepped in smartly to put an end both to the mass pickets and post-office blacking which were winning the struggle.
has existed in other Important struggles of the last period. Despite the press and bourgeois campaign of burning children to corne', rarely has any strike in recent years enjoyed such overwhelming mass support at its inception as the FBU strike. Even the 1972 miners" strike had much less sympachs at its commencement. I won mass suppor, later only hocause of the resolute and determined execution of the dispute.
The First impact of the FBU strike look sections of the bourgooisic by surprise. There were various proposals for capitulation from the
bourgeois press and Tory Party, Ir wasn't any tremendoss power or action of institutions of the ruling class, "bur Collaghan stepping in to say 'not an inch* when elements of the bourgeoisie itself wavered. It was Parryandthe FBUleadership spinning out their endless negotiations with the empiovers rather than mobilising passive sympathy into active support, and the TUC stepping in to isolate the FBU that broke up the initial impact of the strike and ensured that a struggle with a chance of victory instead plunged
hat within the National Union of Mineworker is hardly even necessary to detail. The most elementary facts show up the bankruptcy of centrist 'explanations". Not even the ruling class just defeat the niners. Indeed every single capitalist policy since 1974 has NUM cannot be defeated in strugsle wing opponents.
Trinine
communists and centrists: the role of the labour burcaucracy.
These are not "academic questions. Any analysis which explains that the crucial factor in recent defeats was the 'strength of bourgeois institutions" and not the central role played by the TUC and Labour Party leaders, leads inexorably not to looking for ways to attack and weaken the position of the leadership but to moves to the right and giving up any activity frightening to the "left allies" within the bureau cracy. For the reformists the enemy which has to be encountered and defeated within the working class is not the Labour bureaucracy, but rather the so-called ultra-left"
There is a certain logic in this position becalise the central leaders of the bureaucracy in recent years have been Scanlon, Jones and Daly, old friends of reformism and centrism, and traditional defenders of left social-democratic perspectives. A break with them is clearly too frightening a perspective.
Thus the claim that the central facror was the "strength of bourgeois institutions' provided the rationale for the complete abscoe of any activity in the present period from the CP-controlled
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 12 January 1978 page 9 Unions (LCDTU), the virtual disappearance for a prolonged period of the Institute for Workers Control conference, and the abandonment of the call for a campaigning NUS by the CP. The different practical policies advocated by centrists and reformists on the one hand, and by revolutionaries on the other, are thus closely interconnected with how both sides explain the present situation.
But the obvious flaws in lne retormist argument shoald not lead to complacency on the part of the revolutionary left. For mercly exposing incorrect arguments is not sufficient. The fact is that the revolationary left, too, confronts a crisis, which only those who live in the fantasy world of soctarianism can ignore. For unless the revolutionary left can provide answers to the present situation and evolve a strategy capable of linking it to the masses, its own crisis will continue apace.
Next week Socialist Challenge will be pristing the second part of this article which takes up the crisis facing the revolutiomary left and the tasks posed for revolutionaries today.
Page 10 scan of this page
Irish Republicanism today -
OPEN FORUM
In Socialist Challenge
No. 24, Bill Richards
wrote a critique of the
Provisional Republican
Movement. The article
attracted a good deal of
controversy. We are
pleased to print this
alternative view submitt-
ed by Provisional Sinn
Fein.
THE BASIC principles of trish Republicanism today are the same are they were when formulated nearly 200 years ago by Wolfe Tone. They are democracy, national sovereignty, and the union of all the Irish people in order to achieve the first two.
A further principle which was not applicable in Tone's day, when true national independence was coincident with the bourgeois nation state, is the necessity to dispossess the capitalist class and create a socialist republic. This principle was learned the hard way from the predictable failure of the "Free State' to liberate Ireland from British imperialism after 1921, and in the words of James Connolly:
ENGLISH
*If you remove the English army Tomorrow, and noose the grew Hak over Dublin castle, unless you ser about the organisation of the Socialist Republic efforts would be in vain. England would still rule you. She would rule you through her capitalists, through her landlords, through her financiers, through the whole array of commercial and individual institutions she has planted this country and watered with the tears of our mothers and the blood of our martyts.
Bill Richards sees the nationalist ideals of the Republican Move-
ment as "conservative ideologs". But the nationalist and socialist struggles in Ireland, as in any colonised country in the world, are interdependent. Partition in 1921
retarded the growth of any significant socialist movement as there had been in the days of Larkin and Connolly. The artificial division of
state shackled economically Bricain, the working class confused by the civil war and subsequent nationalist rhetoric of the ruling parties.
ARMED STRUGGLE
The six county, one party state set up on the other side of the border had its only reason being in the maintenance of the political and economic ascendancy
over the orber, on sectarian telgious, not class lines
The relative benefits this gave the protestant working class led
allies, whereas the discrimination against the catholics led them to look to the rest of Ireland for their ailies.
These relationships cannot be transformed while the border remains. The border is sustained by a British military occupation. That is why priority is given to the armed struggle for the inmediate nationalist aims of a British withdrawal and national reunification
The Provisionals direct military war of liberation' is counterposed
Bill Richard's article to the building of a mass movement. The Republican Movement is criticised
believing that the SILLAI struggle is on 'a higher plane than
the civil rights movement of 1968.
and the writer suggests that it
would be better to return to a
single issue campaign around
repression.
While the civil rights demands
were a threat to the power of
Stormont, in no conceivable way
were they a conscious attempt to
build a socialist movement or even
lay the basis of one fle.
reunification of Ireland). Stor-
became clear that the Northern
Ireland statelet could not contain a democratic
MASS PARTICIPATION
Under the Provisionals" almost negemonic leadership, a number of single issue campaigns have emerged attracted participation during the subsequent years. The rent and rate strike; the campaign for political
and the anti-internment SELES campaign were the most successful. But there can be no return to the illusion that the Ireland statelet can be reformed by campaigns around single issucs.
Ball Richards shows contempt for what the Northern Ireland catholic people have learned since 1969 if he thinks that in 1978 = nASS movement can be built around such limited conceptions.
Yes, we do believe we are at a more advanced stage since the days of the civil rights marches. question now is not whether to turn back the clock, but how best to solve the problems that now face the people in the ghettoes.
Repression is not an "issue" in Northern Ireland. institutionalised. lence or the sx county stalE guarantees the repression of the
the guns of the B-Specials, torture by the KUC, or the British Army's for
community:
Repression is being
CLUE CLUE
daily life.
mass Northern an anti-imperialist war.
COMMON BOND
political resistanceto
The lives' Action
liberation is being waged"
Repression i The very exis-
its popular support.
A
reply
day to day harassrcut of the
fought day-hy-day both by the resistance of the people on the streets and the organised resistance of the IRA.
Just to he born in a catholic ghetto forces you to take a stand in your
Does the writer suggest it is the job of the Republican Movement to bring thousands of people out onto the streets in civil rights style marches. to be met with tear gas, rubber bullets or worse? That it is capable of doing this is apparent Irom the massive turnout against the visit of Elizabrit. But Bloody Sunday was the watershed that made the civil rights quescion into
The real political task of the Republicans now is to organise in the community to unite individual struggles into a common bond of
British imperialism. As the Belfast Rela-
Committee pro claims: "Prisoners are not a civil
Bill Richards rights issue, a war of nacional
Bill Richards suggests a unite tront with the Social Democrats and Labour Party. The concept o a united front is to expose the leadership and polities of a reformist party and to draw away
•To apply this to the SDLP Implies that the
them.
SDLP has mass support in the
the CHEDULI protestants?
HANDS
OFF
REPUBLICAN
NEWS Protest in Fieet Street after the suppression of Republican News.
working class catholic ghettoes.
must have been misled into believing this by the massive catholic vote for the SDLP at election time, which is in fact an anti-unionist vote, not a vote for the specific policies and performance of that party. The SDLP is already well exposed as traitors in the eyes of the catholic working class people who vote for
let the people down over the rent and rate strike, interument and RUC patrol in catholic areas, and ir has failed in word and deed to defend the people from the armed brurality of
British troops on tbeir streets. The writer's proposal has distorted the real situation to fi into his doctrinaire concepts, and this has led him to make sugges tions which would be politically disastrous if taken seriously by the Republican Movement.
We can only cover two of the several points Richards makes in his criticism of Eize Nus. First, Lie quescion of federalism. Eire Nua is intended to provide guidelines for the unification of the country, and has to face the divisions created by partition. Federalist is an attempt at a realistic plan which woald enable the protescant people of the North to make the transition in a constructive way towards finding their future Interests in the Irish
The writer condemns the fourprovince federation as a back ward step, as against what he calls the radical idea of ta united Ireland completely tree of the ald religious communities, coding the casce system once and for all'. This is not a political plan but an abstract wish. How does he propose we get there? Ban religion? Deport the
CULTURAL IDENTITY
He has no grasp of real political struggle. He merely displays his own terror of the diffi-
a society with a divided working class and with problems of nattonality to solve. •Pro. visionals recognise the right to a cultural identity of the existing protestant working class, while removing the basis of sectarian
HANDS OFF
NE dominance: the 9 county Utster in a United Ireland will nor have a protestant majority, and the link with Britain, the mainstay of the ascendancy, will be severed
Secondiy, Bill Richards states that the criteria for judging the class character of any movement is its political progranune. Eire Nua, he says, is marked by its inability to champion be struggles and demands of the mast oppressed lavers of Irish sociery', This is a most despicable statement. The most oppressed section of the whole Irish working class is in the catholic ghettoes of Northern Ireland. The fighters, organisers, and all the local leadership of che Republican Movement are of that class. So are the emerging socialist tbeories of the Republican Movement, whose only universities are the concen-
camps of Lang Kesh, Magilligan, and Armagh
FRONT LINE
These are the people who are in the tront line the bartle against the British state in these bilands. Their ability champion the oppressed in Northern Ircland is not being fulfilled merely by words, not by proclaiming a programme, but more important, by the impicientation of a progrause. The graveyards and gaols of Ireland and Britain
courage determination of the Republican Movement to delend and to champion the most oppressed people of Ireland
Our "failure" up to the present time la not a reflection of our politics, Bill Richards arrogactly claims, but hecause we
up against the DOSE experienced and one of the most vicious imperialist powers in the world. If there has been political failure it is on the part of revolutionaries in Britain who have failed to be whole licarted in their opposition lo the British occupation in Ireland, and bave failed to give their full support to. the anti-imperialist Jorces in
London Comhairie Ceantair [Branch), Provisional Sin Feir [Britaire)
Page 11 scan of this page
a massive
ANDY KLYMCHUK, the British student arrested by the KGB in the Soviet town of Lvi last August, was released and returned Britain Thursday. MARK JACKSON reports.
In this country the National LUDE MESOCHES initiative of the far left, has taken up a campaign for his release, and the student demonstations around varols Soviet cultural events have played a big part in persuading the authorities to release him a decision that was probably taken at the highest party levels.
CONFESSED
According exclusive revelations in Daily Express, Kiymchuk publicly confessed to the
taking money and coded messages into the Ikraine on behalf of bourgeois nationalist organisations in this country. What is happening in Queensland at the moment?
Well, since September there has been a series of rallies, marches and nockelwich have resulted in over 840 arrests. 1115 campaign sparked off when the Premier.
a han on ail pobtical marches.
Why did Peterson impose this hun!
For several reasons. Peterson has been in power for 10 years. His party has ruled in coalition for 20 years, He is an extreme renctionary, heavily involved in mining companies. He owes
BJELKE-PETERSON bis position to an outrageous
gerrymander which gives him
10 per cent of the seats with 26 per cent of the vote.
His rule has been marked by
ever increasing attacks on civil Jiherties, oppression of abor-
igines, and lately overt attempts
to crush the trade anion
movement and smash the
hining and export of uranium
Peterson imposed his ban betsuse he wanted to show the ruling class Australia generally how to cope with
INTERNATIONAL
Klymchuk-
frame up?
He did carty the material, but says that he was set up by a mysterious Trishman called Dickson, who had persuaded Inst. bim to take the material without him knowing exactly what it was. One thing comes across clearly: that the KGB LUDL knew. exactly what Klymchuk was doind even before he sel foot inside the Soviet Union.
The activities of the KGB are not direcled towards protecting the USSR from nationalist* conspiracies. bourgeois nationalist organis ations in the West have little it any impact inside the Ukraine today. The target is the domestic movement for human rights of the Ukrainian people.
It has always boen standard Stalinist practice to smear oppositionists with having contacts with sinister
A link Ukrainian nationalist organWELL 13813 in the particularly useful given their initial collaboration with the
Australia after the elections
Queensland-
unrest among the working class and oppressed
Ducensland then his solurions will be applied throughout Australia. That is the national significance of the Queensland
What is the connection between the civil liberties movement and the anti-uranium campaign?
The civil liberties movement is built around two key demands: the right to organise right to march. demand is aimed ar beating off attacks on the most basic of trade union rights: the right to form a trade union. That right is heing threatened in Queens anti-union legislation and land al PECSCIEL harassment of union arpan-
The right to march more directly linked with the Peterson is trying to make sure that the struggle is fought out
on his terms. No marches just rallies. This
obviously demoralise the whole
What is the role of the trade
unions in this?
On uranius the unions
calling lor a reterendum.
purs them cicarly to the right of
the Australian Labour
witch is committed to halling the mining and export o
uranium. This policy is a
blatant attempt to sell out the
campaign. If the anti-uranium
struzale deepens the Govern-
ment might take up the idea of a
referendum. Because
monopoly it has over the mass
media it would probably win.
What about
elections and the big conserv-
ative victory?
There
remember here
LIMINALL
as recened juv ande cent ni the vote, but becgase ol the electoral system they have a huge parliamentary majority.
•bourgeois
The
KLYMCHUK occupying Nan armies during and the extremely right-wing character of their leaderships. chuk's confession might Mill
outside find a place in some grandiose with the
The West Klymchuk to visits to the opera
and to set methods used against the
a model strong state
Socialist
Their problem is to turn this parliamentary victory into decisive victory in terms of the real class struggle. They are obviously in a better position to do this but they still haven't significanily reduced the fighting capacity class.
The first And here of course
Queensland important. working class demoralised and apathetic. But they are conting out of this to through fight back in a way the bosse
could not have possilile. The campuses which is have been dormant for so long are coming alive again. This movement. augurs
struggles throughout Australia.
What has heen the response of the left in Queensland?
would To begin with there was a very
healed struggle about whether there should campaign against the ban marches Party (CPA) argued that there are shouldn't and that instead we • This should throw all our activities into the anti-uraniumn struggle.
Parl The tar lett insisted That there
should be
marches. proved correct because the campaiga las gained spread support and sympathy and has now started to attract
of the organised workers,
The CPA has changed its line and is now trying to get the leadership the federal movement away from the far
left. Bust the whole campaign has opened up real opportu ities for the far left. 11 is now porcitie to see a way to end the
cank and file trade union and local committees.
• Back to face family condemnation for publicity-gooding
often
Klym-
Soviet police mealed
purpose Challenge talks to a member of the Communist League from Brisbane, Queensland.
of the working
the STUARIC
. In Queensland the
weak,
THOUTE TE
WE TO CEDRIAL
even be
The Communist
La direet militant the 0a0 on They have been
wide
future!
CLIC
ET! MaSS Australian behind EXISES
succeeded in
authorities
Ukrainian human rights move ment are less sophisticated hut considerably more brutal. Ir the campaign to free Klymchuk has focussed the attention of
OPPOSITION and if that attention can be used Owing in hamner the KOB's current drive lo smash the opposition, collaboration then it will have served its
orpanisers.
A large expected. the match.
AFONSO FREEDOR AFONSO What do you predict for the
struggles. most important point here is that Australia is gripped
crisis. manufacturing high tarifi
barriers and is notariousis
weak and inefficient. Inflation
ATC labour
All in all the future will be one and inspiration.
South London
Quick action
stops
racist rugby
Swift action by the South London Anti-Apartheid group in mobilising a massive public outery forced the cancellation of the planned rugby match between Dulwich College and an all-white public boys school from South Africa scheduled for 17 December. KEVIN THOMAS reports.
Within ten days the Anti-Apartheid (AA) organisers had
match, which the College
be hush hush, twice to the front page headlibes of the widely read South London Press.
Coverape or the LULEILLE cil, demonstration also hit the major daily newspapers, the local press and even the ITN programme Thames at 6 on the day of the cancellation.
the widesprend appasition in this country to
with apartheid, and the quick action of the
support action was mounting up to tbe moment when it was called off.
demonstration was
The most important factor ing was the ability of the local AA to win the support early on of general mere can em
the captain. time of the cancellation, they and several others on the team had decided not to play the
match and to join the picker
backing was only made possible by the broad support enlisted by the organisers, who bad projected a mass picker ai
In addition to the press coverage, protest against the
VO JULE
EFONE
A picker of the Portuguese embassy ln London Jesr Sorrday against the 13 year sendence on left-wing militani
of growing repression and
Fraser will try
break the trade unions and
export uranium. The task
the left is of course to lead the
fight back, bat ahave
need for regroupment. on the
left ias never been greater
revolutionary party must be
left in Austrata looks to the
European lett for leadership
The Euro-
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 12 January 1978 page 11 match and sunport for the picker came from local Labour 800OC1a1SI (including the South London International Marxist Group three Bishops (Southwark, Woolwich and Kingston); representatives of trades coun
Labour Parties and student unions in south Landon; and a memher of the National Sports Council (who was also a Direcior of Tulse Hill School).
It was in the face of tbis opposition, and the promise of a massive demonstration on tbe
authorities were forced to
This victory will have important repercussions for Us anti-apartheid movesent in
London and throusbout Britain. It also give encouragement to those fight-
southern Africa.
THE IMG is holding
school on South Africa
rISE WOTHES?
struggles" on Saturday 28
January, at Caston House,
129 St John's Way, London
N19 TAILSE SUNC Arch-
way!- Socialist Challenge
supporters are welcome UR NO
EMENTE
PAR FRE
Agaitat the Identification Laws
peans, unfortunately,
abysmally about
Australia, Queensland House
in the Strand should be 1kee
target of protest mail
telephone calls pickets, . det-
onscrations, and boscolts
Within Queensland
siruggle against the attacks or
TAIN TUES SURES ME EUSTE
not an impossible dream
Page 12 scan of this page
Kenyan writer arrested
argues CHRIS O'BRIEN.
Although the PLO's public statements on the killing have
it is clear that the leadership is DOTO TOIS TE TRIERIE routine demunciation of the ANISANTE AS LOCOK CI "Zionism and Imperialism'. It has joined the bulk of the british press pinning
Nidal the Iraqi-backed PLO rebel. His motive is unclear.
The Owardien suggests that thekilling was meant to obstruct a Syrian-Iraqi rapprochement, but if it has any effect it is likely to be the opposite one of hardening PLO and Syrian opinion against Egypt. the Nidal theory is based upon wing of the General Union of
is overwhelmingly pro-lrag. ER50,000 worth of equipment, sold Dy Ministry of Defence to the Central American Republic of
El Salvador to help bolster tie repressive military regime of General Romero, is likely to leave Britain on 2 February.
The shipment consists o. 15
hicles, Saladins and Ferres fresh from COCTION freland, and some communications commoment. The coulsment is to be loaded at the north Kent port of Sheerness.
El Salvador has been ruled by the military since 1931, and its history since bas dominated by repression, violence, and corruption in the maintenance of its tin, ruling oligarchy. Not that General Romero is opposed elections. On le contrary he loves them so much that he makes sure all his friends net te vote a number of times, along
Dockers
unite to
by NOEL HIBBERT
WHO SAID internationalism was a pious cliche reserved for
only? Certainly not Hull and Lableberg dockers. just agreed on joint action SEREUSE Swodish company callled Gullfiber.
The company's ship Christopher Needer sails betapen Hull And Cotebore cartine scan dockers who then unlond cargo in Sweden. Gullfiber thus hopes to smash the Swedish dockers union.
Through intermediaries the Fourth International Sweden (KAF) and Hull (IMG), joint meeting dockers took place. The Hull Port Shop Stewards' Commitlee delsed E0 boycott company's goods in solidarity
INTERNATIONAL
Hammami, Holden, Syrians
The labyrinth
The crisis of the Palestine Liberation Organisation has exploded in the most dramatic way since the Sadat-Begin diplomatie initiative. At least that is the most likely explanation for the killing of PLO representative Said Hammami in London last week,
which is not the case. The left GUPS is meant to have been Nidal's recruiting ground.
If it were capable of a little TUTINCT which il ist't leadership might come up with the conclusion that it bad to take share responsibility, increasingly likely that the Palestinans who rejected he KIlInE was carried out
to the Sadat initiative... or by people Noda. This does not rile our
Aiso HOSTILE
After his initially hostile response to Sadar's Jerusalem trip, PLO leader Yasser Arafat has instructed PLO representa
British arms for El Salvador
Stop this shipment!
military people the don't actually exist.
this is why be
Surprisingly, the subscribers to this uncharitable view of Salvadorean politics ES President Carter. Electoral fraud and the massacre pesants and students made even Carter (who recently concluded an arms deal with the Shah embarrassed to suppy the eN of Iran )
Salvador armed foroes
been ment. After sending troops to
Secretary David Owen
progressive peoples everywbere by avine komero a hand In dealing wich the troublesome population.
The Foreign Office excuse is that it bas reocived assurances
stop scabs
and also to raise nationally. Since 18 December the ship bas been stuck Goteborg harbour with its cargo boycotled.
Il is in such disputes that
an inlernational basas can play 2 To 10 cents coma and experience for workers in strugele, In the dock industn what is needed is to build a
contacts in the European ports fight the Walt chairperson of the Hull Shop Stewards" Committee said: It's up to the rank and in file militants to international solidarity independent of their official wwon Jeadersbip.'
Already dock milicants in Antwerp this international meeting of dockeTs.
tives in Egypt to maincain links
Egyptian President has re
backtracked slightly by defending the PLO from attacks by both Begin and Carter. This Boes not mean PLO support or the Egyptian plar Iroin 1this Syrian keeping their options since the possibility 'rejectionist"
Traqis looks unlikely, if only because of traditional hostility between the Baathist regimes in Irag and Syria. the PLO
the for it scems
SAID HAMMAMI who from Uncharit- acins would not be used in the
event of a contlict with Bellze.F won the The Salvadarean Government
has now claimed that assurances were aor given but the deal poes ahead anyway. the deal goes nhead anyway.
include The people of Belize would do
well to bear this in mind the of next time Owen sends in the
Hate commitice Tor
The Committee Defence of Human Rights in Central America, in conjune tien with Campaign Against
Not so the Arms Trade, is organising
La pick et at Sheerness docks on 2 February, to support an appea to the dockers to boycott the is needed. Further details of buses etc. from Caledonian Road, London NI (01-278 1976).
*Next week:Chile after the plebiscite. the issue and lile
shippwners Cunningham,
Port
organise
call
NGUGI WA THIONG'O
The the only and the solution.
deaths
far ut that Arafat anc
protectors are Year's Eve
It has of a
front with the
nothing
the otbers.
One Nidal theory
Essumotion thal
SUNALLA MIAL CAL
when the
where they El Salvador thal these
the Your support is
CAAT
-
In other words the whale affair is a maze. and scepticisen
way to deal with avone who clas to kada
Things are coniplicated still furtber by the
of Swadey Times journalist David Holdes in Cairo and two Syrian embassy officiais in London on New
Sheen suspected for Par British intelligence ne
British intelligence which hardly gets us any scarer a solution. Anyway, It is ouly supposition that uoks this to the Hammami killine, and
CONCILE LOR nects the Syrian killings 1o
it botb ways variant of the Abu QUESTION Observer-style) works on the
the two So the Syrians were killed in the course of Traqi-Syrian rivalry.
However, forensic evidence murdered but killed by thei own bomb. The bomb did not explode when the car door was opened ur when it started, but
vehicle was motion. The bomb was on the sent between the two Iten
not bave casebook. missed it, and the discovery of
Perils Kenya.
fingers some 100 yards from the explosion suggests that they were handling the bomb when it went off. The police theory is that they were trying to fix the detonator.
None of this is conclusive, of course, but it does raise sons interesting questions. The official version that the Syrians were bff to bomb an Egyptian office on behalf of their own government is unconvincing. caniculariy since the police also choose to accept the theory that the Hammami killing was a response to che soft line of the PLO and Syria towards Egypt. You can't have
question remains: who were these two chibass employees really working for! Were the real culprits out to sow the maximum confusion among the Arabs? Or are the three killings unconnected? lt is unlikely that there will ever be a clear answer, since polic und press will be happy te settle for a politically suitable conclusion. just to close their
The one theory they are not by a Nairobi correspondent
NEWS HAS Just come that Ngugi wa Thiong'o, well
of Blood, has been arrested by the Kenyatta
Head of the Departent of Literature at the University of Nairobi, Ngugi bas monde a name for himself in Kenya and internationally, field of literature and as a
Recently, a Kikuyu play
co-authored Ngahika Ndenda ('l'Il marry
when you want") performed for the first time in Limuni, pear Nairohi, While 1 am not familiar with the play. il is obious that, as in his other works, Ngugi has not retrained from taking known and bis critique of the regime (this tume not in English, but in his own tongue). After its tirst performance in Kiambo, the play was banned.
On New Year's Eve, police surrounded his house and TOSAISEINTE OVER LU books. He has been under
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 12 January 1978 sage 12
interested in is chat it could be the Mossad, the Israeli secret police, LECOLE confusion. Or another regime in the arca operating for reasons we could not hope to fathom? Even if they find the finger that puiled the trigger oo Hammami they will pot hav found the murderer, since al the relevant organisations are so infiltrated and duplicit.
INFILTRATION
Flect Street will continue to remain puzzled at the petty squabbles of these strange Arabs. But there is nothing obscure about these disputes For if the PLO had maintained
ourgeDis Arab regimes i
NOUE MUL DOTE DEUIL MEUS footed by Sadar's decision le take Arab ruing class policy to its logical conclusion, and it would not have laid itself open
infiltration confusion which makes thi case so impectrable.
If the PLO leadership had offered an alternative strategs hased on no compromise with the Zionist STRIC ATO albances with the Arah masses the events of the past week might never have happened, arrest for several days now and has been refused the right to see anyane, including bis wite Nyambura
This is the latest in a series of arrests of left wing opposition ists of the Kenvatta reRime
Odinga nationalist leader and founder of the banned Kenya People's Union) was arrested after a speech on the question of land
These arrests are not only an NINCE DE E SETENAY TESLTILILL democratic rights in Kenya.
awarcness by the noacolonial rushe class of the crumhne o its credibility among the masses. Its response is likely to be ever more brutal repression against all formas of opposition to its and imperialism's rule in Kenya.
It is urgent bat Socichis Challenge readers in Britain mediarely a campaign relense gagi, Odinga, and ail polirical prisomery in Kenya
We in Kenya rev on thi international support: the
rights in Kenya make a local campaign mot just difficult, bar dangerous.
Page 13 scan of this page
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Page 14 scan of this page
PR: a democratic right
COMMENT
IN AEPLY lo Diane Grimsditch's latter (15-31 Decemb-
the paper's publication of Arthur Scargill's letter: although I agree totaily with her indignation and outrage at his views. Above all, we can't bury GUESS IN A SANGERCAURA these views exist in the labour movement for a to years, aud warking the
being then the only woman on a one year trade union studies
nearly all left-wing Industrial militants. They were professed
rights, which to them meant equal pay. But of course they
stumbling blocks on the the end The Tribune group of Labour MPs has finished 1977 on a
voting en masse against the "regional list' proportional
elections to the European Parliament. This move
On the one hand the 'first past the post' system
British representatives - and Socialist Unity election campaign in Ladywood.
Socialist
Challenge
EVENTS
NORTH WEST
For details of activities in the
Manchester Social chall NW
Thing Floor Manchester
Tuesday 0-9pm, Saturday 10-1pm
Duplicating facilities available.
BURY Socialist Challenpo
Whitefleld (near Whitefield
bus and train station).
LIVERPOOL Socialist Chail-
enge grandage note
Place. New
SecretBrica i Chalenge 730pm
18 January.
WARRINGTON Socialist Chall-
flice for delails.
061-206 2352.
Scargill's pin-ups
wardness of women them-
branch meetings, etc, HOODIN
mon had a democratic meeting [l just happened not to be there
- they said to vote on putting up a famale pin up. This was duly done after
ma on volcan arounis was indicative of a number of
things I had to contend with. ЗЛЯ SUUAHHHUG OSHNS
nervous wreck because of the
women's sexuality.
When I tried to discuss their STETUDIO No CranIn oppressive and intimidating il was, the response was that I
everything too seriously. women question was the back- Isolation I could only cope by certainly all the English Tories. tions of the decision making
Jowers of the
European parliament, it is harc
by the British labour move was ment will enhance the cause of
The European parliament will could be used on a European
propaganda; the abstention by
NORTH EAST
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PORTSMOUTH Sociallat Chal-
lange readers
limiting the issues i took up. UT COUTSE INH WORTHIS movement has helped a lot and one draws a lot of support from
not eradicated these and women CHON CONTOnIOR WITT attiludes in the Isolation of their work place or home, and
them up That is why I think I is AXEMAY IMDORARTIRLWOOO take these issues up in the women's movement and in the of pages OTTER
Particularly someone like Aithur
is widely regarded socialist.
Scurol sees no contra In diction between his socialist my policies and a detence of one
For use most apparing aspects Bre British Labour MPs will greatly the limita increase the
proposed forces apainst the Communist
and Socialist deputies who will
France and Italy in particular. But the other BETOU the vote of the Tribunites was
representation for all aub Supaisits): Hampshir errace LONDON BRENT Socialist Challenge
TING OLEND ME POSEI
CAMDEN Socialst Challenge in Cleverand group meats every firet and
hitd Wednesdays af eac
Saturday: rile PO BOx 50, London 1
GREENWICH/LEWISHAM SOcialist Challenge growd meets IT TWO DOCT ng Ray on 01-659 118
SOUTHALL Supporters group
SOUTHWEST LONDON S00Late inlist Challengo supporters
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HAMMERSMITH Socialist Challenge group meeis signety Getails London N: 2XP.
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nichts. Viest Green Commun
West Green Adl Nearest Tube:
Turnpike Lane HARROW Socialist Challange
We have to tell
more than
newspapers, etc
situa are quite
tion of 20CIA11a1 CANO
reply without
hen r. when from the
Scargill, POTOO 11
have been added parliamenian strength of the Democrat-Gaullist
dent.
much more H. reactionary side of
for system, by
political But this nicely mochanism has doxical obliterating me
mere 13 MPs.
thus
Joe Ashton reminded that the
Imaginable.
Socialist Unit
COVDIUTOHSY credible
Yent 369020 multiply the
several times.
For colails
votes democratlo right.
let the far
16
completely from:
PO BOx 50, Liberals and
and mass campaign.
gressive forces.
The success
politics.
of bourgeois ideology OCume women and usine this image to sell its products.
Scargill:
DIN-TOSSERSON DOE
degenerate titillation to antice men to buy
- and now the Yorkahire Miner. The fact
WOMET of over-reacting to this acute aspect of our oppression is
should re-evaluate his concep-
what it is to be a
Grimeditch makes a big
Challenge published Scarglif's
general and the way his Teller was featurad that it was a condemnation of Scargill, but If that was not clear then i
PAT MASTERS (London) Everyone realised that to vote for PR for European elections was the 'thin and of the wedge'
prece was why the
Thus the great mass (NAFGOI Tories who voted against PF
For the British electoral
being absurdly CHE OTTE firmest props of the existing
order By excluding the extrernes of the golitica spectrum from parliamentary representation. and over rep
main bourgeois parties represent themselves as the the only serious political forces socialist
arranged i the effect of actually CEnTre
pardy the be undemocra
undemocratic
bourgeois democracy greeter than that which allows a party with five or six million voters a
Joe Ashton recently argued OR UNSPA BOURS OWE National Front into Parlia
giving them credibility. That may be true but PR would almost certainly allow in the CP, the SWP, other far left forces. Moreover
should be argument
could strangthan one's political opponents is not exactly the most political argumant
The importance of all this for
CAN E overstressed, Even half a dozer far left MPs would strengther
left as political force: the possibility of such a development excluded bythe first past
system
Proportional representation
- representation according to •how ine eectorate actuals
should be On thi Steele Pardoe and Ouril Smit
more
icke and Dernis Skinners.
Teft Join the campaign for PR, together with a fight for the right to vote at
While the Liberal leadersh
ineflective perliementary manoeuvres, many
especially the Young Liberals want a serious
Many otner democratc and pro
such as the
Cammunist Party, could be drawn into such a campaign.
of such campaign could completely recompose the fabric of British
PHIL HEARSE (Birmingham)
Which way
forward for
the anti-fascist
movement
STOP TAMA TONAL RONIN
MANY OF US involved in anti- forces involved in the samp fascist work at natione and work can. in the long torm on y local level have been only too portre hopelation have to An Me He FOs must Fave son and a go the fact that ase in at reponside for distributing several rallion leaffats at sections Lines. This link Mal some co-oramating aton must lustate that we are alive to this requitement toe general" ра та ста данаро
We al enderstard that the world telain the gie to ascists futihe standing done independant activity Now a
00-400 caraidetes at the nest any point reguires a frater
jection, How mew Segalet archange b
working"
these issues win trose Ivoled the peroration election toe de are put. bu Buch an excharge a forg The ASL, not me porcute on effeny se lar tu esserich a coordialing bullet eric
rid talkie lo even allamt IS David Wise
stabita ufalodue with cher Ant Fascist Committge
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 12 January 1978 Piage 14
te sounte troductie.
The Neit Went Coru mitt
"Barpeg in a personal cacacies Becking evolvemon seaty at
candie fateists are scueduled te
"elettoral
lature, it would sprea are yegepeaty belore wiis date Your article slates that the
Tions atticted lo such a body
News perimen Wher we Merseyatoe
Page 15 scan of this page
UNDER
MOTIVE
The publication of Coming Out, Homosexual Politics in Britain from the 19th Century to the Present, marks an important landmark for the gay movement and all those socialists who are interested in problems of sexual liberation, writes SUE BRULEY. Until now, gay people have been represented in history in g rather unfortunate way.
"Mainstream" historians have denied them say exister br at all, and those who have focused on homosexualits have either written dreary
With Bo analytical framework, such as NTONTOWIELY Hyde's Other Love, or turgid lists of 'the and famous homosexuals of the past, such
the book or AL. Rowse, Homosexuals in History.
Although homosexual be. haysour known lo caisted in all periods of history, it was not until comparatively recentivihatthis penavsour was associated with a specific type of person. For centuries ceriain sexual acts, such as huggery or sodomy, sere condemned by the State and the Church (and usually punisbed by death). But these particular acts were seen as potential in all human beings.
During the Iate 19th century a specacar series ot court cases Oscar Wilde beng the : homosesual men -
dredeed hono sexuanty uto the public arena and moulded the Stereotype wiches stil ear of the rubbe class ideology: the gay man as weak, effeminate, lustful and upper class
Jeffrey Weeks skitfully trace the emergence of tbis homosexual stereotype and the various medical approaches
Feminist revolutionary
Alexandra Kollontai
Selected Writings Mapping the place of gays in history
THIS, MIKE TOMLINSON TFLI
who reveaied that he was gep February, 1976.
voice
its transformation.'
In these selections fron Alexandra Nodontal s copiou: writings. Alix imaginatively conveyed the depth, the limitations and the honesty of Kollontai's work.
The integrity of the translations and of their accompanying explanatory texts enahles us to pay serious Jeminist revolutionary of great importance.
For the influence her ideas had on millions of women in Russia both before and after
'EQUAL RIGHIS
"FOR
HOMOSEXUALS
Protest me the encking at a waiso monady at British Rome Stores,
Raising
Kollontai's
Since Kollontai's writings deal with the problems of women, their exploitation and oppression under capitalism, and the freedom they must struggle for and realise with the establishment of socialism, they were too embarassing to have any place under Stalin.
*They highlighted the gap between Soviet reality and socialism, and the extent to which ideas on family and equality had been discarded or distorted by the government; in so doing they raised questions about the nature of Soviet society and the direction of
Holt has
Alix Holt Kollontai's voice,
attention to a articles periodicals
would disappear along ignored The
James to us the West
MOLIES
1932, with the
Sexual Relations ond the pays 'sickness" chapter
Broad
SOCIETY
SOCITIEST developments
wider society national developments.
simplistic way.
account of the wrangling Armand and Kollomai
that
by CATHY PORTER
carly
proletariat
revolution.
Tae
appropriation the revolution suggests that the Marxism which shaped Euro- articles pealt social democracy, Leninsm and the October revolution did make genuine advances
suggests that though smothered by Stalinism, may well be re emerging in the Soviet Union, and she quotes
receht Soviet which discuss questions of morality and sexuality, and link Kollontai's SULLLSE
of their Relations conclusions. But the primary power of Kollontai's argu-
in which domestic economy ments — her vision or a society writing,
with wage slavery - has been
Soviet Union represses
movement in ways that are
The recent interest of the
BOTCHE WITH Kollontai was first awakened in
translation Loveand the New Moralizy and
Class Strggle, Writing in 1919, she demanded: "Why has the lact been ignored that throughout history one of the constant
Alongside this painful tale is
consciousness and resistance by
themselves model which was im posed upon chem. There is a
devoted to Edward Carpenter, whose ideas on "homogenic love" pioneered the
towards a socialist perspective of homosexuality.
movements.
Weeks is a revolutionary
He aways in the gay efforts to movernent lo chances in i
and, when CUTTLE Sometimes 1 felt be bad taken on too much and as a result things were deur with in a cather
For instance, there is a brief
Bolshevik attitude to homosexuality in which he convers the idea that the Bolsheviks were universally in tavour o1 sexual liberation and that it was only wader Stalin that ideas for a repressive code re-emerged, In fact, this was Ine subject of tilter euphorit
between Inessa
Armand, Kollonlai, and lenin
There wore always two strands
Lenin's view that promiscuity in sexual
derclopment mattels is bourgeois, and the möre enlightened views of
The author carelully traces
features of social strugele has been the attempt 10 change relations hetween the sexes, and the types of moral codes that determine these relations? And
-the waY personal relationships are organised in a certain social proup has had a talk vila influence on the outcome of the struggle herseen hostile
Kollontai entered the Russian revolomonary movement d the 1890%, abandoning her liberal aristocratic family to doso and joining with thousands of soung intellectuals cager to go tion the city pops two
populists decades of industrial growth had persuaded revolutionane
factory worker really did represent the beginnings of a
susceptible Marxist analysis and capable of
First TELES 0 Kollontai's life in the revolu tionary movanent were devaled to the struggle against revisionise: the bourgeois
of Marxist A vocabulary to discredit revolu tionary strategy. Her first
are polemics against "legal Marxism'. As For so many women of her tinie, who come to Mary throwa works of August Bebel, his Worken Under Socialism wa an inspiration to her
Ir was Engels' Origin of the Fraily, however, that prompted her to take a more critical
women in society In Serval
and the Class Stragele. in Prostition ang Ways of Fighting If, as in all her
lemale sexuality 1s considered not as a mere
Mango Gross Mom Food
origingily published 1929 society in the post First Word War perica, me book was
the connections between both male and female homosexuality
women's The section en IN INDIE YOU SOORO D particularly welcomed, for in it
Weeks has made considerable
trace the separate chareeter of lesbian history aro the emergence of the lesbian
te last we Radcliffe Hall and her legal battles over the publication of The Weft af Lameliness in some sort of historical perspective.
The falter part of the book is
the reform movement of the 1950g and 60% and the impact of gay liheration in the carly 1970%
There is a brilliant analysis
wave of gay liberation and the perspectives Tor the tuture. The period ol gay activism as merely a
gayboth indiridua] and colleclive has massed. Thr possibilities for the future lie in
particularly in building a base in lise Labour morement by thr
of cells in individual anions severa. major unions already have gay croups, including NALGO, NATFE, NUT and NEPE).
Beyond the small. specialist
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 12 January 197B page 15
abstract biological force which socialise alone can liberate trom the crippi? effects of the double standard. late marriace and prostitution.
She goes beyond a negative
positively of socialist freedom. And in urina wamer to join the socialist struggle she spoke of that freedoni not as a utopia conjured up to justify
but as the real reward open to womeb who fought with the organised proletariat for social revolu-
As an active memher of the Second and Third Latter ANNOUNSH social-democratic parties of KisSe. Cierrans and Finand and a member of numerous women's commissions. Rollan tai was in a position to the doe the actual practice of socialism in her tute. As an independent
the Europcan social-democratic movement, however, she was often too isolated to pursue her ideas to their logical conclusions.
Tater generation of reminists can state with certainty that the appression women experience is not simply
capitalism. and from that certaiaty grows our analysis of patriarchy. Kollontai had to be more hesitant about insights into the roors of male prejudice', but the conchisions women are drawing from the last ten years of their struggle will lind new affirmations in her writing;.
Alexandra Kollontal. Selected Wotings Trophie with introduction by Alis Hol Published by Alison and Busby at £2.95.
the carinis!
Homo, a collection of his won
German
groups, Weeks sees the need for a new national organisation in place HENC reformist and middle class
Campaiga for Homosexua Equality which provides social network ilor ment and
CE TIC CI
fe is rather vague though to what its functions would be and says nothing at all about how it is to be established. But these are questions for us all to
consider. We shouldn't blame
Jeffrey Weeks because he doesn't deliver all the answers I'm sure that Coming Out will point us in the right direction and become a valuable asset to uny socialists everywhere.
Coming Out, Homosexual poltics in Britain from the 19th
published by Qwarter ar 13.93
NEXT WEEK
Especially for Socialist
Challenge, JOHN BER-
GER Padre
Padrone, a film which he
describes as a master-
piece and perhaps the
first authentic film about
peasants".
Page 16 scan of this page
Liverpool conference on FBU strike says THE TUC
Kennard, SociaHst Challenge has produced turing sof set postcards Kannard's photomontages
n black and white,
ands relate to South Ireland, Chile, 1974 miners' strike, repression in the USSR. Each
5% Inches, and card is ray printed with all normal postcard requirements Fresch, English and German.
The cards are unique collection of modem politica DHOOMOnTOD NOT TOnG themselves to mounting and display. Order your set now!
The corus are top coon (rary
six months Socialist Challenge has only
of the donations our readers have sent
exception. Over the next three
£1,800.
Our readers did not-jet down in the first days of 1978.
sent in E159.10. That has set us off on the right footing. So let's Keep it going.
For the next three months we have a new fund drive logo. In the forthcoming weeks we want to turn the Tarlin sower red. The Tarlin tower, named after its designer, was to have been a monument to the International.
In 1919 under instructions
Arts, Tallin began work on this HOW LUN BE LUDE CELLE I Moscow. The tower. whose function was to house the Third International, was planned to have been twice the height of the Empire State building!
The tower never got further than the drawing board. Now
to Photo montage per,
Socialet Cole, POten Photomontage 50, London N1.
Other offers and
* Russian Revolution special. Text by Isaac Deutscher, design by David King. 50p. 1978 Calendar. from Paris 1968, 4 colours. E1. * Subseribe for one year (E10) to Socialist Challenge and we will send you a calendar free. All these prices ure inclusive of postage and packing.
Build the Tatlin tower!
you have the chance to resurect this monument and keep Socialis Challenge alive.
This week our thanks to:
D. Hall
Third
K. Janzon JUIAL
Socialist Challenge
January.
13 posters
NOW!
25.00
By алу, nationalist standards, last of Irish Premier
French
did 20.00 urge Britain
in a general way that they would like to see the Irish people coming logether The bisterica s reaction 10 these remarks in British ruling 0,50 class and Unionist circles is an
nature of these up or nature of these occupiers Ireland, Supposed republicanim of rather
Jack Lynch, That the Government's North of Ireland office got too hot under the collar at the vague comments of Lynch shows Britain is about its rule of the North of Ireland.
OPPORTUNITY
Nevertheless the controversy surroundme the remarks Lynch Name Address
Complete and return to:
Registered with the Posr Offlor as a senpauer. Published by Reigorest: Lad. Jor Socialse Challenge, 328/8 Lipper Simort, London NI.
An FBU solidarity conference called by Liverpool Trades Council attracted over 200 delegates on 8
Among those members from Scotland, London, and the Northeast.
After expressing total solidarity with the strike the delegates mapped out a plan of action towards winning the dispute. Included in this resolution were calls for: *Day of action on 16 January
March on 29 January
but British
weekend's remarks Jack were fairly mild. than to indicate than
the end of this month. just how fanatical
date set
• DI provide a useliul
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Domestic: 6 months, £5; 12 months, €10
Abroad: Airmail, £16.50. Surface, £10 per samum.
Tenciose a donation for the Fighting Fand of
Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London NI.
RECALL
locality who attended were FBU
strikers
= Yes, Britain out: but
remember
Bloody
sunday.
opportunity for the opponent of the British occupation of Ireland in this country to have their say — that Britain should EEL our Bol Some DIC ID IN distant future, but now. That is slayings exactly the purpose of the demonstration in London at
Saturday 29 January is the for the sixth commemoration of the day The leish 1972 when the zunmen of thi ment First Battalion of the Parachute undered It unarmed cal murdered 14 unarmed mehts marchers on the streets of Derry in the Nortb of Ireland Cheques, POs and Money Orders shoeld be made payable to "Socialist Challenge".
*Organised demonstrations in every city, town and
*The immediate reconvening of the TUC *The organisation of regular financial support for the
*Other workers - especially TGWU lorry drivers and EEPTU power workers - to take immediate action in support of their 10 per cent busting claims
6th
ANNIVERSARY time
This Fear the London march rakes on a spocial significance.
For the first time since 1972 cbc Parachute Regiment which was responsible for the 1972
are once more UNITY patrolling the streets of Irelan
just one of the man) examples of the increases repression which the minority Fein in the North of Ireland have suffered in the last year.
•Britain a15C changed in the last 12 months.
There has been an increase 10 activity on Ireland, among unionists alike. The United trade and
Irish
Troops Out Movement has also grown, both in numbers and geographically, and the major solidaricy movement in Britain it is more united than that movement has boon tor some
The Bloody Sunday Commemoration Demonstration Committee, which 15 calling the main demonstration, is com
have beer active in theie various felds. It is supported by all the major left groups, the LITOM and the Student Movement Campaleo Ireland. It was also originally supported by Sinn Fein. but five wocks after the BSCDC was crablished Sinn Fein withdrew, and is now planning its own demonstration on the same day.
A number of attempts have beco made to persuade Sinn
to jain the main The CBSCDC
ive stared that frish grow
ill lead the march and Si Fein have been offered a speaker at the rally after the demonstration. Other speaker: include Bernadette MeAliskey Eamonn McCann, Tarig Al
Tony Cliff. With the BSCDC representing greater unity than has been achieved in this country on Ireland for some time, it is indeed UTTER UTTE Lut Sint Feir have opled out of this unity. movement which still node to Tbe inass troops be built in this country anc which is the best way British socinlists can aid the Irish struggle, will never be buil if DOe Ceason - British on
insist that it is their *acht to lead and control demonstrations.
Socialist Challenge urges its readers and supporters to turn but and show their opposition to the presence of British troops
CONTES will assemble on Shepherds Bush Green at 1.30pm.
← Socialist Challenge No. 27, 5 January 1978Socialist Challenge No. 29, 19 January 1978 →