London Labour Briefing no. 113

In a hectic Labour Group AGM on Monday May 8th, the left

took control of Lambeth Council. Joan Twelves becomes Leader, with Julian Lewis as Deputy and Steve French as Chief Whip. Voting was 21-19 throughout.

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By Greg Tucker Lambeth Councillor

Disgruntled with the LCC’s leadership for the last year, the local Parties had twice passed votes of “no confidence” in them.

So bad had it all become, that Council officers had contacted Walworth Road asking the Labour leadership to make the LCC “go quietly”. :

Their incompetence and refusal to lead any campaign against the Poll Tax or Housing Action Trusts (HATs) provided the chance for a realignment in the Labour Group.

No longer rate-capped, and with over 4,000 vacancies, finance is no longer the issue as it Is elsewhere in London.

With the anti-cuts Councillors firmly in control, the new leadership is pledged to rapid recruitment to rebuild Council services, action to improve morale amongst the workforce, and an immediate improvement in the service to the community.

It is an indictment of the LCC that in the last six months they have been unable to recruit one home help.

‘At the same time the left aims to rebuild the Lambeth tradition of fighting to defend local people from government attack.

Key issues will be housing, where the

LCC would not take up tenants’ demands for real campaigning against HATs. We will be ensuring that the HATs-estates’ Tenants’ Associations are properly supported and that the Council weighs in with its own campaign to alert all the Borough to the dangers of the Housing legislation.

‘On Poll Tax, the LCC have been busy pushing through implementation as fast as possible.

We aim to work with Lambeth Against the Poll Tax to build resistance to the Poll Tax. We shail start out by finding out exactly what the LCC has already committed the Council to.

On privatisation, although Compulsory Competitive Tendering is almost upon us, the LCC had done little to build defences against it.

Working with the Council unions, a high priority for the new administration will be to plan a fighting strategy which can ensure Council services stay in-house without loss of pay or conditions.

On transport, despite the Channel Tunnel link and major roads planned to go through the Borough, the LCC failed to get campaigns off the ground. What should have been a safe, uncontroversial issue still could not arouse them to a fight against the government.

‘We will be fighting to defend local people from the blight and misery of the Tories’ unintegrated market forces-led non-strategy for transport.

It’s early days to give a full, detailed programme of our plans; but Lambeth's back on the right (left!) lines!

LABOUR-— TAKE THE POWER:

PHOTO: Nick Hazlowood

London Labour Briefing No. 118 May 10th-29rd Page:2

Councillor suspended for

rent rise protest

Anti-cuts Councillor Adrian States was spended for three jaths from the Labour Group at a joint meeting of the Group and LGC Executive on April 24th for ‘opposing February’s rent rise,

Six other Councillors also refused to tupport the reat rise. In Mareb, sbx anti-cuts Couniilors continued their protest by refusing to endorse the budget — which contained the rent rise and £10 million cuts — by abstaining oni.

‘The seven Councillors who opposed the rent tise were put

By Fred Leplat Holborn & St Pancras CLP

‘on tal for defending ienantsin Camden,

Last year's massive cuts brought a drastic deterioration of living standards on Camdea’s Council estates. Another reat rise nearly twice the rate of inflation was unac-

"This victimisation is happen ing ata time when 100NALGO estate managers are on all-out strike for extra staff, and when NUPE members have held a ‘one-day strike against the threat

(£80 job losses.

‘The trial was a joke. The Labour Group right wing _majority requested that the anti- ‘cuts Councillors abide by ‘Standing Orders. Yet they happily flout standing orders to avoid consultation with the

Pasty Conference

[No joint meeting between the Labour Group and LGC to dis-

Group. But Adrian States was singled out. Provocative

He is now appealing to the

for helping Tenants’ Associations to fight the Housing Bill, supporting local Council ‘workers striking for decent conditions, opposing the Council's Police “Consultative” Commit- ‘ee and opposing the introduction of the Poll Tax.

Adrian States must be

NALGO Housing Office strike!

Action gains wide support

NALGO members in the Housing Department have been on strike since April 10th following the suspension of five workers.

NALGO had submitted a claim for the reinstatement of 14 posts deleted last year to cope with the extra workload.

The strike Is now official and support from NUPE and Tenants Associations has

Ta ea 1h wal (ee per estate team) is one that

must be supported. Over the last year, nearly half the

As the Council was avoiding negotiations onthe claim,

Vice Chair of Housing, denounced the strike as political and led by left

J-baiting “Mur-

doch'-style approach to industrial relations will leave

the Labour Group more and more isolated as itis seen to be acting like the Tories.

Socialists in the Labour Party should pass resolutions calling on the Labour Group to enter into immediate negotiations and meet the claim. Invite speakers to your ward, union ‘or TAby phoning NALGO on 880 5634.

*Reprinted from Camden Labour Briefing

A bleak future for the

under-25s

young people.

Calling for the support of the House of Commons for 2 new clause that would support independent living for under 25 year olds, Jeremy Corbyn MP described the horrors of living rough.

‘The following is an abstract, from Hansard (24.4.89).

‘Mr Corbyn: Tonight in London it is an ordinary wet miserable night.

Earlier this evening I went to ‘meeting at the London School of Economics. On my way back, counted the number of people getting ready to spend the night on the pavement in ‘Arundel place, justin sight of the Savoy hotel, where a room costs £400 a night.

Just before 9 o'clock there ‘were already 12 people getting ready to spend the nightin sight ‘of the Savoy and just near the lawcourts.

‘When I gohome there willbe ‘more than a dozen people begging, for money. outside Finsbury Park station near:to

young people begging so that (Ain pear a ep

“My hon. Friend the Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr Wilson) spoke about the plight of young people being forced Into crime andall sorts of indignities to make ends mect. That ishappening all the timein Londoa.

Tf they are out on the streets, sleeping rough and looking Gishevelled, it is difficult for thom to get a job. Iti difficult to get a job if they have no address and they cannot say where they live in the first place.

They get into « cycle of despair, The ways out of that cyte of despair are often crime, drugs, promittion, and 29 00.

What is the govemment’s response? They say tat ander 25 yearolds shouldbe partly dependent on their parents and that if they are tying to ive independently, they should. get lee than those over the age of 2.

‘The same government are making large cuts by closing long sty inetitions of varios oat

ln-some ways, some of 1s

welcome closures of oog-stay institutions, provided that they are compensated for by real spending on real community are that gives real support, and provided that we do not ignore people and leave them to ry to fend for themselves, often in 2 ‘valnerable situation.

Many young people are unable to get jobs inthe nom or ‘other parts of the country —not ‘hough any fault or lack of effort on their part. So, not un-

subject to an interruption, which produced the following

Dame Elaine Kellet- Bow ‘man: The hoa. Gentleman mentioned the Savoy hotel. Some years ago, Iwas the chairman of a welfare committee in Camden.

As such, Iwas in charge of a common lodging house in Parker Street. The deputy head chef of the Ssvoy was one who ‘went there from choice. He could certainly have chosen to go elsewhere.

‘Me Corbyn: I'am not quite sure what that intervention adds to the sum total of human

them to spend £400 for one ight in the Savoy hotel. ‘fhe hon. Lady does not un-

Local Governn

‘The morning of May 3rd a walkout by gey’s finance

department.

It was swiftly followed by mass meetings and sympathy action by NALGO members

Libraries, Housing and Economic Development and Environmental Health.

By 4.30pm, NALGO members were crowded into the Personnel & Management Panel ‘demanding that Labour Councillors reject controversial proposals to pay £5,000 salary *top-ups” to 22 band picked senior staff in the Finance Ser-

‘Borough Treasurer John Pirrie hae set out to convince Councillorsthat this is only way to solve the difficulty faced by Haringey Council in recruiting senior finance staff.

irre has further threatened to issue another “Section 1143)" Notice and plunge Haringey into 2 new financial crisis, unless Councillors agree tohis demands.

‘Yet again the question is posed: who runs Haringey — ‘lected Members or Chief Officers armed with Tory laws?

Last November, the Labour Group in Haringey agreed a “recruitment & retention” pack-

£100 a week provokes wa

age despite bitter opposition from NALGO.

‘Based on the premise that salaries must respond to market forces, such packages aré designed to provide “perks for the boys” — cars, cheap mortgages, and pay rises outfide the grading structure, while Tow graded staff sufferthe sharp end ofthe cisisin local governmeat.

‘A succession of low pay settlements for local government workers, combined with Hiacingey's failure to keep up ‘with Tocal pay agreements in neighbouring Boroughs, has meant that Haringey faces high turnover of staff.

‘Coming on top ofthe uncertainty and deteriorating conditions now experienced by Haringey's workforce, it means that the Borough is unable to recruit to many posts.

Hence Pirtie's proposal to award a£100 a week perk 1022 senior officers including himselfl

[Not suprisingly this suggestion met with an outraged response from NALGO Finance members, and a walkout in mid-April finally ‘wrested acommitmeat fom the Personnel & Management Panel to convene talks on the

“These proved to be a matter cof management informing staff Sidethat NALGOwould have to

Direct Labour

On April 17th the leadership of Haringey Council finally took the decision to make 130 craft workers compulsorily redundant in the Public Works Service.

The decision marks a new stage in the attack on Council jobs and services and a new ail time low for the Haringey Labour Perties.

Barely two weeks later the draft report of ‘consultants who have been investigating the Public Works Service since Christmas was

It proposes two option: cutting the service in half again, with a further 450 redundancies, or complete closure. The first option

taken place since Christmas. Thatcher can be well

and the homeless it has meant only further hardship and despair.

‘The Council has excelled itself by its sheer incom-

patance- and. discrimination ‘over:-the.-sackings. ‘With a.

Compulsory redu

unionism, the redundancies ‘were issued without notifying trade union representatives.

‘On the day after the decision to make the sackings had been taken, senior management denied to a meeting of shop stewards that any decision had yet been taken.

Workers were notified that they were to be sacked inthe mosthaphazard and random fashior

‘Some were notified ve ally by their manager: ‘others received photocopies of the handwritten forms on which their points had been added up according to the criteria used to decide who ‘was to be sacked.

‘On the form was a Yes/No Box marked accordingly as to whether the individual concerned had received

Points wore allocated according to individuals’ attendance and disciplinary record — taking account of the number of daysjost through sickness and the number of petiods of sickness. Two points were also awarded for each year of ser-

vice. ‘The procedure adopted ‘imiakes a mockery of the

= Council's claim to be making

Aotal-disregard. for.-trade redundancies in accordance:

kout

Jump it as the proposals would be going through

In the event NALGO sehicyed a scceeatll show of Gieagh on May 3rd, when, after moch delay, the panel tmectlag — cestamed with angy stikers — decided to Aer the decision to Friday.

‘Three of the staff members oe ee cee vo oeetre tae £5,000 = year perk joined the stiles ttengedby the propoeal

’A further lobby on Faidey reauled in a second deferment — this time until May 1 Ith, to Allow tne foe futher negotie

"At the time of going to press NALGO is discussing further ‘action to put pressure on Councillors and a programme of action should the £100 2 woek ppecks be put through.

Vital issues are raised by the dispute, including the right of NALGO to negotiate on pay ‘and conditions, and the impor tance of stopping any attempt to ‘undermine thisright andthe National grading structure

‘These very rights are also under threat in the employers’ offerin the curreat national pay negotiations.

‘NALGO members in Hariney are justly angry after two ssuccesive years of cuts, vacancy freezes, and numerous petty attacks on our conditions of ser

For example, the £110,000

maternity leave, a woman recovering from a miscar- ‘number of workers ified sick leave recovering from injuries sustained at work including a broken leg. (With characteristic cowardice the Councilors responsible for the decisions have refused fo sit on panels to hear appeals against these decisions.

‘The consultants’ report now under consideration by the Council proposes notjust hundreds more redundancles, but the tearing up of the conditions of service of both craft and white collar workers.

For NALGO members this wil mean a 39 hour week, an ‘end to flexi-time, no aderence to job descriptions,

performance related pay and “an end to the tight to trade tuniag meetings in worktime.

Similar attacks on the tights of oraftunion members ‘are proposed, including a reduction of the working week to 38 hours from 42 and a halt hours. A shorter working week can'be a gain for workers —but they arertt when then come with a cor-

‘earmarked for the perks in Finance would pay for ten or ‘more vacancies to be filled. For some NALGO members£5,000 represents a year's income!

‘The £40 long service ‘Christmas bonus abandoned in 1987, would cost just £160,000 to te-instate, yet the Council prefers to reward the Borough ‘Treasurer for his failure to maintain a viable financial sex-

This dispute has finally broken through the fragmenta. tion and demoralisation of a Union branch squeezed be- ‘tween a vicious Labour Council and a NALGO leadership that has been happy to derail and block many previous attempts to organise resistance.

‘This strategy has only been Gropped when NALGO's very right to negotiate has begun to bbe threatened,

‘Activists now have the task of building on the mood for action and focusing the struggle conto positive demands like the Jongstanding “Haringey Factor" claim for Inner London Weighting and 2 pay supplement to recognise the special skills demanded from staff ‘working in the Borough.

What we must avoid is a “business as usual” approach, ‘which sends members back to ‘work with no victory greater than saving Haringey Council £110,000.

responding loss of pay, this one.

‘The response from the two Constituency Labour Parties has been shameful. A motion calling for the re-instatement of the 190 sacked workers and condemning the way the sackings were cartied out was passed by only two votes on the Tottenham General Committee.

Delegates in Homsey & Wood Green didn’t consider ita sufficient emergency and voted not to hear the motion.

‘A joint meeting of the Labour Group and the Local Government Committee Executive decided it was inappropriate to discuss the issue.

ft had more urgent business to deal with — whether cr not to discipline the 11 Labour Councillors who refused to vote for cuts or rate rises.

However Councillors and delegetes stood in shamefaced silence when some of the sacked workers forced themselves into the room at the end of the meeting and explained the ‘grounds on which they had been sacked.

Tony Vargas, one of the craft union representatives, bitterly denourtoed the'*yuppies" who had taken over ‘Haringey Labour Party:

Following discussion at the last regular meeting of

participating in a wide variety of campaigns;

Haringey Labour Briefing, —and organising a local we decided to make acol- public meeting in defence lective response to John of Salman Rushdi

Calderon's letter in the last London Labour Briefing.

First, we wish to make it clear that far from having “collapsed”, as John alleges, Haringey Labour Briefing continues to thrive

‘Second, while there are a number of tactical differences amongst us, and amongst the anti-cuts Councillors, we do not for a moment believe that these differences amount to the kind of profound or

—bringing together left long-lasting split which activisisfromboth CLPsin John tries to manufacture the Borough; inhis letter.

—co-ordinating the left _Yes, there are a number intervention in local ofdifficult and serious tac-

Labour Party politics; tical questions which face

Sowing divisions

where none exist

Dear London Labour ‘cach section looked to protect Briefing. itself, and the Jeft would bave I write in response to John been the scapegoat.

Calderon's letter to London There iso doubt that a num-

Labour Briefing 90. 112 oa this ber ofthe labour sight, especial-

‘year's budget making in Harin- 1y those connected with the ey. LCC, scuelly wanted the leftto

‘As ove ofthe seven anti-cuts vote the budget down to use this ‘Councillors who abstained in as an excuse to witch-hont us the final vote T would like to out of the Party — that afterall

make a few points to Cde isthe main driving force of the Calderon, LCC in local government.

He implies that fear of being Cie Calderon's letter fails to expelled from the Labour appreciate that effectively the Group/Party led seven Council- budget vote was an impossible

lors to abstain, thus preventing the development of a “real crisis” which “would have {forced the unions to fight” However, he offers no

choice — oppose it and cuts ‘would result, not oppose it and rates go up astronomically. But his letter has 2 hidden agenda — thinly disguised

evidence for our motivation, sectarian attack on Briefing. nor for his own prediction of | Tcan assure him that neither what might have been, Haringey BriefingnorHaringey

Ta my view the result of us ‘continuing to vote against the budget would have led very rapidly (within a few minotes) tothe right of the Labour Group agreeing 2 substantial cuts ‘badge withthe Tories —cither ‘the budget already produced behid the scenes by the officers

Councillors Against Cuts have “collapsed” and it is difficult to take seriously the views of someone who thinks they have.

He is attempting to sow ivisions within the left where there are none.

Councillors Against Cuts hhave stuck together and have,

cor a version of the Tories’ own subsequent to the rate-making proposals. ‘Council meeting, successfully ‘This would undoubtedly and collectively defeated an alIhave led to compulsory redus- tempt to expel all 11 Council <dancies: but [do not share John lors (not just four, John) from Calderon's mechanistic the Grovp. | analysis that this crisis would We are determined to conhhave forced the unions to fight tinue tooppose the cuts and rate ‘any more than they fought increases, andtodefeat the Tory agzins jandredun- project for local government. dancies in Haringey and other I hope that John Calderon Tastead it scems more likely tively to that end. that there would be further ; __ Yours for socalisn,

‘Peter Doble, *

‘ondon Labour Briefing No. 113 May soth-23rdPage 3

Open Letter from Haringey Labour Briefing

us in the struggle against cuts and rent and rate rises. And yes, these must

Haringey Labour Briefing has playeda leading role in ‘organising opposition to

be thoroughly and honest- the current right wing ly debat Council leadership, both

But we are all agreed inside and outside the that this must be a debate Labour Party, and will con-

tinue to do so. We will also continue to fight all attempts to witchhunt or discipline Party members because of their opposition to cuts.

among comrades, with mutual acknowledgment of the socialist com:

ments which unite us. We feel that because of its tone, its inaccuracies, and

distortions, John _ Recently, we enjoyed a Calderon'sietter makesno major success in this Useful contribution to this regard when we defeated debate. an attempt to throw alt

‘Along with the 11 Councillors Against the Cuts,

eleven anti-cuts Councillors out of the Labour

‘we remain united in op- Group.

position to all cuts and to Yours for socialism,

rent and rate rises. Haringey Labour For the last 20 months, Briefing

For an independent party: join the SWP

Dear London Labour Brief and to the implementation of ing their policies by a right wing Labour Council.

‘The article by Scott Reeve But we have to grasp that, on recentevents in Haringey at the moment, opposition makes some worrying points does not exist in a coherent for socialists. and organised way.

First, Haringey Council is Anger and bitterness have

not @ hung Council, nor are to be turned into action. In

the Tories in effective con- practice tht will mean the {rol. Labour retains control. hard slog of arguments with

Further, the Labour individual activists. it will majority is following the logic "nean supporting resistance of a reformist party in power, where small fights do

managing the bosses’ crisis for them.

‘They should and could have fought against this. They didn’, but this should not obscure the fact that the Tories and not Toby Harris are to blame for the current Finally the experiance or situation. Labour in Haringey, with the

We are completély op- best of intentions on the left posed to both cuts and rate at least, has not been a fises. Oneisnotalesserevil. happy one. The balance But there is no point inenter- sheet shows a few gains and taining grandiose notions many losses. The energy about the influence of Coun- and time of good socialists cillors against the Cuts or has been wasted. Fightback!, useful though A more effective strategy, both organisations are. we would suggest, is to help

in building an independent the. Council through the

socialist party based not on capitalist courts. Rent rises, electoral politics but on the, for example, need to be

potential of the working fought from the grassroots class.

and trying to gene them.

‘That will mean, also, raising the fightbacks in the docks, at the BBC, and on the tubes. And arguing that ‘we can both fight and win.

and involve Council workers That is what we are trying a well as tenants wherever ¥ Yours fraternally, ‘Comrades in Briefing and Keith Flatt the local SWP branches are". Homsey SWP ‘Serious .sbout build-.~'~ Duncan Gafiney ‘ing opposition to the Tories”. Haringey SWP-

London Labour Bricting No 113. May 10th-23rd Page 4

Students

NUS London Broad Left

A breakthrough in student politics

totake over NUS London — the} third largest student organisa tion in Western Europe! |

It is dramatically undesfunded — s budget of oaly £25,000 a year. But itis a very important area for the left to build on.

Next year, with Poll Tax, loans, increased ition fees, further privatisation, and massive cuts on the agenda, NUS London could become key to beating back Baker if we con. solidate in the colleges.

London is geographically ‘and politically central to the

Baker’s White Paper on student loans sent shock waves through colleges up and down the country at the beginning of this academic year.

‘A few left London colleges were able to turn an NUS “Jobby of parliament” into a ational demonstration with ‘over 2,000 on it in less than 2 week.

Tthecame known asthe “Battle of Westminster Bridge” ater the police charged us.

‘This process continued with

‘which attempted to model itself ‘on the London Broad Left, but ‘which revealed itself to be litle more than a sectarian talking shop at its Conference (though it may yet be possible to improve i)

“The Broad Left succeeds because it is based on a clear division in student politics: do ‘you support class struggle or ‘lass collaborationist methods ‘of defending education; mass action or professional lob-

Dyiste?

the London anti-loans cam- By Alistair fightback: we will be fighting paign demonstration on Chisholm for mass action, for an alliance bee’ Secretary, SOAS —_ With woskers in education, and

‘We built a successful demonstration despite opposition, sabotage and threats of ‘court action from our “leaders — the University of London Union, NUS London and national NUS.

‘This new combative let represents the class struggle, ‘united, democratic left in the London student movement

Ir nites many independents, Socialist Outlook, Socialist Or- ‘ganiser, Socialist Action, the Greens, and Militant. "The Broad Left set up London Students Against the Poll Tax.

It is very different from the ational “Left Unity” initiative,

forthe oppressed wo be eeatrally involved in the fighback.

The selection meeting the Broad Left held was very inter- ‘esting wit independents doing ‘well in all the contested posts.

‘Also, & Socialist Outlook supporter beat the Socialist StoentSocialist Organiser candidate for General Secretary by 3710 IL

There is an experienced, committed slate. We have a ‘group of serious activists who Will bea thom in Baker's side next year, when the new White Paper is announced and whea the Poll Taxcollectorsstart their rounds.

lrish Year

Labour Club

While Socialist “Worker ‘Students and the RCP have ‘chosen to stay outside this, with the SWP wrecking an early ‘meeting, most of those forces ‘prone f sectarian posturing hhave been kept in check by the independents who want a fighting, united, democratic left.

‘The “Democratic Left”, split into three and left high and dry in this year’s radicalisation, is 2 broken force; Labour Students does not exist on a London level.

‘The Broad Left seems poised

Fighting for justice

“We will never give up tion of Terrorism Act and the

the fight for justice.” By Jim Thain presence of British troops in ‘So said Lily Hill, who has s “ isk ‘the north of Ireland, which battled for 1S yearsto tree ‘Hackney Ir hadsuch anegative effecton

Year of Action Committee

her son Paul and the other prisoners wrongfully convicted of the Guildford pub

Kevin Harvey read out a letter from jailed Irish

bombings. Sar Repictany Ducomntont ‘She was speaking at a ™y son me lunchtime meeting or- going. They have taken the ganised by the Hackney Irish best years of these young Year of Action Committee as, people's lives and they can't

Part of an extensive speak- be allowed to get away wih Volunteers

anes ‘She expressed her sup- Duggan was one of the

port forthe protesters at Ris- volunteers arrested after the

‘Speakers ley Remand Centre, con- Balcombe St siege who

demning British prison con- claimed ity for the

‘The other speakers were Kevin Harvey from the Wolfe Tone Society and Graham Smith of Hackney Community Defence Association, which campaigns against police malpractice and racist attacks.

Lily gave a moving account of the difficulties {famiies of poltcal prisoners

Guildford bombings and produced detailed confes- ‘sions — evidence which the ‘Appeal Cou wouldnt look

"Graham Smith stressed

the vital and courageous role

families play in supporting victimised relatives.

‘Communities had to or-

ise themselves against

Corrupt

‘She branded the judiciary and police force as corrupt, pointing to the promotions of key figures in the Guiidlord

fave in maintaining their Four case, such as Michael police brutality. The relationships and their deter- Havers, who became Attour- solidarity action of LSE stumination to resist British ney General, and Peter im- dents in electing Winston Sistate repression: bert, now Chief of the — cott Honorary President was

“Lill not sit, back and do,

Metropolitan Police, @. gain for. the. Tottenham

nothing. It is the courage of

‘She atiacked the Prevert |. Theee.campaign.

Justice for the Tottenham Three!

The decision of LSE Students Union to elect Winston _Silcott Honorary Life President has provoked a storm of protest from the right wing — from Ministers of the Realm to college administrators, the press and Tory students.

By Alistair Game

{tae the demand raid rom Broadwater — the Tottenham Three are innocant — is being more widely heard.

whose kiling provoked the Oriental and African Studies Uprising — the police offers (SOAS) Student Union who killed her are stil inthe decided to award Winston force. Associate Life Membership: Where is the outrage for NUSLondon has also issued the families of the framed _@ message of support. Three? Where is the media The right wing at LSE and anger at the death threats the college administration sent to the president of LSE are hoping to tum the press. Students Union? hysteria into a backlash and ‘At an emergency Union to attack the union's General Meetingon May2nd autonomy. The whole antithe right failed to get the two racistand student movement thirds majority they needed must defend the LSE. to overtum the decision. The Toties ate poised to Lord Gifford, who spoke to move. Student backing for a the meeting, called the ver- high-profile campaign like dict on the Tottenham Three that of the Tottenham Thret “the worst miscarriage ofjus- could be the excuse they tice for ten years.” have been looking for to ‘Ata meeting held at about mount a major attack on the same time, the School of students’ rights.

It seems the simple demands for justice and a fairtrialaretoo close tothe mark when racist policing and scape-goating by the courts is concemed.

Silcott— along with Engin Raghip and Mark Braithwaite — were convicted on the basis of no photographic or forensic evidence.

One of the witnesses who was forced fo implicate 27 people in the killing of PC Blakelock was later proved to have been in @ pub in Windsor at the time of the

uprising. ‘The press have been full of

crocodie tears for Biakelock. What about Cynthia Jarrett

of Action

Censorship on Irelan

Newham Council bans Sinn Fein

TV, radio, orat public meetings — does nothing to find a political solution in the six counties.

‘The govemment’s recent TV ‘and radio ban has been widely

In March this year East London Irish Year of Action Committee held a “Britain Out of Ireland” rally in Tower Hamlets.

from Council premises in the lightof the politically motivated violence used by goverment forces against the miners

against the printers, in Gibral-

Saree eae speeches from Sinm Fein pojiticalandelectoral advances. _Sinn Fein is a legal political

Councillor Dodie MeGuinness, Ken Livingstone MP, and Clir Therese Shanahan from the Isle of Dogs.

It was decided to follow up

party which represents a significant part of the nationalist community and have every right to be heard. Encouraging political dialogue could even be

‘Why does Newham Labour Group want to join with Thatcher's government as censors on Ireland?

ths sce whsu erent a BY Julian Scot oni coun the summer to launch Chair, East Newton batew Gonee ELIYAC’s mobilisation for | ondon Irish Year not being asked to support or the Time To Go/Britain Ont 7 endorse a mectingsdressed by oflreland demonstration and of Action Sinn Fein: ELIYAC simply festival. Committee wants to make a commercial ELIYAC approached booking. We cannot allow Newham Council to book West Councilor Conor McAuley, Newham Council to join the Ham Town Hall. A week later Deputy Leader of Newham Tory govemmentin ts attempts ‘wewerrinformedthat Newham Cotneil, argues that Sinn Fein to silence Sinn Fein.

should not be allowed a platform because they are associated with “terrorism”. This emotive argument is ‘used by reactionaries against the PLO and the ANC, bat this did not prevent Newham Council from proudly flying the ANC flag above Newham Town Hall ‘Wall Newham Laboar Group ban all Tory Cabinet Ministers

‘Those in the labour movement who are committed to the ‘cause of Ireland should join ELIYAC in condemning Newham Council for its act of Send letters of protest to: Councillor Fred Jones (Leader of Newham Council), Newham. ‘Town Hall, Basking Road, London 6.

Labour Group had adopted 2 “No Platform” policy towards ‘Sina Fein and that ELIYAC was banned from booking Council

"What does Newham Labour Group hope to achieve by this act of censorship?

‘Sinn Fein represents over 100,000.xoters and deaying them a platform — whether on