Brighton Labour Briefing no. 14

HEFFER, MEACHER.

As the results flowed on the night of June 9th, the only consolation for labours right wing and soft left must have been Bristol East where Tony Jon athan Sayeed best Tony Benn.

With Benn out of the way the power brokers of the Labour Party could begin to wield their block votes with minimal interference fron the rank & file. Clive Jenkins was fast off the mark casting the ASTMS block vote before Foot had publicly announced his ‘resignation.

When al] the candidates had thrown their hats into the ring (all men except right winger Gwyneth Dunwoody) ,John Golding, the arch-witchunter announced his support for the Nightmare ticket.

A trespectable left winger’ Kinnock

and a ‘moderate! Hattersley.

What had ‘left winger’ Kinnock done

to eam the respect of John Golding? His most memorable achivenent was his

role in defeating Tony Benn for Deputy Campaign. On policy he threatened to resign as frontbench spokesperson on education if Labour had a firm committment to reversing Tory school neal increases. There is Kinnocks record on the NEC on four crucial votes as compiled by the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy.

To Keep the commitment to nationalise the clearing banks. AGAINST Total opposition to incomes policy and support for minimum wage. AGAINST Replace Benn by Golding as chair of ‘the Home Policy Comittee ABSTAINED

Expulsion of the Militant Editorial Board, ‘FOR

‘As Labour Party members we should know that Ramsay MacDonald had the reputation of a left winger as did Harold Wilson before they led a Labour government.

For socialists Little needs to be said about Roy Hattersley. He is ‘an open right winger. An advocate of the virtues of nuclear weapons,

am incomes policy and the witchnt.

Mhat of the serious left? Jo Richardson should have been 2 candidate. A strident fighter for wouens rights and a consistent left winger she coud have

BRIGHTON ANTI-IMPERIALIST

FORUM

Speakers Pros: ‘Antinipartheld Movenent Palestine Solidarity Gentral snerica Solidarity

& Noche Yachover

Teraeli snti-Zionist

EDNESDAY 7th SEPTmEEER 7-00 PH FRIEIDS CENTRE, SHIP st.

brought sone 1ife and vision to the leadership of the Party.

Joan Maynard would aso have made a good candidate with an excellent record on Ireland and anti-imperialist issues. Why they didn't stand is not clear but questions need to be asked. Did they receive the support they deserved from male left wingers?

OF the existing candidates, ieffer for leader and Meacher For Deputy are the best. Even

if ‘they are not the candidates ©f our choice they are still on our side. On the NEC votes. cited earlier,iieffer voted with the Left whiist Kinnock voted against or abstained. In the event of Heffer being eliminated, support must be transferred to Kinnock asa last resort.

For the conduct of the campaign, ‘the participation of the rank

and file of the Labour Movement

is essential. I believe branch voting should take place in th Trade Unions at workplace meetings. The wielding of block yotes with ho participation is not democracy. In the constituencies the decision should not be made by General Committee delegates alone. There should be full discussion in branch meetings with mandation

of delegates.

Secret postal balloting should be opposed for the same reasons

as when it is proposed by Moran TebBit or Shirley Williams for the Unions. A postal ballot allows the media and the dominant ideas in a capitalist society to win the day. If as sockalists we

are to challenge capitalisn,ve need to feel our pover as a Labour Movement by making our decisions collectively after full discussions, not alone atomised at hone after watching the TV news

‘and reading our only "Labour! paper, the Dally Mirror,

Bryn Griffiths sussex University Labour Club

LABOUR-—TAKE THE POWER!

obtshed ty Brighton Labour Briefing

POST-ELECTION BRIEFING

‘The Labour Party suffered a historic catastrophe at the General Election on June . Unless ve recognise the dimensions of our defeat, we will be unable to draw appropriate lessons for the future.

Yet although the national picture is bleak,in Brighton there

is a glimmer of light: ve did well to hold at bay, to the extent that

we did, the forces that across the nation created a Tory lmdslide and 2 massive Alliance upsurge. It was not for nothing that Brighton Pavilion received official Labour Party recognition as a marginal in the course of the campaign. The swing to the Tories in Brighton Pavilion, at 28,vas only half that of the average in the country. While Labour candidates elsewhexe in Sussex piled up lost deposits, we retained a sizeable Labour vote

9F close to 10 000 in Pavilion and 23.9% of the votes cast; closer to t the national average Labour vote than ever before! Although the SUP candidate inched ahead, the Tory majority over myself in third place- at 11,444 was in fact less than the Tory majority in Crawley- thought to be Labours best hope in Sussex.

The resilience of the Labour yote in Brighton Pavilion can at least partly be explained by our record as & campaigning party: the Brighton Welfare Rights Campaign, the Stop the Rot Campaign, the Brighton Pavilion Petition Against Unemployment, are instances of this! In the course of the General Election, we in Brighton Pavilion never ceased to campaign for example we honoured International Wonens Day for Disarmament with our om public meeting, addressed by women from the Brighton Peace Camp. And we denonstrated our solidarity with the Peoples March for Jobs by marching ‘through London to the final rally an the Sunday before polling day; yet the local sedia took no notice and nationally the Party leadership took no special initiative in relation to either of these events!

Robin Cook, reviewing the ele ction, hes stated:"Put bluntly, our striking success in building support for left policies within the Labour Movenent has been paralleled by = crashing failure to mobilise support for these policies in the electorate." ‘The failure of the Labour Party nationally to capturethe imagination of the

Kingscliffe report

‘The results of the Brighton Borough ‘Council elections on May Sth, with their obvious pleasures and disappointments, gives us very clear signs for the next 12 months.

On the balance of things, the results are very good for Labour: the Tories have lost control of Brighton for the first time in living memory, Labour ts on the offensive, and the Alliance have I

than half their previous numbers

More specifically, the routing of the SDP in St, Peter's, the victory in Queen's Park (especially, to my mind, the elec tion of Richard Stanton), and the retarn— ‘ing of a number of new , young, and imaginative councillors will mean that Lab~ our can and must move forward to seizing power in '84.

‘The disappointments are obvious: we narromly failed to win Marine and Kingscliff, ‘and won only 2 of the 3 seats in Hanover. At was noticable that in the areas where

the Party has seriously taken up campain- {ng polities, for example the Stop the Rot ‘campaign, our results were very pleasing = Queen's Park, St, Peter's, Tenantry and Hollingbury among others, But in the other areas where this was ignored (for example ‘Marine and Kingscliff), the results were Atsappointing. It is a shame that in 2 ward Uke Marine with the potential of so much working class support, and with three candidates committed to campaigning commun Ity politics, the local party seems so reticent to take campaigns seriously.

My personal expeience as one of the unsuccessful candidates in Kingscliff Ward has taught me a few important lessons.

‘We did not take the Stop the Rot campaign seriously, and botched our one attempt to hold an advice desk. Secondly, the Party locally had, before the introduction of the "Kingscliff Voice" in February little or

no local profile. Hence the accusation I

‘received on more than one occassion that

From February onwards the campaign in Kingscliff was, apart from the Stop the

Rot failure, without fault. Perhaps there could have been more support from Branch ‘members, some of whom, even though they ‘were absent from this campaign, will no doubt expect to take a leading role in Rod Fitch's election campaign.

‘What is needed over the next twelve months, is @ high profile local party, taking up local issues, and winning local respect. ‘Then, and only then, will we win the likes of Kingscliff and Marine, and ultimately Council.

Brighton Labour Briefing has a major role to play in this. Briefing could be, and in my opinion should be, a means of providingactivists with the information. advice,

the electorate reflects the absence Sf" central focus for campaigning and a striking dearth of political will in the Party leadership.

The Brighton Party cannot be totally exempt from criticism on this count. ye but we The task before us in clear- not to retreat from our policies for transforming society, but to take these policies dixect to the doorstep, to the neighbourhood, to the tenants! associati- ‘ons, to all progressive groupings. We must continue to build the Party locally, to go all out for an increased menbership, and to encourage a much greater proportion of our menbers to be active: for the future of the Labour Party lies indeed with the Socialist dedication of its activists. Only through such dedication can we shift the mood of the people and retum a Labour Government at the’ next election committee to building a Society based on truly human values,

Harry Spillman Previous Parliamentary Candidate Brighton Pavilion

and sharing of common experience that ‘we all require, At present Briefing is regarded by most of the Party as an irrelevant fringe publication,

A final ord concerning the new Labour Group. In the early days of London Labour Briefing, that paper provided the information on what was happening inside various Council Groups - which Labour Councillors supported or rejected party policy, and those who did not put class interest first. Thus they were held ac- ‘countable

Brighton Briefing could take a similar role in helping to democratise the Lab- ‘our Group, but should only do it tf the paper approaches the subject in a responsible way, and not in the manner of one or two articles that have appeared in recent Briefing

Although it will be an important contribation, it will not be « popular one, especially among those who are being held accountable, and thelr supporters, It is

essential that we begin now to build for

1984 - for a Lahour Counell made up of Labour councillors on whom we can rely

will be accountable to the rank and fIle of the Party.

Andy Winter Defeated Candidate, Kingscliff Ward,

PAGE TWO

The Child / Dependant Care

Directory

Months and months ago the Womens Section agreed that’ practical action it could take to try to ensure ‘that more vonen got to Labour

Party seetings would be to set up sone sort of ‘babysitting systen’. ‘The original idea was to atteapt to pair adjacent wards, so that individuals who needed a babysitter to allow then to get to their ‘ranch meeting would be able to contact someone relatively nearby who'd do it for them. In some wards these contacts were actually made, but success in getting these arr angenents off the ground was Patchy, and we began to think

that Some rather more systenatic effort was necessary. Inevitably

I suppose ve started out vith ambitious plans to get all Party menbers to fill in 2 long question naire on thelr needs/willingness

to offer help...but then we began to think about what ve"d do with all the information vhen we'a collected it, and ve cane to the conclusion that the simpler the system the betters Mhat ve decided t0 do was simply to produce a list of nenbers willing to occasionally offer free sitting (ith children or other dependants- its not only the need to be with children which an prevent people getting to meetings), to allow other Party menbers £0 get to Party meetings

of all Kinds. Ne could have tried to provide detailed Infornation, for example on which nights (or days) cach" sitber could So syat lable, but information like that is soon out of date, and we decided it would Probably be more of a hindrance

A Question of degree.

ho 19th oy Susie University

conferved an honorary Docesate

SE tar apon Mae Tate, the

Sepuiy Poin Minister of Ralaysia

The ony of hus mand ss gure

dstomaing, firstly Bivens resin,

te docmeted by fnesty Tatrpatinat risoned wihiat triad some 5

people in just one mth ase year

Thdbr the internal Security ACT

hundreds hive been physically and psychologically tortured including Student activists; and 39 people

were executed over the last 3 years. Secondly the University of Sussex management decided to associate itself with attempts by the Thatcher Govern nent, so determined to discriminate against overseas students, to rebuild Tinks with the Malaysian Government.

than a help. We decided to simply List all those offering help by

ward, with their address and phone munber if they hed one, and an indication of whether they have ‘transport available, and then encourage those who need @ sitter

to ring (or go) round until they find someone free at the tine they're Needed. Collecting even this inforation was a long and thankless job. We wrote to all ward secretaries encolsing a list to be passed romd aad filled in at ward meetings,

‘and 2 paragraph sbout the Care Directory to go out in all ward minutes,

Despite this,and quite a few fo11ow up phone Calls, we had no resp- ‘nse’ from sone ards. Nevertheless the list has been produced (copies fare available from all ward secyetaries or Nonens Section ward contacts), and is beginning to be Used. One obvious probles is that Rost of those who've put their snaes dom are activists who are out at meetings 2 lot thenselves; ‘another is that its already out Of date (2 surprising mmber of People have moved even in the short time since the List was

Many Sussex students including Labour Students, sax this as «blatant act of support Of a murderous regine by their university, and organised a Picket of the cerentny. But their efforts were repeatedly blocked bythe majority on the Student Union Executive, who were elected as "an independent socialists" yot who have operated against socialist elenents of the student body throughout their student careers, and who are Keen on ‘cooperation and’compromise with the University management.

coupliled, and the problem's going to get worse with tine); and @ third problem is distribution welre relying on wards to make sure that the List reaches those who Reed it most, ie those who don't Usually cone’ to meetings becatise they're responsible for children or old or sick relatives. The best hope of dealing with the first ‘and third problens is to give the existence of the list as much Publicity as possible, so that ‘those who need it can‘ ask for it, and those whose nanes aren't on it because they didn't hear about it come forvard for the next editicn; and constant updating is of course the answer to the second problem. The ideal would obviously be to put the list on someone's home computer and issue regular updates, and we're looking into the possibility of doing Just that. In the meantime we'd like to urge everyone to advertise the existence of this list as widely as possible, especially to new members,and to encourage people to use it, And if you're one of those people who didn't put your nane on the list because you'den't know one end of baby from another’ watch out for the political education session fon how to look after children which Richard Stanton is planning to organise in the Autum. After that there'll be no excuses!

Mary Farner

Seven Dials Ward

‘The picket vent ahead regardless, and sone 35 people handed out leaflets to the Faculty,students and their families at the Brighton Centre. ‘The action received national press publicity and it is hoped to bring disruptive actions of the Union Executive to task when the menbership retums in October.

‘Janice Tumer-Chaizperson External Affairs Sussex University Union

THE iene ODD

25.301

VOLUME

SES

53 UPPER GLOUCESTER RD BRIGHTON (27845)

PAGE THREE

Zionism& the Womens

‘The August 1982 issue of Spare Rib {SRI21) published a series of articles under the heading "Women Speak Out Against Zionisa!'. These articles presented # clear political analysis

of Zionism, exposing its inherent ‘racism and its complimentary relstionshjp with anti-Semitism. The authors ‘one Palestinian, one Lebanese and one Tsraeli pointed out that solidarity with ali yonen throughout the world necessarily entailed actively opposing ail forms of racism and imperialist jomination, and they concluded that

fa wonan calls herself 2 feminist she should consciously call herself antiZionist." A couple of issues later a series of "reply" articles were printed nder the title "About anti-Senitisa”

in whcih the authors simply dismissed the earlier articles with the comment ‘that "this focus on Zionism is in [tself anti-Semitic. They theaselves took great pains never to focus on Hionise, and have subsequently tried their utmost to fudge the issue every tine it has been raised, consistently dismissing volces raised against Zionism fas just mother form of aiti-Seaitisn.

‘Throughout the past year Zionists within the Wonen's Movesent have, sensibly enough, refused to discuss the issue of Zionism, and have not attempted to argue the untenable position that anti-tionism is inherently anti-Senitic. Instead they clain that,in practice

they have experienced anti-zionism in the Womens Moveaent as anti-Senitisn. These allegations made against anti-Zionists in the MM have not been backed up by any attempt to refer to specific antiZionist statements and “expose” their Manti-Semitic" nature. Instead they

have denied anyone, Jews and non-Jews alike, the right to question what they experience as anti-Semitic.

It 4s true that those of us who do not suffer racial discrimination are

fot the ones to define for others what

is, and what is net racist. However,

‘to’ suggest that Tackal oppression 15 a

purely subjective phenomenon with no raiechive existence capable of being ‘SFoosed and conprehenaed by the Steressor, waukd be to dangerously

Hiscort the political nature of racism. While this may seen a very obvious Point to eae, the importance that the Womens Novenent has, quite rightly, ‘given to incorporating the experience of all-wonen has perhaps lent greater

credibility to the Zionist argument ‘than would have been the case outside ‘of the Nonens Movenent.

Hovever,this said, it is important not to renove the issue of Zionism Nithin the Womens Movenent fron its Overall political context. ‘The Konens Movenent’in Britain has always been dominated by the white middle class, ‘and consequently the majority of its oabers have never considered the task Of the movement to be in any way yelated to fighting against the imperialist oppression vhich dominates ‘the Lives of so may wonen around the world. On the contrary, @ large section OF the Womens Movenont perceives its ain as directly contrary to the sins of Socialism, and dismisses imperialist oppression as "male politics” xhich Wonen had no responsibility in cresting, and no responsibility to fight.

Towards a socialist perspective of the Jews

Fighting fascism in the 1930's and ‘the Jewigh People's Council was the Subject Of a meeting organised by the Jewish Socialist Society. This article is a response to Tony Greenstein's report in last month's Briefing about that meeting.

‘ere are three areas of criticise to be made of Tony's report : first,

hhe barely reports the content of David Rosenberg’ talk or the discussion

which folloved at all - instead, he anaes to distort the very little

fanount to which he seems to have actually bothered Listening; second, he entirely misses the main point of the meeting thene and thus is unable to understand why it has relevance today; third,

having failed to deal with what actually did happen at the meeting, he then has the patronising arrogance to prescribe what’ should have happened.

And there is a link between these

areas of eriticisa - Tony's om overwhelming Zionism. He is incapable of providing 2 socialist perspective on the Jewish question which does not centre on the Israel-Palestine conflict; he quickly. gets bored with discussing the subject of the meeting and so switches to the subject of Zionism which he would ich Tether discuss!

Tony accuses us of "ignoring Zionism. Actually, in our understanding of the nature of the Jewish comunity, we take seriously the development of Zionism since the 1930"s, whereas Tony ignores the significant Ristorical changes.

For example, he says that "no Links were drawn between the policy today..." but falls to point out that the major diffe ‘erence is that the Board in the 30's was ‘Rot dominated by Zionists, hovever it SEI11 attempted to stop socialism encroaching into the Jewish community.

Movement

Mhere does this leave feninistsocialists? So long as “nainstreaa” socialist politics remains male Boninated in its orgmisation and Sexist in its political analysis, it is isportant that socialist women are able tevwork within the Womens Movement ,t0 organise autonomously and to challenge the present sexism in socialist politics. At the monent however, anti-imperialist groups working inside the Womens Movenent are Zacing a great deal of hostility from within the movement ,and wonen from third world comtries are feeling incteasingly alienated in a movenent that dismisses their oppression ‘Snder imperialism as irrelevant.

Having cone under heavy criticism for ies narron,shite middle-class orientat~ Son, the Spare Rib collective have made an inporeant effort over the last year t0 Incluge greater cover age of third vorld Scans and the issues that concern then. The collective of 8 now includes § women of cohour. Over the past Jest they Have Shopeed e clear antivracist janti~ Smperiatist policy, and are now zefusing tor allow the pages of Spare Rib to be sed for publishing Zionist propaganda. These changes were not easily achieved. Opposition to them has been oud, and the collective members have been constantly siandered and threatened. Tt 2 iporeine that the Spare Rib collective gece vocal support from socialist women fow so that it does not feel itself Fc’ sn combatting imperialism and racism in the Womens Movenent, If this does not happen, white middle class Liberal polities Bill continue £0 dosinste the Nonens Novenent by default.

‘A00A. ACSTAFFE

Member of Women

‘Oxford East CLP Since this article was written Wonen for Palestine have decided to xithdraw from the Londen Wonens Newsletter, oxing to Censorship of their material, which has nonetheless carried overtly Zionist and Tacist material. The above article was submitted to the national Briefing but rejected on the Snitistive of socialist action/street Life feminists.

‘Tony Greenstein

for Palestine &

The relevance of discussing the fight against fascism in the 1930's is t@ show the relationship between the socialist sovenent and the Jewish community. In the 1930's, socialists were prepared to respond to the needs and aspirations of Jews as Jevs (of which the battle of Cable Street is the finest example) however, socialists today either dismiss the Jewish community as essentially

bourgeois and reationary or restrict their interest to the question of Zionism and reduce all forms of Jewish expertence to Zionist experience. Tony's article is a clear example of this tendency. Unfortunately, his attitude is not an isolated case but is syaptonatic of the left's structural difficulty in deating with the needs and aspirations of oppressed groups in general,

craig Sheldon, Jewish Socialist Soc. ember.

PACE FOUR

Palestine Report

‘The Labour Kovenent Campaign for Palestine (LMCI) is only firmly antiZionist organisation in the Labour Novenent. It vas established during last year's Israeli invasion of Lebanon. LAGEP waa instrumental in getting ‘policy supporting thé establishment of 2 secular denceratic state in Palestine passed at the 1992 Labour Party Cont erence. Its first smnual conference was held in County Hall, Tendon on Tune 26th.

IMCEP opposes Zionisn for 3 reasons. Hirst, Zionists agree with anti-Senites that anti-Semitism is part of = fixed hunan nature and therefore can never be conbatted. This belief has led Zionists to accept and often collaborate xith anti-Semites. Second, Zionism is = colonial settler movenent.. Zionist colonisation has and etili 1s displacing and expropriating Palestinians fron ‘their land. Third, Zionisn has always acted as a "watchdog! for imertalisn 4n the region. The Israeli state has always noved against any progressive forces in the region, Like the Lebanese National Yovenent.

‘A special emphasis of the INCIP campaigning will be to expose Labour Ziontem. Organisations such as the Labour Friends of Isreal and Poale Zion bave until now been very successful tn painting an acceptable "socialist! face of Zionien. In reality, Labour Zionism is thoroughly reactionary and racist. It was the Labour Zionists ‘who were primarily responsible for the establishment of the state of Israel

‘and its expansion to its present borders.

Until 1959 the Histadrut "Labour Federation’ did not have any Palestinian nenbers. The Histadrut organised violent Pickets against anyone wishing to buy Palestinian goods or hire Palestinian abour, Now the Histadrut has an ‘arab Department! which is only open to thise Palestinians living in the pre '67 ‘orders of Israel. The Histadrct 1s iso a massive business conglonerate owning 25% of the Isrseli econony. Histadrut industries are heavily Anvolved in the military production snd have close Links with South Africa.

CAMPAIGNING

It may surprise sane poeple that the Anti Fascist Canmittee still exists. Since BL1] Nerth tesk ever as Cenvener fren Red Fitch, meetings have becene rarer and activity has reached an all tine lew. Having retained centrel last year threugh blatant gerrymandering, Militant have proved what their pelitics mean in actien- gpin a majerity en ‘a committee and Use that majerity te bleck any initiatives. At least When Red Fitch was Canvener, the AEC gained respect threugh its ceaplete leafletting of Brighten, regular meetings -and # preven ability te canter mebilise and leaflet whenever the NF steed 2 candidate. It held rogular neotings ad when the NF held 2 march in 1980, the AFC mebilised 2 1000 pespie- even if they did mebilise fn the Lbvel 2 miles avay from the NFt Since then everything has been divmhill starting with Bil North's decision te repeat that mistake when ‘the NF tried a fellew up march in

Several tportant dectstons were nade at the Conference?

1) A csspatgn platiore was dram Setting out the baste Zor Lit: support for the Palestinians and opposition to Zioniaa. Unlike the Labour #iddle Bast Coune!l, the LNCEP does HOT support the Arab regines.

Proposals for the organtsstion of ‘the canpiagn were adopted. It ie hoped that an active branch structure vill bedereloped.

2) Hlections were held for a steering committee to coordinate activity. Posts include a Wonen's Organiser and @ Trade Union organiser.

For further inforsation contact: LACEP c/o Labour Students, Students Union, Falaer House, versity of Susset, Falner, Brighton.

‘T-Diels ward Delegate.

Nevenber 81. This time the ANL nebilised 600 at Nerfelk Square whe hatried the NF threugh tem whereas ‘the AFC mustered 30 at the Level, Since then virtually nething. But Just befere the May Ceuncil elections, a meeting ef the AFC was called-

the first fer 7 months. It might be suppesed that the fact that 4 Nazis were standing in Marine might have een the reasen.-The ANL intended = counter leaflet attacking the NF te ge ut and the AFC mot in erder te ‘STOP such 2 leaflet being distributed, om the flimsy greunds that ve might prevake the NF inte further activity. Tt was considered that 22 page reply (en the inside ef 2 Labour leaflet) from Red Fitch attacking the NF-and alse the TRA! (te preve that he was just as anti-republican as the NF)- was sufficient. Needless te say the Queens Park/ANi. delegate at the meet— ing was in 2 minority of ene (ne preper netices had been sent eut)

and was subject te the rantings #f

2 racist Zienist- David Spector. In

Postscript

Sine the conference, Poale Zion bad aftilisted to Brighton Labour

Party. LO activists in 7 Dials

werd successfully proposed the following notion which wll be discussed at the next General Comittee neeting.

Brighton Labour Party regrets affilistion of Poale Zion (Iworkers of Zion") to Brighton Labour Party.

Poale Zion is the overseas wing of the israeli Labour Party. Lsbour Zionism is as thoroughly racist as ite Likad

‘The Histadrut, the Israeli

venent! ati] 1959 excluded ell Palestinian yorkers.. Since then, the Histadrat has had an tdrab Section’ which 42 only open to Pales- ‘inians. Living within Israel's borders (pre 167). The Histadr:t 1s aloo a najor exployer oming 25f of the Ierseli economy. __Brighton Iebour Party noted that Labour policy adopted at the 1962 Conference supporting the establishnent of a secular denooratio state in Palestine is incofsistent with continbig support for Labour Zionist organisations such as Posle Zion.

Brighton Iebour Party therefore 1) Cireulate wards, Trade Union branchés

and affiliated Organisations with

inforation about Labour Zionian

Prepared by the Labour Yorenent

Campaign for Palestine (to which we

are affiliated).

2) Support any moves by proPalestinian organisations to Tenove Pols Zion's special status as a Socialist Society.

AGAINST FASCISM ===mmmecrmmmmen

Marine ward itself, oppesition te the leafletting by sese moabers inc, Councti candidates switched te supp ert as the XF increased their activity anyway. But at ne time did any

member ef the AFC participate in the ANL leafletting ef Marine ward. It

is a pity that the AFC did nothing around the General Election and could enly cali a meeting in erder te prevent the activity of ethers. Needless to say the AG of this committee is 7 months everdue and its future aust new be in deubt. Tony Greenstein

PAGE FIVE

After the Election...

‘The lowest Labour vete since 1916 and the fewest seats since 1931 has left many poeple deneralised. See will biime it en the divisions within the Parwe-divisions they say caused by the Left. Yet Labeurs hat declinted steadily ‘since 1951 reaching 2 nev tev in 1979. A decline caused by Labeur Gevermments inability te secure even a marginal redistribution of wealth let aleno-a secialist transférastion of society. It is this which created widespread scepticism thet whatever we said ut ef effice we waild behave differently when in power. Mhen Labour leaders attacked Thatcher ever aneupleynents, she could retert quite correct ly,-that ne Labeur Govt. had reduced unempleynent.

Toya: z led te balance ef paymiits deficits, runs on the pound,inflation and trips te the IMEin such mere favourable circumstances. They

dd nothing te challenge the pever ef the City,the multinatimals mé capital. And yet if in 1979 we were teld that Labeur wes m8 @ifferent fren the Teries, today we were ‘tee extrema:

‘The LPts primary fanit was te fail te couplete.vhat it started. Having nearly secured the Deputy Lopdership and all 3 constAtutignal changes, a large section backed off ix faveur of the Peace ‘ef Mahops Storsderd, existing policies, leaders nd membership- ‘except that the Right was sem te challange the last and then the first. That nemt fighting =n election with leaders whe didn’t believe in the pelicies- hence

the Manigeste's sttemst te recencile wailateralism md muitilsteralisn. Net that much ef the pelicy isn't frankly contradictory eg. getting wid ef US bases whilst staying in NATO. Michael Feet symbelised this balmcing act right te the end

sith his equivecstion en Pelaris.

Net ence as leader had he steed up te the Right. But it is wrmg as seme will deubtless argue, te blame Callaghan and Healey f er the defeat, they merely decelerated the precess. ‘The campaign vas lest net on Juned but on thet fategel Saturday prier

Not Cricket.

Tuesday 26th July saw a piocer of Sussex County Cricket Ground by ‘a mumber of opponents of the apartheld regine in South Africa. "Albatrose", a South African youth team vere playing & Susser youth team as part of a tour shrouded in seorecy by the authorities concerned. Yet despite only fintiing out about ‘the match on the previous day, 3 muaber of anti-apartheid activists,

mect of sports links with South Africa.

te the fleet sailing fer the Falklahés/ Malvinas. Determined eppesition then would have enabled Healey and Kinnecks attack in the electien te carry seme “eight instead beth were forced te Yetreat. The Falklands Facter symbeTised Thatchers deterainatien. Instead with the exception ef a few like ‘Tam Dalyell, Labeurs Right tried te fim with the faxes and hunt vith the hheunds.

om untistersiion, che major issue accerding te sone, O's ners pesures and apolitical Pesce Canvass Ufthored in the face ef the Tery off isiver In shat they tezaed the Socless Elect ian, instead of aavecat— Ing a ete fer the ely anilateraiist purty Labour, CAD ated people te Soce fer theis children the only provten being that very few children Brand as cutaldates! Crise ant Teidene were net the sues, instead Feseitine successfully turned the Sibics on GUD. Oniy + compaizn with SPN TEDATTOWNLIST ane WETTER TRuiSt sppreach could deat vith the ‘that if the Rossians Sevade" appreach, by painting wut that St er

She’ 0s chet was the sggvesser in e- $id petitice: be it in el Seivader, ‘Vieenam,Palestine er Eurepe. Instead waa Literals as opposed te pelstical Siherences sith ever the far left Socialist Action arguing ageinst OD Stprerting Labour.

The inability of he werking class to fight beck with silitetcp paring fewer dividends snd menpTopabnt tiking its teil, sealed Labwars Repost Thatchers success was [netting os te Ditme wurselves and sehers-(blgeks foreign cmpetivers, caer scoetngets) fer the fallores we capitalise, Ne set of pelicies,ne etter her attractive, could alter TlstTant when cesbined wueh = leadcrakip vhese main eneny had been the Eee notably ever Tatchell and the wlicene begoy, the Fesule was guiste"ielessily piven the aeecrnination ef the TUC te ran fer SSet ever ASU, the Steel strike ime the Health workers vith Chappel? Sita Chiling fer support for she SP fn Istingeen K (obere, Briefing Supp Steat Jefeny Catayn wes) an Granchen Hkewise.

‘The case for the sports boycott of South Africa has been well. documented. It is seen as s particularly effective part of the caxplign towards the total isolation of South Africs # economically; militartly and culturally. Renenber ‘the events in New Zealand 2 years ago when tens of thousands of people were aobilized against the tour of the ‘Springbok rughy tean.

‘Yet thé Brening Argus, in tts om ininiteble way, attempted to discredit ‘the deonstretion in its editorial, claiming that such actions were simply

(HERE TO NOW?

Me should adept Ghurchili's maxi af fighting them on the beaches the Hills etc. Confining any fight te Parlianent is te render eurselves impetent. Thatcher will be de utside Parlianent er net at al The 'Labeur Party has te bocene & compaigning Party. Tt means in Brighten advecating defiance ef

the Tery Council ever rent increases, clesures of anenities and cuts. Nationally it means full suppert

fer industrial action and abeidening useless tripartite talks between the, ‘TU, CBI and the Teries. Cenfrantetitn’net cellaberation. Tt eas critical suppert for lieffer and Macher in the leadership elessieas, tnd nene st ail te the candidates

ff the Right, Nething 1s mere dangGreus than te build {llusiens dn Klimeck a: s leftie given Mis past recend. If there is any resumption sf the witchint we have te fight

fe tooth and nail and go ente the counter offensive against the Right. Ne have te fight fer © SOCIALIST Ecmenic pelicy, nat the natiealisn ‘ef the AES or the ccomemisn of Mil- [ents tep 200 nationalisations. Mithésaval fren the EEC sheuld be scrapped. The unempleybil hive $e arpanise and the YS has to Be bulltst the nenent its just an eche Ghanber fer Militant. We have te tap the enthusiasm and energy ef yeuth, because if we ignore them the fase” ists won't. It says a let fer the

YS that S6t of now vaters abstained. It is a matter of tine befere mether snticabertion bill appoars- we heve ‘fe say te the Nenens Nevenent and wesen. generally that if yeu den't vant 40 be ferced back inte the

hhene and see the Right te Cheese disappear, Join with us

Above-aIT The TAFE must get erganisen wwe need-a National Left Wing Mevement.

‘Teny Greenstein:

taming the nafority of people against the Antt-apertbeld Hovenest who would soratiy te seta ie

e Iupocriay of this posttion was suitably exposed that very vetting’ vihen an excellent TY. aniysis ofthe Situation was undertaken by fos? Pikering so cane fimdy Yo the conclusion that the sporse boyee Showa continue, if

We look forward to seeing this happens

Mirk Holmes.

Joan Maynard

INTERVIEW WITH JOAN. MAYNARD Interviewd by Kate Askew & Tony Greenstein Joln Maynard is the daughter of a small farmer, was raised in rural Yorshize.

She joined the Labour Party in 1946

and the then National Union of Agricultural Workers in Septenber 1947. Appointed a magistrate at 29,she

was then the youngest magistrate in

orth Yorkshire. She becane national

Vice President of her union in 1966

jwas elected to the NEC of the

itbour Party in 1972 before she was

fan MP elected MP for Sheffield Brigh tside in October 74,the previous MP having been deselected.

MIDDLE _EAST

Q: How did you cone to form the

‘opinions you have on Palestine? I went to a Workers Educational ‘Association sumer school many yeras ago on the Middle East, there T learnt of the double promises the British made to the ‘Arabs and the Jews (McMshon-fhiss- ‘ein correspondence) .

How do you see Zionisa?

mM:

JM: Zionism is racist, What Israel has done in the Lebanon and slloved others to do, also what it has Gone and is doing on the Vest Bank is both appalling and wrong. T do not in anyway see Zionism as fa Miberating force,it is a colon- {sing force especially on the West Bank.

Hor do you see it affecting the

Jewish people?

; Zionism can make people anti ‘Tewish/Semitic because of vhat Israel is doing. T have always been opposed to anti-Senitisn, but that situation may occur ‘again. The attitude of Histadrut, the Zionist Trade Union sounds fmuch like northem Tretind where the Trade Union movenent is mainly f not wholly controlled by Protestants and Catholics don't get jobs.Originally Israel was seen as a progressive force in the Middle East,but I see it now as a thrusting aggressive force, fan adjunct of US Teperialisn.If the US really wanted Is reel to settle with the Palestinians, believe so great is their power they could force the issue and get then to withdraw from Lebanon and the W Bank.The Zionists have to realise that the Palestinians must have @ state of their own.

is interviewed hy Labour Briefing

originally WOMENS LIBERATION MOVEMENT

Q: What are your views on the Womens ovement? IM: Tts too middle class,it needs to win over working class women. But I'm glad it has a higher profile than formerly, because that encourages others to take decisions they wouldn't otherwise have taken. However before children go to school one or other Parent should be there,children need 42 lot of attention and time spending with thea by their parents. They need to be loved,secure and wmted. At a recent meeting I spoke at in Hull, working class mum sade a very good Daint."Most middle class people have hore money than working class people so bringing up children for then is that much easier.Also if we had a 35 hour week, we would a1] be able to spend more tine with our children."

Q: that is your attitude to Positive Discrimination? Mz I'm not opposed to it,it ill encourage those who only pay lip serVice to equality to do sonething ‘bout it. But women have s real struggle on their hands. Mens priveleges ‘are deeply rooted in society. Nome with a privelege gives it up without a fight. Positive Discrimination is fa small step in the fight for equality. Te will make the struggle that much more intense and so men will be forced to come cut in the open xith their azgments and their prejudices.

Q: How can sexisn be combatted?

‘JM: I'm the last person to ask-I'm Single. In public life opposition to ime has been because of my politics not because I'm a youan. Q: Mhat about the description of you ‘as Stalin's Grandnother? JM: Tes nore political than sexist.It hhas never entered my head in 2 necting to think anyone would discriminate against me because | ma wonan. They have often discriminated against me because of ay politics.The discrimination is more obvious in marriage. Q: that about being = Woman MP? ‘Iles easier If you're single but if arried unless you have got 2 husband who not only believes in equslity but practises it. Tts even nore difficult if you have children. Ann Taylor in ‘the last parliament and Harriet Harean in this one both had to have a place to live in London and sancone to look

after the child. Being an MP is still ‘thought of as a mans job. Then there are the ridiculous hours of the House of Comons.10 am to 10 pm is a normal Gay,sonetimes its longer. Me should have an 6 hour working day with an

hour for meal breaks and finish at 6pm or 7pe. The men also lose out by not seeing their children st all during

the week unless they have 2 London flat.

Q:What can Konest bring to Politics?

JM:thmanity warmth, commonsense drive, organising ability. If a woman gets to the House she is usually very committed. ‘An exaple of wonens coamitnent is the Greenhan Wonen. Wonen although good talkers like men, are also good doers. Once comitted to cause they are really comitted. More difficult to xin for am idea but once von there is no stopping then.

PEACE

Q: How do you see the issue of muclear weapons? JM: The most important issue in our society and closely linked with jobs. If we weren't spending all this money on nuclear weapons we could be using that money to create jobs,useful jobs. Its a very important moral issue. Nuclear weapans are not just bigger and better bonbs, they are different “in quality, Those not killed outright will continue to die,for years to cone. ‘They will also poison the earth for generations to cone. We hold the earth in trust for future generations.

Ne must get accross that even if you accept that Russia is the eneny shich T don't Russia lost 20 million Gead in the last world war. They held 200 German divisions on the Eastern Front whilst Britain was going up and dom the Libyan coast holding 22 divisions and delaying the second front, in the hope that Germany would destroy the USSR. It was not the USSR who drcopped the first 2 nuclear bonbs it was Anerica.It was the US who sabotaged the SALT 2 talks. But even if you accept that Russia is the enemy,there is no way in which we in a war with Russia could save ourselves with nuclear weapons. Even if our side won,we would ‘not be there to celebrate that victory. We have more nuclear bonbs and bases on our island than there is ‘anyshere else in the world. We are a Floating base for the Americans and as ong as we Keep nuclear weapons and bases ve are a sitting duck in a war.

‘The Americans don't intend to fight the nest wer on their territory anymore Then they Fought ‘the last two there. They intend to fight the next one there the last two were fought-in Europe. These are I believe some of the crucial arguments against us having nuclear weapons.

SS

BRIGHTON BRIEFING

Although nost Briefing. supporters Adentify with the left of the party we welcone contributions fron al] Teainists and socialists in Brighton. ‘The magazine is produced by an Editorial and Production collective which as open to all our supporters fand everyone has & vote.

LABOUR

We would veloone contributions stout any canpsigns that you are involved with, ward or branch reports or your personal experiences.

Briefing operates an automatic sight of reply, so if you dissgree then please write in. Tt is helpful if articles sre typed vith = carbon ribbon in 3 inch columns.

Should you wish to get nore involved

or naze a donation to car seagre funds

‘isn please gat in touch. Likewise if you require CHILDCARE for Briefing

eet ings.

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or phone 684917

Proportional Representation

Tt has alvays been considered an Anportant priority for those on ‘the left of the Party to denooratise the Labour Party and the ‘Trade Unions. Substantial, though not by any means fully adequate, gains have been made within the Labour Party on issues such as reselection of N.P.s, and the election of the Party leadership. And some trade union leaderships under constant pressure from, in Particular Brosd Lefts, have made concessions over accountability to their menbership and the denoeratization of the Block Vote at Iabour Party Conference.

peer het Pee Face ree eaters

SF iraeti Sacre senihs ee ieee Seis sa bie Ee ee pe pes Sr Aiea oo ayer a ae

I am not tn the Labour Party Decause I hold some notion that society can be radically changed ty the election of the Labour Party to office. But until such

jocialian and a revolutionary socialist party really has a

credible basis in the working class, existing 'representativ.

Hack's Diary

GC night. Told Dave,the branch treasurer, that its a shame that the church where we hold it it so narrow, but he Aidn’t seem to appreciate this ‘enark, He's been sulking since ‘the Purions Tendency voted half the branch's funds to send a delegate to the National Conference of White Hele Manual Workers with Tattooed Arms agsinst John Golding. This yer its Being held in Cheltenham

Spart.

ee

Tsay Ros in the "Duck and Ghiropodist"-She says she's Jet Workers for the Tmpinent- ‘ation of Marxist Policies (I always thought that an unfortun- ‘te scronya), She told wa she's Zeading Dale Spender to raise hher consciousness. I seid I was reading "Socialist Norker" to alse my Blood pressure. she didn't appreciate this. I wonder if she knows Dave?

Mel Pier! 1 met Ros and

Dave buying @ stripped pine toilet seat in Rabidtat. I was

structures caunot samply be ignored. and this, in part, means electoral reforn.

Wlectoral reform brings about stable goverment. ind stable goverment eans @ stable society. Or ¢0 the SOP argument goes. Tet a ‘stable! goverment will only occur ine ‘stable! society. snd a stable society will only exis! ‘as long as society accepts thet testability! ie: the existing systen.

‘So what have sogialists got to be ‘atreid of when saking the reform ist denand for a nore denocratic and representative Parliament?

veal power in capitalist society - ‘then the fact that the Party hes ‘this back up voll be reflected in ‘the election of a Labour majority

wily 1m tnere getting change of a fiver,of course. Ne had 3 union necting at linchtine, and Betty presented a resolution deaanding comon access to ‘the management washroom Suddenly a lot of Furs tumed up and got an mendnent threugh. Ke have postponed our demands vis a vis ‘the managenent washroom until we have nationalised the top two undred monopolies. ——

There were so many people im the "Duck and Chirepodist™ tonight (there was a talk on defence cuts upstairs by Steve Foster) thst I went to the ‘Toepick' where all the Furs go. I met Del,Kev,Trev, and Sebastian, They were in a right old state, They had mud all over their donkey jackets and their shirts looked as though they'd been printed by the Conbridge Hesth Press. They'a been set upon by paramilitary fascists,said Del. Last time they sell their papers outside Scout Huts.

elected by « majority in parts of ‘the South, by minorities in the Midlands, ‘and by only a tiny prop. rtion of those in the liorth, wale and Scotland.

To formiate 2 suitable electoral systen reflecting nore accurately ‘the denocratic electoral wishes

of the population, whilst retaining # local basis in the constituencies whether with one or twa Chanbers, or whatever, is primarily a teohninatter. What is important 1s to recognize that no, socialien can not be brought about through parliamentary means; but yes, in ‘the neantine electoral reforn is an inportant issue for soctalists.

4s the Tories have been seen to be ‘the ones to advocate (though obvio~ usly for the wrong reasons) some of the denccratic reforms in the ‘Trade Union buremeracy, for which the Lebour Party ahould have been fighting,so too with the SDP and PR.

There is gemine support for electoral reform in the country- not leest snongst Labour voters who in ‘the North are not represented by central Goverment and who in the South are not represented at all. Socislists in the Labour Party must take up the call for denocrat ising the electoral systen. Just fas we have fought for the denocrat, Asation of the Labour Party and ‘1 buresucracy, we must argue for electoral reforn . Not as an end in itself but as a reformist densrid spplicable to the current reformist political clinste.

Mark Holmes

Friday Heard a good joke today.

What do the SOP stand for?

Liberal seats! Ha! Ged dit?

Saturday st to tendon for an all day conference- Witches Againsst the Witchunt. But I never reached Stoke Newington Poly, where it was held, because I net Barbara,an old college friend. She used to be psychopathic arsonist,but now she's holding down a steady job in the Ministry of Defence. She t tells me she's left Winston, whos gone to do a Ph.D. in the semiology of Kenny Dalgli sh’s goals. We may moet again,

Sinds Stayed Tn bed most of the day.

Decided that Brian Walden is ny hero. He was interviewing

Pat Wall. It's a shame about ‘that congenital hand tie I sure I've seen it somewhere before.

anon

‘THIS TSSUE OF BRIEFING WAS PRODUCED BY MARK HOLMES” PETE LAMBERT, DAVE LENNEY,, BRYN GRIFFITHS AND TONY GREENSTEIN

PAGE EIGHT

Meanwhiie Back On Planet Earth..

‘Tony Benn hae recently argued ‘that the Labour party's achieve mont at the general election was remarkable since 8} million voters were persuaied to support a party advocating, for the first ‘time, "openly socialist’ policies. Such’an analysis defies connent. ‘The election vas = crushing defeat for Labour and the populat ion of Britain is now confronted by the most vicious right-wing government since the 1920s. The elimination of the Labour party, ‘the trades unions and (possibly) the metropolitan authorities as sources of effective opposition to 1 radloal Conservative government ie a disaster.

It is to be hoped that the Labour party will not leave the ‘Yvusiness of serious effective opposition to this government to ‘the wets within the Tory party ant to the oivil servants charged with implementing policies which could lead to the complete destruction of the mixed economy/ welfare state. ‘The Labour party must now seriously consider what it wants to be during the next ten years. A number of facts are inescapable. The traditional electoral base of the Labour party is withering away, a process which dstes from the 1950s and is Arreversible. ‘The SDP-Iiberel Alliance succeeded in capturing much support from those sections of the electorate Labour would need to win over were it to stand any chance of forming the next government alone; and the 25% vote for the Alliance will not Aisappear during the next five years. Several of the policies ‘on which Labour fought 4

election - most notably, unilateral mclear disarmament and withdrawal from the EEC - were demonstrably unpopular with the electorate. Such policinn are

unlikely to become more popular during the next five years. A divided opposition, one wing of which Le connitted to policies which the electorate (rightly) finds simply incredible, has ensured that a radicaliced Tory party is now the natural party of governnent.

Labour must decide shat it wants to be during the

nert ten years. The choice is = fairly stark one. Hither the Labour party listens to the messaze sent to it by the electorate on Jane 9th, accepts the fact both ‘that the Alliance is here to stay and that it is politically more progressive than Labour has Btherto been willing to admit,

and acta on thiss or, Labour

continues to maintain 111considered vote-losing policies foisted on it by a politically irresponsible Conference and the union Block vote, and naintains Ste irrational vendetta with the Ailiance. If Labour accepts the first course of action, i might beable to constract workable stfective opposition wash will Seriously threaten the Conservs- ‘ves in 1987/85 af 3¢ adopte the second, it will eet

course for the political wilderness for the forseesble fature. Politice ia about power. If the Labour party wishes to be sore than» caltural seuscless,

Se St has aspirations to change society; oF even ~ nore Teslistion ally ~ to ensure that lone-ter= conmisic ‘Seeline tn mesagel in ‘he most _Bunane manner possible, St ipust realise that he naintenance of pristine virtue Ss not the way #0 set about this. The job of Labour at the sonent 4 not to urge a socialist transformation of Britain but rather to take the lead in orest~ ing a viable social-dencorstic alternative to Teatoheries. Latour must lend ite support to the call for proportional representation and sust seek sone Hind of eleotoral pect with the Aiisancey $¢ musty in other words, conciute its own historic compromise.

In terms of specific policies, Labour ust firet of all abandon its ridiculous comaiteent to ithdraval from the EEC. This ic act to say that 2 future govern— nent including the Labour party should not press hard for structural reforms vithin the ‘EEC ~ in particular, the Antreduotion of an eleaext of accountability into the working of the Council of Ministers, reform of the CAP and a reass ment of regional aid policies - ‘but merely to point out thet in 1988 Britain will have been = neaber of the EEC for fifteen years and that by that date the ‘economic integration of Britain

into an enlarged EEC will have proceeded so far as to be impossible to reverse. Continued menbership of the ESC could also form the basis for the development of & comon (and immensely power ful) foreign poliey, a foreign policy which might make = Substantial contribution to the Gevelopaent of more progressive policies towards Latin america, ‘the Middle East and South Zast Asia on the part of the United States; and might lead to the emergence of a European defence policy less reliant on Anerican— controlled mclear weapons.

Continued membership of the Biv woul, moreover, offer brighter Prospects of success for a mildly Feflationary expenditure policy Girected tovande infrastructural capital investment. The experience of the Ritterand goverment has Semonatrated the impossibility of

a reflationary expenditure prografine succeeding, if such a

programme in widertaken in isolation. W'veflationary expenditure progranne would have fo be coupled to. an affective incomes (not wages)

polioyy a polloy whisky in its turey woul Only be politionlly agceptable Ufa oubetantial reform of the taxation aysten were to be mdertaken sinsitansously. A shorough-goine overhasi of the taxation system (Enciading a more effective corporate Yarstion policy) would alse enable

a future coalition government net only to lighten the tar burden on The poorest section of he conmanity but also to take steps

fo inereare the financial independ ence of women (a reform of the

child benefits schene is long

Renstionalisation of shares in BYOC so as to give goverment a Gominant voice in the managenent of North Sea oil, a revived and nore powerful NEE with the power to Bizect investment into crucial tore of the economy, and the restoration of capital export controls, would provide = future sgovernment with the instruments it would need to steer a badlybattered manufacturing sector in the direction of recovery.

All of these suggestions provide the possibility of cooperation between = Labour party committed to proportional Pepresentation and the Allisnot Usbour mst seek to establich the common ground on which stich cooperation can take place ~ which is not to say that Labour must shift to the middle ground on

I'm not very optimistic at the moment about the possitility of forming an electoral pact with the Alliance. Many Allianoe and more Labour activists would oppose it; and the personal ambition of David Owen now seems, paradoxically, to be one of the sain obstacles to the realignment of left-of-centre politics he so ardently clains to wish. ‘The election of Kinnock as lester could signal Labour's return to the ghetto, although there are encouraging signs that his personal ambition is leading him to shift in the right directior. There's certainly no chance of an anti-Thatcher coaltion being initiated by the Alliance at the moment. One can only hope that the Labour party has the collective political imagination and courage to cone out of the ghetto and confront the historic task which Lt mist anarme.

Stephen Salter, Kingsclift, PAGE NINE

Cuts at the Poly

For sone years sot, nm and women, fn public employment have had their jobe sacrificed vo the dopma of ‘Nets cut jobs and save money" Recently «/aore cynical atcitue has manifested itself, ‘lets crea OFF the best profit besring emplorSent areasyand lesve the gutley,tow profit jobs to whet is 1eet oF The public employees".

T have worked for nearly 11 years at Brighton Polytechnic and watched with anger and despair as various ploys have been used to "save" money by attacking the Mover levels" of the Poly's workforce. Those higher up shrugged fand said “yes its 2 grest pity,

‘but what can we do! We will just have to accept lover standards and back up services and facilities".

But they forget whst they had said, and got ever so amnoyed,vhen the people they had allowed to be Sacked were not there to empty their waste baskets or make and serve their coffe

men again the direct workforce was whittled down, managers. just sald Moh well some jobs have to be done,so we'll Just get in the contractors. So much easier for us!

And we will be safe because Someones got to be here to do that haven't they!" Well ,now some of those managers have managed thenseIves out of a job! Eight from tro departments go,having presided over the loss of sone 40 other Jobs in 2 years.

So what lessons can those of us that are left draw from all this?

(Once a job in public service offered Detter job security than many ‘private! areas of employnent. In return you gave diligent labour, loyalty’ and generally took 4 slightly lover wage. Sut now,even after 20 or 30 years loyal service, You ean go. Not because the job has gone, not because you're not good ‘enough anymore,but because someone, sonevhere has Said "I know, lets sack somebody and save sone public zoney", From now on I shall ask what loyalty is owed to me? And laugh without humour xhen people say:"But your safe, you're in local govern ment". So's the bloody dole queue Robin Lockwood

UeaTT

Tt would be facile to claia that Ntlitent* was a significant factor in Labour's defeat nationsy. But St {2 important that we, and espect— ‘ally conredes in constituencies with a snall Militent presence, now how Shey can and do operate in other situations.

In Brighton Kexp Town they ran 3 trinmphalist Militant (not Labour

WP" ~ « eupherisn for a Militent candidate.

‘They inported full tine Militant organisers into Keap Tom - often ‘fron marginal constituencies like Harlov and Dulwich which Iabour lost.

Im several vards these organisers rePlaced the local ward organisation and completely wderained party denocracyThey also brought in hundreds of Militant mesbere who had no knowledge of or connection with the contituency. Local Labour activists were delibere~ tely alienated from the campsign and Giscouraged from canvassing.

When local activists criticised cam paign tactios(like sending out 1oudSpeaker vans at 8.00a.n. on Suniey. noraings)they were told they didn't Terow bow to canvass. The fact is thet ‘they wouldn't sell Militent on the acorster-

The main point of the campaign was to sell their paper and recruit to MiLi- ‘tant. We feel it ie sbeolutely wrong in principle to prosote non Labour Party publications in electoral can paigne - be it Militant, Labour Leeder OF whatever.

‘The Wilitent's behaviour at the count vas equally reprehensible. Tnstead Of shoving dignity in defeat they shouted down the non Labour candi ates and sang preises to the Kilitant. They vere so happy at having ‘two Warxist' MP's that they seemed oblivious to Labour's catastrophic defeat.

Outside elections Militent's behaviour in Brighton is equally appalling. Jo defend thear peperthin donitetion of the constituency

perty they have resorted to intint~ dation snd atuse of political opponents. This lack of polities! debate sud fortrese mentality is to pre~ vent outside influences weskening their control ever ‘softer’ nenbere of the Militant.

Militant controlled ward parties are usually the weakest and smallest and 50 easier to dominate. Hence they defend to the death the pover of the General Gonnittee to nake key decisions and select the comitteés running party activities,

In one ward the Militant secretary hhas been no confidenced for refusige ‘to hand over menbership records, as requested by his ward angered by the way they were treated inrthe General lection and other matters. At the ‘tine of writing he hes still. refused to resiga and hand over the books. This ie utterly disgraceful and even for the Militant very couter-produetive. Brighton Kenp Tom is after all cue of the few constitumnel.

‘they control and one full tine Militant organiser is a menber.

This should be a source of enbarrassnent for the tendency and ve believe thet the Militant. te losing ite grip im Brighton. Their behaviour has been ‘s0 unprineipled that comrades heve

finally seen through their veneer as ‘revolutionaries! and 'arcists'.

we agree with the TLP(Independent Iabour Publications )in opposing purges and expuleions, except when the perty rules and constitution have been breached and we insist on the need to politically defeat the group. This is the importance of orgenised left groups and not Just sxti-wilitent factions. Why 40 we always have to define our politic: with reference to the Trotskyist: We have our om principles, policies snd perspectives and such altemative left groups represent graver threat Yo the doddering old man of British Trotskyisn than quick caucus for short tem tactical battles.

vw pe wah agian A mee te ee Ctr eghy ee ney te srrytetbe ot Byres ly ote there mci

SOLE ATT fgon Ton Tow CLP Sine ti 2 nctghtca Pettion ca? Seuaver - se

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of the Editorial collecti

Please send sry articles to Brighton Labour Briefing, ¢/o 2k8 Charles Street, Brighton.

PAGE TEN

One Member ,One Vote?

How many tines have you beard conredos at mectings say ~ not enough of Gur senbere are involved in perty Mork and campaigns of the ‘ness party Of the working e1ess!?

If we are to becone & ‘mass céapatiening party’ we certainly nood nore activists if ve are to fight elections note effectively and put forvard Socialist nessage in the trades unions and other organisations.

Over the last four years the left has placed much faith in the process of Gcnoeratiastion - the electoral college and mandatory re-selection. But is this euffloient? Have we only attempted to bind our leaders and is ‘the party allowing full partieipstion by all ite noubers?

In fact our party structure ts too centralised ~ even Teninist. Tt coons ‘to be ell pover to the General Connit~ tee. The GC (it used to be a Nanage nent Gonaittes) elects the executive and finally makes all key policy deci~ ‘Sione as well as selecting the parlianentary candidates and confertne delegates... You have to be on the GC to be elected to Party Conference, to run the party's sub conittees or go to the anti-fascist Comittee or he Counei] of Labour.

It's not really surprising that these rrectiviste are not slays able to #11 their duties.

Ib will be amgued that the Gc is the only body able to hold delegates accountable. The fact is thst ward parties cannot oven mndste their Uclegates in the selection of parlismentary candidate and conference resoTutions. Ward parties have to rely ‘on a nod and a wink-to their delegatos to follow the Line.

WHAT'S ON

Saturday 6th

nenber one vote syster should be ‘epported ex anjor iseese Aite the Selection of parliazentary candidates and electing the leaderstip. One Renber ona vote - uot postal votes ~ would help to get nore involvenent

{bs coarades would feel that their ote actually counted for sonething. We have to treak dow elitisn in the Tabour Party and give non-activists

a steke in the party to help make then active and tnake socialists!

A one nesber one vote systen would be fairly easy to operate. We woald suggest that votes st wards ~ the ‘obvious local. level of organisation ~ ‘could be aggregated to the constitu ency level.

Tt is vitel that decisions are taken ‘St meetings to ensure an inforned. Genate. Ke recognise thet the prin- ‘ciple of allowing each neaber to cast f rote will not necessarily result in greater democracy or involvenent. To Secure genuine involvexent of party nenbere this deaccratic reform mst Ye subject to the folloving provisions. Those eligible mst bave been in the party for at lesst 2 yoar and have Sttended at least ono third of the nomeal Iabour Ferty branch meetings. We want to reduce the possibility of Wheeling and desling and packing ectings-

But even if we strengthened mandation and serspped sone archaic rules it would not. charge the distortion of ‘votes inplicit in the delegatory Genocracy model. Ward discassions on, for instance, the leadership election can be desultory because comrades Imow that the final decision will be nade elseuhere, that there is no guarantee of a 'nandate’ being ‘followed and that even if it vere & substantial minority opinion could Be ignored. This is ridiculous and hardly makes for involvenent of party enbers.

We believe that one menber one vote is ¢ fair, reasonable and democratic reforn. it ie a matter of principle And this reform ie not designed to Secure temporary or factional advantage. We also believe that. it will help defeat the rights call for postal ballots. Comrades shoud Teeognise that e stubborn defence of he status quo is untenable and vill assist the the right in pushing the depoliticising postal votes systen.

OF course no constitutional reform 4m itself will nake the party more active or nore socialist. This is why we need regular political, cul- ‘ural and historical education and why we are menbere of the ILP(Independent Labour Publications).

Comrades who have jeined the Labour Ferty have made @ consolous step towards socialien. Through their active participation - helped by ono nexber one vote - ve can build support for socialist ideas in the party

and in the trades ynions,, vonons, and peace novensute and the Conaunlties

an which we Live and work. ets face it we are not going to capture the electors inagination if ve eannct capture our ovn nenbers! inegination.

An end to elitien through sdopting the one nesber one vote systen can only aesist this alm.

An ILP model resolution supporting fone member one vote bas been passed by HolLingbury Ward to the Brighton General Committee and the ides seemed to have feirly strong suppart ats Brighton Labour Party Political Bae tion Meeting on labour, the elections and the future.

QUERY KIELTY(Chairperson)Brighton &

Nonday Std Labour Movement Campaign

ror Palestine-Speakers inc. Jereny.

Picket EL Al,Israeli airlines én protest at massacres in Hebron and Nest Bank. lla autside £1 Al offices in Rogent Street, London (nearest tube Oxford Street).

avoust

Delegation to Ireland organised by ops Out Novenent.. Ring: Gail 01-250-1293

Saturday 6 11.00am Peace Statue, Tenenber Tisoshins organised by Brighton CD.

SEPTEMBER

Wednesday 7th Brighton Anti Taperialist Cintemational Peace) Forum, Friends Centre, speakers Moshe Machover, El Saivador Solidarity, Anti Apartheid, Palestine Solidarity.

Saturday 10th Brighton Briefing ‘roluction aeeting 10.50 am at ‘Sussex University, Communications Office.

Sunday1Ith National denonstrationno more Chiles. Hands of Central Saerica-London

Corbyn mp,Joan Maynard MP,itarry Cohen MP Moshe Machover,Palesinian’§ Lebanese speakers Nomen for Palestine.

2nd to 7th Labour Party Conference Hrighton Centre

Saturday 17th

Agtienel Pateitine sotidarity

denonstration in London. Rally Public Bouse

1-00 in Landon- for trmsport

contact Tony 602025 Bookshop eset areca

How to fight the Tories Conference ASB ae

organised by Socialist Organiser 3] |g

Write to 90,28 Middle Lane,London nt AML

‘ocTORER Sih

Ist to 2nd National Abortion Campaign Sa

‘Tonference- phone 01 278 0153 for further info.

2nd National Briefing fringe meeting Bt Labour Party Conference queens Hote! after Conference session. Speakers inc. enn, Livingstone, Jereay Corbyn, Jane Steckton,Nerde cory

21 Little Preston Bt,

Brighton BW ANG,

DONT SPLIT THE PARTY

‘At Ats July General Management Comittee meeting, Brighton Labour Party voted to establish a position of General Election coordinator, to ensure a snocther and ‘more positive cooperation between Kemptown and Pavilion campaigns. Briefing welcomed this move

‘toward the strengthening of the unity of Brighton CLP.

It seoms ironic to us that, at the very time at which the local party is cementing its organisation and planning for the future in so positive a manner,

a section of the Party in Kemp— ‘tom appears to be rosring off

im the opposite direction,

At its October meeting, Kemptown OC will be obliged to discuss a motion from the TEC calling for the splitting of the party on the basis of its componont parliamentary constituencies.

4 slavish adherence to the foras ‘of bourgeois electoralism has

long seemed to us to be 2 debilitating facet of the Labour Party's tradition, Too often we have tugged a forelock and acceded to the whims of boundary comissioners, anchoring organisation to the artificialities of their creations without a second thought, irresp- ‘ective of their creations without a second thought ireespective of the collective strength ,campaigns and roots in the community an

told’ ward might have built up.

‘And now it is suggested,from within our very Party, that «

Line be dram dow the middle

of the Lewes Road, and that ve orgmise ourselves as if that

Line vere a gulf separating

two different commmities.

‘Seen in this light,the suggestion 1s of course, absurd. It is this which leads us to search for motives that may undsin it. Nor do we have to look far. Militant Tendency currently dominates Kemptomn Organisation Comittee whereas they have next to no influence in Pavilion and are a minority in the Party as

a whole. Having tasted vhat it

is like to mun a general election ‘campaign in which non-Militant members are excluded (see Queens Park and Marine ward motions and the decision of Coventry SW to

LABOUR-—TAKE THE POWER.

amticipate that,by separating Kemptown from its 5 ‘they would be able to tighten their organisstional control amd,umhampered by the prospect of losing my major votes,

use Keaptomn as 2 platfora for Militant policies all year round rather than, as has until now been the case,solely at Conferfence and Generel Elections.

In mn extraordinary ples from the Chair of Keaptom OC,

Ray Apps asked that, though he

was "sure that the Militant Caucus(?) will make @ decision” on the matter, discussion of it should be non-sectarian. The request and implied censure- Seemed to

be levelled at Briefing supporters present ,so we'll now reply. Ray,we're simply not that nsive. ‘The notion originated from 3

Union branch Militant control;

it is supported almost exclusively by Militant meabers and sympath-

Militant's concerns are ‘not our concerns. Me are inter ested in holding Lively and varJed debstes throughout the Brighton Labour Party (and where we hold

2 collective view,winning those debates!).Militant seck merely

‘to impose their line- whcih they can hope to do in a small

enough forum. Ne prioritise the fight for a Labour controlled Borough Council,to the success

of which a united Party is so Vital. Militant would sacrifice ‘that unity because they regard Comcil politics as a very secondery consideration, never letting their more able menbers dirty their hands with standing for council seats.

‘Another reason given for dividing the Brighton Party is ‘sone of the wards in Pavilion

have run up large debts during the election campaigns. So what is the answer? To leave these small wards in the lurch or to fact as one party, md give all possible assistance. If these debts are not met doubts will

be raised as to the feasibility of standing candidates in such wards- and with it the possibility of a Brighton Labour Council. Me should remember thst in 1975 when the two parties case toge ther to form Brighton Labour Party, both were very weak. In the intervening period both have rom stronger and it is this that Militant- with theix wrecking mendment- would reverse. Pavilion would slowly wither and Kemptown under Militants iron

grip would also fare little better.

Large wards in Keuptom seem set to reject. But since the debate is currently confined to Keaptown, we must momt a ‘Vigorous campaign throughout that CLP, ensuring that large tumouts of Party meabers meeting in thelr wards and union branches sling this wrecking motion out.

Ne can defeat this motion ‘even in Militants Kemptown bastion if we ORGANISE. Briefing is sponsoring a caucus for all tose opposed to Militants wrecking motion at the Eagle Nednesday September 28 st 7.30. Contact Dave 684917 for babysitters.

BRIGATON BRIEFING EDITORIAL COLLECTIVE

a BIGGER briefing

Bture issues of Brighton Labour Briefing will include a 16 page Mistional Briefing! supplement. Following the defeat of Labour

at the General election 1t 1s now essential that redical sections of the Labour Movenent become onganised in @ co-ordinated campaign to defeat the Right.

Wie are sorry to anounse that this wall thevitebly mean a snall rise in price, to 20pences but we hope that the addition of the supplenent will help in such a campaign.

PAGE TWELVE