London Labour Briefing no. 78

‘Scenes outside Camden Town Hall

Camden nine call to action:

FIGHTBACK NOT CUTBACK!

jae days of the General Election result, to either consult or mobilise the trade unions and the

‘community tions — those who will be at the the Camden Council leadership were putting {Poco of the euts package. In the words of one pro. “Fortress. Camden", the bulding locked and barricaded together a cuts package designed to clear the —_minent right winger “The Manifesto has been thrown ‘against intrusion by the community, workers sent home at 5

£12 million shortfall in this year’s budget. o'clock im order to empty the building, and security guards By: ‘employed to prevent access at every entrance — even ‘There was no discussion about this tactic. Councillor Kate Allen, Chair, Staff & Management deputations to the Labour Group are now accompanied by

smpt to consult either the local par- Committee Secarty Guards. ‘the trade unions, or the community organisations Councillor Steve Bevington, Chair, Housing Management ‘The alienation of the Leadership from the workforce and

i i Committee the community has accelerated te the point that the Leader- — just an overwhelming desire on the part of the . ip to ” Councillor Angela Birt, Vice-Chair, Staff & Management _ship are neither believed nor listened to. ental suagled lems sansa are rr praeseia Committee ‘They have refused to say when — if ever — they will begin measures were necessary to comply with both the new. Casacilior Careline Welding, Vice-Chair, Employment the process of resistance. ly elected Tory government and the rejuvenated Committee However, resistance to the Leadership is increasing. Both

District Auditor. Councilor Karin Newbury within the Counell and within the lcal Labour Parties there ‘The political and practical consequences of this Councillor Gloria Lazenby, Vice-Chair, Leisure Committee is genuine anger about the way in which the cuts have been strategy have been appal Councilor Sandra Plommer, Chir, Lesbian & Gay implemented and the way in which the package hes been

8 In political terms the Leadership have simply ignored ‘Committee railroaded through the Party. We voted against the cuts

their respon: to develop a strategy based on Councillar Graham Shurety, Chair, Grants Committee package in full Council and resolutions are already pouring in

resistance. There has been no attempt to defend jobs Councillor Adrian States, Vice-Chair, Lesbian & Gay from furious branches to the General Committees.

and services, and there has certainly been no attempt Committee Continued on back page

London Labour Briefing No. 78 Summer 1987 page 2

the

“The London Party has to ask itself some hard questions, because the rest of the Party is asking them.

‘Why in London alone was there an actual swing Seainst. Labour?” asked Larry Whitty om the second day of the London Labour Party AGM.

"That question dominated both days of the Con ference. But rather than try to analyse Labour's defeat rationally, Party members Preferred’ to blame themselves, or at least the loony left sitting next to them.

‘On the fist day, the LOC had" laid out their_own perspective. A series of fail ed parliamentary candidates came fo the. rostrum. to whinge about how they had been let down by the left. Fiaving extolled the personal performance of Neil. Kinhock and found the excuse of "major demographic Shanges"" 1 explain shy they personally had not been able to galvanise the elec orate they set about the hunt for scapegoats.

Wirhovr coming out in the open. and saling fo" atop Dortunces polis be dich Pai they attached “ahe image of Gbowr Counsis tenoring eke Sonserns ofthe majors and the ich of" Spine. from Some prominen’ ins idsals

‘You could be forsiver, for agresing with them uel soo fealged they di not ean the isabiity of Councils 10 de decent services, bu he Yast hat Some have paper policies on #25 Shs; or that rater than Shore's attack on Parts shormean Saron A

"asertions thar the Pars Bong way yet to g0 before an all wat non-asise

vas left to 3. few in dividuals, such as Al Filer from Brent, 10 point out that she na tional ‘campaign had’ been

London Labour Party AGM

Scapegoating

left

‘awful, that sou could not com bar media aracks when naional Teadeee chines Senunciatgas of the

The AGM agreed that the answer 19 our problems — aside from launching a. membership drive —" was. sigorously we distance the Party from any lunrepresentative ations by the Leftand condemn anvone who sight defy the NEC

‘Xt the same time Glenss “Thornton, Chait of the Londot Party. blaming the Regional Ev (outive for is lack of camparen ine othing 19 do with her. oF Sourse) pushed” through a Special report, which “commits the Party o. recall AGM inthe

By Greg Tucker Lambeth councillor

Its main task will be 10 reexamine the siructure of the Regional | Exccutive. Having failed over the w-ekend in an at tempt to destroy the right of the Condon Women's Conference to cect ts representatives onthe Regional Executive, their next targer wil be to weaken the rote of the Constiuenss Labour Pan section

“This sear already sam a new sarusture for the Comsituensy Section wi members. clested from pars of Boroughs. Ths Jed to’ number of changes on the “exevutie, although key figures hike Jerems Corben 303 Joan Twehes were feels and the left nght balance retained the same jon of what 19 do dened to Batt fio head io the sand. In 2 report from the ALS. Marzare: Hodge gave 4 lecture on “our sosalist Fesporsibiits — co remain in power and use Hom at our disposal asked t0 prevend that Couns ‘ri not be making cuss!

if this message was not clear then Neil Fletcher. in his LEA report, swept away any last ilu Sons. Defending the policy of compulsory redeployment and TLEA’s atacks on teachers be blamed the NUT, and the ILTA iain rasa

ILEA’s problems. ‘But then of course the NUT is not a real union — it is not af fihated to: the Labour ‘Party. Despite his disgraceful. witch fronting. speech. the ILEA feport was easily carried on 3 sand vote ‘Nevertheless, all was nor g0ing the was of the fight. On a Sow card vote, the Conlerence Sgteed to reject “one member fone vote” and upheld the 3 SSumiabily Of MPs 19 thar ‘General Committees, Although ‘we had earlier been told 19 keep Quicr about lesbian and sat cies and instead focus on Ego’ issues lke housing and ith. the AGM overs ci: ingls welcomed the Posuive Images campaign from. Har inges and agreed to 2 sustained ‘campaign against homophobia Resolutions on real social ‘ownership and. nationalisaiion tinder workers’ control were

also passed.

A ively debate on Black Sections sax speaker after speaker falling for the right-of Black beople co play a Tul role in the Bars. als to be massiels 00 a card tore

‘ote it was clear ‘was being won. Sh incioded sack gemea6 °F

‘women — I'm married 0 one.” ‘eproat i

Election. and with a continuing fallure-of the centeedefl 10 put Forward a strategy for Tghting the Tories. the London Labour Party. continued this year to Gift tothe right, Ie was left tos Siecesfull fringe meeting organised by Briefing 10 raise any glimmer of a

Round-up fightback

CAMDEN. in response to

her threatened cuts, NALGO

cr | ‘mass meeting voted 10 op00se nth Council and to endorse

i sindiecaiide Conference Against Cuts in Jobs and

i Services '

camden NALGO have called for a __London-wide conference against cuts in jobs and services to be held In late September. The conference will be open to trade unions, CLPs, voluntary and community groups, tenants and anyone committed to fighting cuts in jobs and services.

Delegates and observers are welcome.

Watch this space for more details, or ring Jo Fawkes, Camden ee % eet 278 4444x2014.

Sees

Meeting of organisations,

i ‘asked local Party for pro:

‘ot Party consultative . Bhefng helping 10 compargnng. ISLINGTON. Special Labour | Group on 19th iscussed huge ‘tacks for next fmanesal yeat

] London

and NALGO Executive voted

RESISTANCE

of in London

‘against cuts in jobs ond ser Vices, and to set up 2 borough Soe-Cute Committee at meting on August 3rd. A andtal “of councilors ex Dected to oppose cuts, HARINGEY. Councii mesting voted down sll options for Sesoiving financial erst Ber ‘ne Grant and. Labour Right tnotion for 3% cuts across the Dosrd eleated 20-20 with Tones abstaining. Steve King Bett motion for no cuts im fobs and serves also defeated, Eonar Councit meeting ex duly 27th. Plans 10 Einch Haringey Fight Bock pargn in September LAMBETH. Labour Group

Callaghan. They include such figures as Andrew MacKinlay, wospi Song vapenetonsll A bea aera

meet fnencat css, Grou | pore, Sm, voted to detend™ jobs and Services and sunt yee wrde campeigns and events ‘On that baie, but "no cuts” Strendment from left minonty lors, voted down BY re “including "Linda

Shut down “GLC in exile London Strategic Policy Unit St end of March °88 with loss ff 300 jobs. Some boroughs even hesitating on whether tO

Organisati Sin aaen, sub-committee of the Part.

However at that subcommittee's meeting on July th, to follow through the attack ‘by merging Chessington South into the wo neighbouring ‘wards “of Chessington North ad Hook, the Right wing was ro demonstrate its Own sao Shognation "eurds hads-the i som or

Chessington South BL

Growing attacks from the right!

By John Hayball Chair, Chessington South BLP

as oF their aversion to our polities and desie to Keep them "fn quarantine" in one Branch!

‘The prospect therefore reamins ‘Of further action ‘against the Branch leadership.

‘Socialists in Chessington South have been infuriated by Suggestions of inefficiency and inadequacy on their part over the Tolworth West ward (won From the Tories in the 1986 ‘Council elections) having to be

‘organised by the election agent

Fimsei in the General Eletio campaign.

Chessingion South Branch hhas given. no, priority

‘Briefing readers have provid ed the power base from which ‘our campaign inthe ward halted ‘what would ocherwise have been larger Alliance’ gains Labour's expense. Stop Press: As U7 10 underline the’ effectiveness of our cam paign John Hayball, Chair of Chessington South Branch abour Party, was attacked by aigang of sione throwing youths west om his bike Tate at night fon Friday: July 10th near his

Labour Party

Forging an alliance for —

change

was in no doubt. The message was presented in very attractive packaging. But the reality is, however, that all the packaging in the world

TTESSA VAN GELDEREN, Chair of Brent South CLP, spoke to PAUL

imewly elected MP for Brent South.

Paul Boateng: The elec-

tion result reflects the couldn't mask what was very real success of Mrs perceived by the elecThatcher's strategy of orate as being several

divide and rule. It is not years of disunity and lack

simply an issue of north Of concerted purpose versus south. There is within the Party as a also a divide within the whole

inner cities — between Tes5q yan Gelderen: areas which have pro- What do you mean by spered under Thatcher Yivcnity?

and areas that have borne

Paul Boateng: | mean the the brunt of her policies. gegen

attack we have seen by On top of that we were certain sections of the feeling the effects of @ fight in the Party on the concerted campaign Jef, | mean the witchagainst the Labour Party, lynts, "I mean’ the which targetted the left ecriminations that have and left-wing councils, occurred over the years not just during the elec” SMS Rent helped tion but over the last few Nor an ‘we avoid the years. conclusion that we have

It's not a “London ef- failed as a party to fect” but a “Thatcher ef- develop any. coherent or fect" that's really convincing vision of what damaged Labour's elec- a socialist society is all toral fortunes. She has about. flourished because We — We need to spend a lot have not been able to of time over the next ‘establish a coalition of in- {erests sufficient 10 make the electoral gains we ‘ought to have made.

‘AS to the campaign itself, its professionalism

avi broadening the base of the party, and increasing its membership. We also

the con-

Brent news

Like other London Labour Councils, Brent adopted creative ac. Counting” together with len ding arrangements” earlier {his year to. avoid. making tts in jobs and services. in choosing this road the councilors tured" thee faces against any concept of tmobiisng to. challenge the ‘Tories in favour of wheeling and dealing on the money imarkets and hoping for & Labour government. Lite other Couns rent has now discovered Wis unable 10 Sore alts deals and faced

By Mick Woods, Brent councillor

will, decide on policy. tt is Already clear that it will not be ‘an easy fight o commit the Par1 to opposing all cuts in jobs snd services

'All the arguments about hay ing. lost the election, "only Fm in cus, ete, will be reled ‘out. The left must point out that i addition to the teal cuts in ‘volved now. capitulation would bea signal that the Council will not rest privatisation, poll tx, Sale of council estates, oF rate. Sapping in future years

"The trade unions have already ‘begun to organise. A Joint Shop Stewards Committee mecting om July Sth Gavotving all the ‘Council unions except the NUT) ‘opposed a freeze On all ods 30d agreed t0 oppose cuts and job Tose, despte the presence of 3 TGWU fulltimer who opposed any fight and called for cutting NALGO jobs,

The JSSC are producing 000 cafes calling 2 mass meting at 10am on July 2h, and for a lobby of the Councit ‘meeting that evening.

‘Steps are already underway 10 eave (Opether those inthe Pacty and the unions opposed to cuts into 4 common campaign im an attempt to. win on July 2h,

from wniilled vacancies and has also benefitted from a fall inthe interest rate. After a small degree of creative accounting this will lenve a shortfall of 3 further £7m in its budget. The leadership claim that vacancies have remained unfilled due to “incompetence”, not design. ‘The Labour ‘Group, while eferting al decisions unt discussion. by the Party, did ‘agree by 24 votes to 9 10 ask Corneil officers to review servies and. identify where cuts

[outa be made. nota a: defence and ‘a of ithe Council on. July 8.10, oardices of wil decide whats doops aR SS prepared Piggy meetings in so EEESS.

stitutional wrangles and infighting that took place in the years running up to the election:

Tessa van Gelderen: Larry Whitty said the Party is not going to have an autopsy but a biopsy. Unfortunately biopsies can result in bits being cut out. There has been talk, inevitably, of a further witch-hunt, starting with

the London Labour Parties. Paul Boateng: 1 don’t

think that will happen. 1 think there's a recognition (one can’t say on all sides of the Party) nation:

wide and in the Parliamentary Labour Party, that we cannot

have a repeat of the aftermath of the 1983 election and keep the Party on course for an election win in 1991

Tessa van Gelderen: But won't there be pressure on Kinnock to blame Labour's poor result on the “loony left"” and t show his “‘authority again by getting rid of it? Paul Boateng: There is no way there can be any rational basis for any purge inside the Labour Party — there is no criterion for such a purge. It may well be that there are certain sections of the extreme right of the Party who would rather have a Party that didn’t contain a number of us who are socialist activists in London.

But I don’t believe they ‘will prevail on the leadership. The leadership have given every indication, certainly within the PLP, so far, of recognising, with the exception of the issue of reselection and

Paul Boateng

not g6 away and which will and must be debated and ultimately resolved. No amount of wishful thinking is going to cause it to disappear.

But you know the issue of making sure that the constitution of the Labour Party reflects the particular contribution of Black people within our society and within our movement, the issue of making sure that the constitution of the Labour Party is a vehicle for the creation of a successful multiracial society, need not be an issue that splits

deselection of MPs, that the Party down the there can be no further middle. constitutional changes It is a complete

misreading of the issue of Black Sections to believe it is about separatism or about sectarianism — any more than women’s sec: tions, youth sections and

and that the emphasis and the priority is to be on unity

If you begin expulsions again, any hope of unity goes by the board. There is no basis for that in the constitution or anywhere else.

Tessa van Gelderen: You talk of no expulsions, yet 2“ Sharon Atkin is sti Souiets ‘come before the Natior Constitutional Commit tee and there is the ongoing debate around Black Sections. What do you ‘think will happen?

Paul Boateng: The Black Sections issue és an ongoing debate and will remain so. It is a constitutional question which will

ity Of thone of ts tho support the concept of Black Sectiom and the

soccestal multiracial @ soccesful Labour

thatthe debate b conducted in 3 fraternal and. comradcly «3° and isn't wed 3 am excane for Seating divisions.

Tessa van Gelderen: 1 that sm Implicit sttach on Shares.

Pou! Boston: No.

Tosa ven Gelderen: Do sou think she's ender threat of Paul Boateng: Well, obviously she's ander threat

London Labour Briefing No, 78 Summer Iss7 page 3

Tee can Gelderen: Do you it can once again become that ‘hak pte Seppe. motor for ‘adisal siaism Pou! Boateng: Vhope it won't itn the Labour Parih a\ a becauserno good willcome ori. shel

Werdon-tant to sce the Sharon <

Aitie alia become a runing TO besin with, we need 10 UeGiibe Labour Pars andl <Sablich a common sate forthe Thnk hesfforts of all us in Shadow Cabinet elections, but it

doesn't end there. would bea tragedy st did, besawse a the fend of the das our future eee {oral success not only deter: ‘mined by who's in the Shadow

the Paniy must be directed at ‘making sre it dose"

hope we are listened to. Who Knows whether or not 8 will ber But we have fo have a

= Cabinet. TI's determined by the extent

to forge a

liso and

the way to which we manage to ground our action here it the ‘Commons sith the struggle and experience in local ccm= imunitie ‘That i going 10 be

ihe Tribune and Groups and: sour role ia that?

(ink iatersiew, tock place One of my onn. objectives, before the breakdown in the *ithin the House, to participate joint slate negotiations) in that son of action,

Pint Basten: The background Our purpose here is 10 forge

alliances for change. We'’e it the busines of ache

of themes tnflus of MP= i ers Sten graveroots acts ism thin Paris, within local govern ‘gad sithin the campaign

e experience — that's hatin

and objectives 10 which out ‘moxement is. committed. Yeo

laced mos of our fixes don't do that by simpls locking peal yourself up inthe House of

Wenead to sce the left within Commons receiving the PLP come together. geting delegations

cost andabous within the com fmunits aod campaigning on SSoisiae euch im much the ayia in the "ay a

"Sk. and ied the period imnmnediatls Before the tar — the Sevanite group did. who atter all "were the founders of Sf Parliament, After allure Tribune Fenence in the comin ie We mead te reine that oll Toye much grounded in the campaigning tradition within raggle for survival. We hase the LabourPars- Now to-iser- lake “knowledge, becaase {ala eet that wadiion fas Sue qoots ae in autonomous atrophied thin Tribune. it~ Sf srganisation and wit single 80 we simple just writing jaye campaigns,

We need to operate eftectve: ty within the PLP (0 share that experience and also that dimen: Som of policy, not just around

Tessa ran Gelderen: Do. you think there i particular role for the Black MES?

Paul! Bostene: These ica pat ticular role for Black Members

Tribune off tau. fice all

nocd 49 work str it and. in ms

Speandia the ascot umber the sue ot race bu als atau

{hat with the Campaign that inp

ouneae

FIGHTBACK | NOT CUTBACK!

Would your kids want a “second hand” teacher from this man? ee

In his first appearance rere meeting of Camden anywhs before the London By Hilda Kean Black Workers’ Group gecouse ofits wealth andits Labour Party Con- Hackney South & unanimously passed proximity tthe Cly, Camden ference as ILEA leader, Shoreditch CLP resolution calling on the 1 natura! for creative oc eee eee wed Camden. Worth more col” that he wasn’t up to the

them in fighting the cuts

faterat than dozen bathtaps

task of leading a cam- — *bittary fashion — without and mobilising in neighbouring Hackney, it : Mee Taaca’ Support rom the Labour Party resistance. was horaly” suroving that paign against the Tories’ "nen it will be thom who gts a Creative accountancy — sel attack on education. rpext bear the brunt of ILEA's eS sal Testhased ing and leasing back of assets “There was venom iy stack wes acy frgtien 88 noun at a reeset should become he franca plemty, "but “this "was. thet the effect of ILEA's com unanimously at @ meetiNG bedrock ot ibe, ‘Counal’s weary tor the waching puscry vanslr, wil moat Fs mary Sector poy ato the ealapse of he ‘rors education for he ow Workers, attended by over emfaign’ "againat fate

force and those CLPs who hg os

ieee rt ose PEGS arent 350 people and convened canning

te ss "Spcakers from the CPs at two days” notice. Td, for the Leadership gest that a) Labour ited cut thet wong Gast ‘Avmass. mesting of of the Council, the. fnancil ‘employer should negotiate Children were losing out NALGO workers voted — strategy became, in essence,

fespite immense pressure © political strategy ape 2 ‘Over the past fitteen mon:

fromm monagernent ad the oSS,08 Bas ine ee Leadership — to reject the 10", 2ruaot sale the talaing buts package and strategy Sf cash on ms money markets by 1.300 votes to 800.” has seemingly sbianated the

Yous gm ‘poshion ag, Coun taeda onsep 8 pation calors 'uneauivocel We re. Suategy to eal withthe mo

with its employees. {LEA's cuts in teaching jobs 'No proposals were made mean larger classes, less cur

‘about how ILEA intended ficukim choice, and less hep

to defend education: no {0 children with learning

mention was made of the “fcutios

imminent withdrawal oF ,,celegates, rebutted | the

myth that teachors wore being Westminster from. ILEA — ™ythat teachers wore being

that IWEA would ceed to Lambeth’ and” Southwark ee mec We on, oedema mount against this warner” sing teachers suisse wit ose who se “This finaly happened on Wratead’ the Tory swategy Only’ 100, vecent jobs heve Srganiing Sopositon and we June 11th, Poites arvad in

wie tecepted "eg bean filed by LEA's cam En"Uoon Seoryone inthe Camden with o vengeance iShour movement tojomn with What's happening there

Teachers into line. This is from _Pulsory exercise yet over 700 the mon who has just been ore teachers have been told, Glected “to. chair the that they are “waste” and not Smployers’ panel in national welcome in their schools. Regotations, faving ‘ousted The massive cord vote in John Pearman in what the fevour of LEA's stance in pss called a “eh wing dicates that there is ltle oun”. Understanding about the "Speakers fiom the floor st- change that has taken place in tempted to move a motion IEA, fom that of 8 proEaling for LEA to maintain ex. gressive authority attempting {sting Greater London Labour to work with perents and teachers to one implementing

Us in bulding resistance now will soon happen ight, ‘We can neither support nor across London as the financial ‘condone a leadershin that hes, measures expire. We are ints own words, “no alter: Simply the first Labour Council frative’ to cuts end more cute. to reach the pont where Neither sre we prepared to “creative finance” is no, ‘throw the Manifesto out of longer an option. the window ‘We would urge comrades ‘Camden’ is probably the across London fo begin the richest Labour-contiolled process of mobiising Buthority in the country. Alter fesistance immediately, ond 10 Westmineter and Kensington, give your’ support to 4 ip rate increase in Camden o bangs in more money then ur community, as we begin anywhere cise in Great Britain’ the process of defending jobs: Pur simply. the bricks and and services, and move inex mortar in Camden, the empty orably towards direct confronTand. the telephone poles and tation with either the Leader. the parking meters, even the ship of the Couneil or the Tory Council bethtaps and bidets, government.

teachers are treatedin such an S280. Camden's cuts package which has been rushed through the

Lesbian and Gay Rights Se ee Be roe ass sae oie ee

200 jobs;

Left breaks through a sea of | s¢-—oor™"

a ath peli ol ga ply arse sk ae ate cron earn eee ain nay steal oe

The GLLP Conference composite were welcomed by support for composite W. As images and equally valid | package includes: ‘oti the Wek oppentins. ary conerence Seiaree:_ wal st Ss SL vee ie ee eae as ae | enereerten ser oe menses Bre ty for the Party to azooreed with the positveim there ‘ceptence, tolerance was | _ Nolumtary Sector;

debate publicly the ages or equal vakd. in The lobby met stl hostifty ‘+2 5% cut across the board in the Voluntary Sector;

paced debate, PUNY Ae Fase Thecus soy turner rccowermuch "Ber Sundoy. Mendy Mus | the troduction of rededancis. general election, result ste jem Wis cried, postive respon ane tore tad about what od bmn

don effect” in which Tswana t tere tac” promment fgures wating to aed’ "en comates to lesbian and gay rights mh * "

ese oe ae io, ee coe sce | Setback in Haringey

Homtesy Weal Grose ‘Suniariy. on the Sunday. Sgenda set by the Tories and

et es rt Sek cccry Sapo | BO lect an Ca Serer ie Siete | By-election Tecioomtng te posites eo eo en actin) Gane tie eka aoe y

ages and equally valid in- bre from Haringey & Wood speakers about the stuagies | Griefing supporter Linda Clarke was defeated by, the

Giotives. teken’ by Har ow Green moved, Mandy Mudd in local government, Sharon a daeves.a Ealing councils —Tvouhow the Saturday from Tottenham seconded. Atkin, nd appontion to one | Tories in the Noel Park by'slection io Heragey. 100 tinig Tare focal there wos constant reference ~ Graham Nichols, Chay of the member one vote — al issues ‘An excellent local campaign — based on honest

Pri0TO: Jom Chapman

and calling for other local {o"ihe"importancs of gxting ALALesbanardGey Cont. thatthe ghtinthe Party went | socialist politics — was unable to combat long torr

ae ms Suit. rto the communty and being tee. Peter Futon trom the to sweep under the carpet trends in'a seat which Labour had only won by nine is was supported by 2 voved' "im compagnng, LGLGR. Vince Gilespie, Char "This was a further example | votes last year.

lobby on the Saturday lun- Delegate after delegate en. of Haxingey’sLesban andGay of “how the “struggle for | "The Tory majority of 500 votes was a bitter blow

cchtime organised by the dorsed this strategy snd Doth Sub-comftiee oll spoke prioritisation of lesbien and vodpir Steatthdchsee DR ch ‘

LCLGR. Gori ican sed Gen tovakant. Sesh Rexbls | geyngheataxbennmenrol | 1 te leit mHerage woe can Fer one Campaign For. Goul stressed ts importance, replied from the Landon &C.thalsf's peltical battle m the | Campaign in, which CLF officers and local right,

tat ite, Gameaien For. Buco menuon wae made of "The reaction of conference Party tokeep sociatam on the . | wingers had shown litle interest

se ercinchy Su the Briefing the campaigns that havetaken to ths debete wes mainly one agenda ‘The Labour vote actually held up well, but was.

he Seturday and the Bef] ace tund iesbion and G2Y of apathy "infact the whole At the end af tho woekend | swamped by the disintegrating SDP vote which

Fa net Oe corey hts tneyear. the Smash ihe dedste losted less than 15 the GLLP's policy on lesbian | turned en masse to the Tories.

te eee rei pistons, Blacklash Gemo in Haringey. minutes. Clearly conference and gay rights was 8 positive Local housing problems — including a plague of

Oa a on nee eet the Wombome 12 campaign, wasn't gong to abandon the and radical one. Comrades | empty and squatted properties — played a major role

Constanty = oblquely — the Legation Campaign Soicy sithe'vote showed, but ought tobe actively promoting | pr the’ detect’ Gut the wralsise is deeper. Older white

Throughout the weekend on wae the idea thot you the amount of time given and and campaigning around ths | 2 dente are deeply hostile to the Council's equal

the conference floor ccampoigned on pokcies to ex. the lack of commitment t0 — calling for the implements. ‘The ightin tne Party clearly plain them and popularise thoroughly debatng the issue tion of (positive imeges and want torplay down out policy them ever expressed. Indeed reinforced the message that equally valid policies im their

‘opportunities policies. “The Tories, needless to say, were uninhibited in exploiting the full range of bigotry. Travellers,

Salesbian and gay rigntsaiong the whole struggle around les- this was alow prion issue. boroughs. aT ee ee ee an’ and gay rahts wasn't in contrast wes the impor ‘This willhave to come from | squatters, lesbians and gays, Black people all came ait eee c wnat be ok. really, mentioned except in tance given tolesbian andgey rank and file left activists and | under fire.

Dick cheut this, An etternpt coded terme: though al fights at the two left frnge must be taken up by Cerin eis conclliceet candle ein fied

By the EETPU to countemose delegates knew that it was meetings heterosenuaie a2 woll 2s ice | piacrad hercelf to oppose all cuts, alfrent and rate On coving pertat the struggle between On Seturday Peter Purton blans and gay men because | OSC37S Se te ar a ae merous

Sr popular policies whiek the ightward moving LCC and from LCLGR spoke about the there i evidence that the Par ly supe y 4 Siaery did not incluge lesbian the lettin the Party Seoggie for tesbion and gey ty leadership want to remain | Cal groups.

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