London Labour Briefing no. 92

LONDON LABOUR FOR BENN AND HEFFER

TARGET 55!

The challenge to the Labour leadership announced by Tony Benn and Eric Heffer should be supported by Labour Party members throughout London.

Under successive right wing leaders, Labour has lost considerable ground te the Tories and ‘the SLDP (previously the Alliance}. The time has come to stop the rot.

The left must organise in London to deliver at least two thirds of the constituencies, that is 55 (out of 84) and at least half (12 out of 23) Labour MPs in support of the Benn/Heffer challenge.

Over the last decade Labour in London has seen ‘some dramatic changes. Between 1979 and 1981, third of Labour MPs in London defected iance. They took with them scores of Councillors and numerous trade union officers. These defectors caused considerable damage to the Labour Party — damage which has been seriously underestimated by Labour’s national Leadership.

By NARENDRA MAKANII Chair, Labour Party Black Sections

Haringey Councilior

Between 1981 and 1986 a left wing coalition sought to recover the ground with the London Regional Executive working closely with the GLC, ILEA, and London Boroughs to address the problems faced by London’s working people.

Exciting, popular initiatives were developed and implemented, with neither support nor encouragement from the Leadership. On the contrary, positive candidates for important seats — such as Peter Tatchell, Russell Profitt, Sharon Atkin and Deidre Wood — were publicly and privately shunned, with disastrous consequences.

The coalition came under stress in the rate-capping 1985, was severely damaged by the abolition of the GLC in 1986, and finally collapsed in the weeks following the 1987 General Election when the hoped-for salvation of a Labour government made it clear we would have to continue the fight against the Tories.

Under the Thatcher regime, unemployment increased to 410,000 in 1986 and is currently being kept around 350,000 (mainly due to MSC Restart and other programmes). There are now as many unemployed in the capital as in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark combined!

Black people, women, lesbians and gay men have born the brunt of the Tory onslaught — both economically and through the attacks on civil liberties.

| bwws~—

AGAINST J

THE

Vr.

The London Councilors Agamst the Cuts banner shows the

aliances which the leadership campaign offers us the chance to

Strengthen.

‘The Tories have hit hard those who are employed by cutting wage levels (both actual and social} and by attacking democratic rights at work, under the ‘quaint title of “deregulation of labour”. The people of London are experiencing increased poverty, rocketing homelessness, decaying infrastructure, and a near breakdown in public transport and health care.

There is a London effect! And only the Benn-Heffer campaign is able and willing to take it up, and turn the tide in London for Labour.

‘As the Leadership debate gets underway, we will not just be having a campaign inside the Labour Party. For the first time since the abolition of the GLC, there will be a strong, public force in the Labour Party conducting a campaign against the Tories — against their policies and the misery they have brought to working class people and showing that Labour has a clear, poputar, socialist alternative.

This Leadership challenge can link those who have suffered most under the Tory regime with those who have and are fighting back.

But now is not the time to sit back and assume that when Tony Benn and Eric Heffer have won the arguments with Neil Kinnock and Roy Hattersley — as they will — the votes will come in spontaneously. The rank and file left will have to organise to make sure the wide support is translated into votes.

in the constituencies, the left must pool its resources to make sure the campaign message

LABOUR-— TAKE THE

reaches right out to the whole Greater London area. Outer London boroughs, with Tory Councils and Tory MPs, where the left has tended to be weaker in numbers, tend also to have more constituencies than inner London boroughs — constituencies with the same voting rights as inner London ones.

in the constituencies, we must include the Labour MPs in the debate — and every constituency which swings behind the Benn/Heffer ticket must bring its MP with

in Parliament, left MPs who back the Benn/Heffer challenge must be part of the campaign resources. Benn and Heffer won't be able to speak at every

person; we need the other competent, left MPs to help speak at meetings and build the campaign, not only in their own constituencies.

‘ein the trade unions, we must use all the structures we have to reach rank and file trade unionists, and build a groundswell of support in the unions. It’s no good saying that the Executives will make their own minds up anyway; even they are subject to pressure from their members! And anyway, this campaign will also be about building ‘ongoing forces in the rank and file — and that must include the trade unions.

The Campaign Group has now made the move that rank and file activists in the Party had been hoping for. Now we must turn the great relief and excitement we all feel inte organised, co-ordinated action!

POWER!

PHOTO: Martine Stead

PHOTO: Jane Conner

London Labour Briefing No. 92 April 13th-26th 1988 poge 2

January 1988.

Diane Abbott, MP

I support the leadership challenge because I am very concerned about the way the Leadership is going in the attempt to dump long-standing policies such as unilateral disarmament.

I hope the Leadership campaign will be an opportunity to debate policies rather than personalities. I hope that eventually there will be a challenge most years so that people get used to a machinery being used and don’t make such a fuss about the idea of a challenge in itself.

Now more than ever before the Labour Party needs to debate the way it is going. The leadeship contest will give us the opportunity.

Harry Cohen, MP for Leyton

Tony Benn and Eric Heffer’s challenge is sponsored by the Campaign Group of MPs.

The purpose is to:

© Challenge the current unattractive and unproductive Thatcherite style of leadership in the Party under which virtually everything (however trivial) is controlled from the top, and any criticism is crushed right down to some 30 local Parties currently under threat of suspension.

© Stop the draining of activity and morale amongst local Parties (caused by Labour's failure to effectively counter the Tories in the important areas of principle) and in fact revitalise them.

@ Halt the rightward drift towards as. SDP Mark II which abandons some of our most basic values and most necessary policies under an illusory chase for votes.

To provide instead a radical socialist alternative to’ Thatcher from now right up to the next election and beyond

Put socialist substance into the Party's campaigning instead of the current reliance upon PR media gloss. Labour has to concentrate upon the issues which most affect our people. In particular, the Party has to be clearly seen to support workers in struggle, rather than distancing itself from them

© Provide a competent and effective Leadership, incorporating the above, so as to maximise Labour’s opportunity to win the next election instead of the current drift towards further defeat.

Tony Benn and Eric Heffer's challenge on this basis is worthy of your

maximum support and effort. |e

‘As a member of the National Labour Women’s Committee, | find it more than ironic that the very ‘men who have been actively arguing for a more democratic and representative women’s ‘organisation within the Party can at the same time throw their hands up in the air at the mere idea Of a leadership contest for the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Party.

Task myself how can the Leadership be sacrosanct, when the ‘whole nature of local and regional representation is beng queried?

‘A Socialist challenge to the Leadership is essentia this year. If we leave it much longer we will find ourselves part of ant ‘American style election ‘machine with whom we can only communicate by credit card’and post and women will lose even in the small gains made so far.

Nadine Finch National Labour Women’s Committee

(COHSE Regional Officer and London Labour Party e, in a personal

Bill Hamilton Chair, Hackney North CLP

I welcome the candidatures of Tony Bean and Eric Helter

the Housing. Education tnd Local Covernme bill, and by starving the

Back bench Tories are providing a more effective ‘opposition than Labour. Kinnock and Hattersley are the best friends the establishment have got A fighting, socialist

leadership can help

this challenge to a rotten

PHOTO: Wayne Edginton

Valerie Veness

Secretary, Islington North CLP Former Deputy Leader of Islington PPC Nuneaton

The last three or four years have proved a disaster for Labour. We have seen an election lost because of a strategy that asked workers to pay the cost of the crisis, whilst no plans were made to tackle the power of capital.

We are now seeing vicious cuts in the NHS, local government, and social security and the Leadership of our movement fiddles around and urges compliance and legality.

The attacks on women grow through things like the Alton Bill, the forcing of working women back into the home and ion for carers.

We need an honest leadership that bases itself on struggle — not capitulation! Tony can begin that change and that’s why I'm working for his election.

Kensington CLP officers

‘Tony Benn is @ longstanding member of Kensington Labour Party.

‘Over many years he has shown himself more than wil: ing to participate in iocal Branch life by, for example, attending his local Branch meetings whenever able.

‘We were proud to send Tony as our delegate to Annual Conference in 1983, where he spoke out on our behalf in favour of British withdrawal from ireland

‘Most recently, we are indebted to him for delivering the Memorial Lecture on the first anniversary of the sad death of our comrade, Miriam James.

‘This personal relationship would alone incline us to sup: port Tony in his endeavours. But what is more, our members fully share the sense of frustration, 50 widespread in the movement at present, at the failure ‘of our leadership to fight for a socialist alternative to ‘Thatcherism.

We have no hesitation, therefore, in declaring that we will work to win maximum support for Tony Benn in the Leadership Election.

Dave Holland, Chair. Kensington Labour Party

Steve Daly, Vice Chai

Jonathon Spencer, Vice Chair ‘Sue Parkes, Women’s Officer

John Leadbetter, Treasurer

Mary Kenfield and David Spry. Joint Secretary

Andrew Yunge Gordon

Chair Woolwich & Eltham Labour Party Black Sections

Labour Party Black Sections Nat Executive

Publications Officer, LPBS

With millions of people, who are both angry and frustrated with eight years of Tory rule, I support the Benn/Heffer ticket because it is more important than ever that Labour and the Leadership show a strong and courageous stewardship to the angry and frustrated aspirations of people who desire a more ‘equitable future within a socialist framework

If the incumbent leadership, as they have so far shown, seem prepared to abort and further frustrate our supporters, and potential supporters, by “diluting policies by media consent”, or being noseringed by pollsters into an entanglement of “liberal conservatism”, then the agonising decision by the Campaign Group to challenge for the Leadership is absolutely right

Haringey Councillors Against the Cuts

We're backing Benn and Heffer to help our fight

Alf Lomas, MEP West The Labour Party, 4 democratic Social Europe, has proced| election of its Le: So why all the fuss when Tony Benn a because of widesp dissatisfaction wit style of Leadership, consultation with o in the Labour Party, they would stand f Deputy Leader of They have an impra the Labour Party, t integrity and intell doubt, and they socialist Leadershig

Eric and Tony give a voice to a comtemporary socialism which is rooted in the experiences of millions of people.

As such their political vision is capable of being translated into a programme which can ecome an electable alternative (o modern neoHieralism or Thatcherism,

The Haddock team have abandoned socialism and hhave settled clearly and honestly into the-camp of western European Soci Democracy.

Their new found friends blew a hole in the Rainbow ‘Warrior, privatized the steel

SACKING iD HEFFER

ndon North

jong with other

Parties in wes for the ership.

and trantrums d Eric Heffer, oad

the present and after long her socialists announced

r Leader and ne Party? ssive record in eir political

st is not in

uld give firm to our Party.

tridently anti-uinion egislation in Greece.

Socialist leadership. We must get rid of Haddock! The stink is (oo much to pear.

Steve Cowan

{LEA member, North Westminster lex Parliamentary Candidate, Orpington.

Tony Banks, MP Newham North West

Tony Benn is one of those rare politicians who has clearly learned from his both in and out of office.

He understands the way capitalism works and the manner in which the institutions in our society are related one to another to maintain the power of the ruling class whichever political party is in office.

socialist alternative is so necessary ata time when unbridled capitalism has been made to look secure.

The Party needs Benn’s ability to combine vision with experience and theory with

practice.

a ‘All Labour Party comrades which pander to bigotry, are urged to actively support and

Benn and Heffet in order to @A Labour Party which ensure: leads public opinion and not ‘A leadership that backs which submits to opinion workers in struggle, rather polls, and which rolerates, than which turns its back, not persecutes, other inter-

@An economic strategy _nal opinions. which is aimed at undermin- Support the Benn-Heffer ing capitalism, not ac- ticket!

comodating it, John Wray. Secretary

‘@ Policies which combat all Jenny Gray, Chair forms of discrimination, not Leyton C1 eS

Hackney Councillors Against the Cuts Hackney Councillors Against the Cuts are pleased to support Tony Benn’s and Eric Heffer’s bid for the Labour Party Leadership.

When in 1979 Thatcher came to office local socialists introduced a whole series of exciting intiatives opening up the Councils to the local communities they are supposed to represent. Neil Kinnock and Roy Hattersley did little to support our efforts and on occasions, such as Kinnocl Bournemouth speech on Liverpool, they have used their positions to undermine us.

Today, as the New Realist ideas of “value for money” replace provision on the basis of social need, Roy Hattersley and Neil Kinnock are doing their utmost to undermine any idea of resistance. If we are to defeat the onslaught of hostile legislation we need a Leadership that is prepared to fight back.

Vote Benn and Hetferl

Defend Local Government! James Whiting, Convenor Hackney Councillors Against the Cuts

London Labour Briefing No. 92 April 13th-26th 1988 page 3

For years now the Labour Party has been dragged to the right by the Kine nock/Hattersiey leadership. The whole thrust of the Leadership has been to appear “reasonable” and “

to govern” — “‘reasonabl { the Tory press, and “fit to

govern” on behalf of the establishment. Practically all socialist comtent has been Gropped or modified, and every opinion poll leads (0 a further move to the right. ‘Nowhere has this been more marked than in London Labour Councils over the last year. Peo: ple who stood on mazifesios of

‘Sharon Atkin speaking at the FAB lobby of Parliament, 27st January 1988.

SHARON ATKIN

1 welcome the contest for the Leadership and Deputy Leadership of the Party.

The Party has seldom been at such a low ebb politically and strategically.

With the loss of three elections in a row, | believe working class people need bold, audacious, socialist policies. That means

@defence of policies that would shift the balance of power and wealth away from 2% of the population;

@ support for good education services, anti-racist policies, rights for women, defence of and real investment in the Health Service, restoration of the local government powers and services and a non-nuclear policy.

| believe that Benn and Heffer will campaign for disadvantaged groups, fight racism, and put forward socialist economic policies. Therefore it’s essential that we have the right to choose socialism instead of social democracy.

I welcome the decision of the Campaign Group to stand Tony Benn and Eric Heffer for the Leadership elections.

about style of and policy formation. Contested elections are an essential component of, democratic socialism, an no socialist should be saying that they are a sion or a distra Withough if it energies away from the current witch hunt in. the

kind of glossy. empty “campaign” that lost the last one. But with a clear socialist message we wi

Party, | would welcome win — that’s what the ‘that foo! Teadership election is ‘We have only a few about

‘Christine Shaweroft Leader, Tower Hamlets Labour Group.

‘short years to win the next General Election — that cannot be done with the

SE SEE

‘busy reducing the living standards of tenants and putting ‘workers on the dole. The most Femarkable thine about the Gramatic reversals of socialist Policies is that there has been absolutely no politcal debate.

"The Benn/Heffer challenge for the leadership means that thar debate can no longer be avoided, There ean be no more Spo. aliematives”; nox, all those supporting the Kinnock line sill” have to justify themselves politically. We will not be discussing a simple mat ter of who leads the Labour Party but the politcal direction of the whole movement.

For "years we have seen representatives of the Labour Party at national and local level force through policy changes. Almost without exception this

hhas been done by buraveratic anouvering. Hardly ever have wwe had the luxury” of real Sebate about the political conseQuences, either for us as a Socialist party or the working ass

“Tony Benn and Eric Heller hhave given socialists in. the Labour Party a great opportu (y, and we intend 16 make full tse of i We will demand a full debate on political principles fnd the future of the Labour

Party. We want to know where the simpliste

sweare bei

ed

under a Callaghan and finished by lay fing the” ground ‘ork Tor Thatcheris

portunity it gives socialists to

Place the political direction of fhe Kinnock/Hattersley leadership under close examination.

We intend 10 give Tony Benn and Eric Helfer our full support And will force the debate onto the agenda in very Branch and General Committes. If every real socialist it the Party takes

this chance 10 expose the Kin nock/Hattersley leadership we an win the majority of eesti fuencies and halt the slide 10 liberals,

Lewisham Councillors Pat Waylet, Jon Lansman, Ron ‘Stockbridge, Tony Link, Cif fon Graham. (Apologies 10 those councilors we were tunable to contact.)

‘Tony Benn and Eric Heffer do not sell out to the media, but use every opportunity afforded to put

the case for

perienced,, direct and we need that now more than ever. Labour Party policy must cape from the media image’’ straightjacket of couched phrases.

means we have nothing to lose. Heads bowed uner the Tory yoke are lifting now: disquiet is expressed at Labour Party branch lever on how we have challenged Tory policies in recent

Footnote: next time at teast one of the candidates, will be a woman.

Kathy Ludbrook Secretary, Ealing Southall CLP

{in a personal capacity)

London Labour Briefing No, 92 April 131h-26th 1988 page 4

Ridley axes | Beck bows out

600 Hackney aan =

. ‘Camden’s Race Commit- 3, Cir Adrian States tee meeting on March Chesden

16th was the last to be chaired by Councillor Barbara Beck.

There was a long agenda

Nicholas Ridley, Bye Secretary of State for the Environment, has issued

kney Briefing

y and ethnic 0 the con

s meeting

supporter

a directive Garently placsdonthem byte | and the meeting ended at

Hackney Count Coupee” “sce ints” of | Mpm

Fala The closure will be effective | It was to be followed im npossible by a

Organisation from April Ist 1989 when the | mediately 2 special the evening, This move came as a com- Council will have no power 10 the consainice 1 fed divdainful

plete surprise 10 Councillors undertake works of new con and unions on March 31st, struction. The letter received by the day before the Easter (he Council prevents new work

way the Chair, Vice Chait, and some other Labour Councillors

on the Committee treated the

Fi holidays, and can only bein- eins tendered for afler Apel | Fommanies SO0 suppor and ethnic minorities re Es terpreted as afarther cynical \Shn Dickens, ucatY | 100% cuts, the future of the eRe pals ay soon tha A political attack on local seward and Chair of the Joint Committee and the sent Labour leadership takes S government. Spay Saegarte Cama te of the Race Unit ie

Between 1985 and 1968 The “Councits emergency. | fender of the Councl, anda lems on the second agenca'=" | A campaign of mass agita- be counted on one hand. Saieediciiy dosing. As al poule™ egal sem» to | “HSER ite amicus name tefotcnd iat tic | OBlON, and, Hammersmith. high sinted affair ledbya aresult itis one of the most suc- challenge the directive. The | councillors (Sandra Plumme ‘Chair and majority of Coun- 9: ‘a “4 Coated in she country Council intends to meet Ridley | Graham Shurety and Adrian lors would nor be. preeat | LEA came to a climax on made a splash along High

Despite this, Nicholas to “ask him” to reconsider his | Siaies) and black and ethnic amounts to nolhing les than | Saturday 26th March with Street, Kensington and DLO’ has lost £5 between gjudital review ofthe decision. | fag waned some thie anda “It's nor yet known who will | tion of parents, teachers, Hammersmith 198345 and rejecsas spurious In the past Riley has not | fait hours for the imporant techaiing he Race Commince | children and Labour Party Save’ London's. EducaCounc, aims that the DLO tate fo Labour “Local | Nive of the special eins forthe next uncial yeu at | supporters, from Holland tion TSALEY, the local anes closure will be dramatic with there sno reason why he should | Councillors present for the ble ext after thelast tree years. | TOTSenty Town Hall. ts over 600 jobs being lost and treat Hackney any differently. meeting to start, it was aban- as Chair. is Shap tet fee: onthe, campaign. ageinet the

. fapercussions throughout most "in comparton fo mest of toe . more than 2,000 people Tory's plans. 1s vigorously Gouna sereice are Also lst building "rade: dominated by have ‘attended. school. promoting the Parente” ‘wil be the valuable taining n- owbos. fms Hackney DLO Based meetings to debate Ballot, which is confidently iiatves Hackney has. taken, Shides by Heath and’ Safety | STOP PRESS the break-up of ILEA. predicted will reject. the

particularlyin terms of positive regulations, provides sick pay. re et ee Oe net var | fiir See Seve ot corals resscnten ste «| of somme RES zulcin Pur ony, ‘yaining courses at women. pay. Joha Dickens said: “this | Tottenham magistrates threw charges against

hard Ht mote and! more backwards (or bulding workers | oor of Court inna ke Marques ported the Tory view could ington CLP

Despite justified criticism ILEA break-up plan by a

North London Socialist Conference The North London Socialist Conference April 16-17th x for a fighting, united, feminist left tne naan ee APRIL 16-17 Summary of agenda

ae THE Women for Socialism poetic ne oa OCL ALIST

presents: pol etc

42.00-1.30 Workshops: NCE WOMEN’S LIBERATION 22%. "taoe. odeterats

a and the psprerstinrprrscpmapee erste ol 1.30-3.30 Black and sexuality education, housing. SOCIALISM Tishen Ugens, Stafford ‘Shahid Tilly, Alan Waters, times, with Jeremy eile ree

Africa, anti-racism, black

ere representation in the NORTHLONDON POLYTECHNIC labour movement. North London Soci HOLLOWAY RDN’ 5,30-6.30 NOR’ rarely b LONDON BENN AND lay April 17th : Make sue your area North London Poly

: HILARY OSMAN BUS LINDSEY GERMAN Sey Benn and Heffer:

10.00-11.00 Women's

conferences’ 0 liberation and the struggle That’s the ticket!

for socialism, with Irene women and trade unions phoma a ns With Sharon Atkin and Narendra Makanji A women in struggle aguinst racism and imperialism Faprer ci dela Help us launch the local campaign to

women and sexuality, the family and reproductive Wi vomen against the cuts

mixed conference; women-only speakers

‘all women ae encouraged to participate ‘ees (2-day conference: £5 waged, £2 unwaged

professional creche ~ places must be booked in advance i food including vegetarian and drink Timited access for people with disabilities

FOR DELEGATES FORM AND DETAILS PHONE 801-6041

challenge for the Labour Leadership!

RACISM, FASCISM AND RESISTANCE RALLY SOUTHALL- 4PM April 23rd is the ninth anniversary of the death of antifascist campaigner Blair Peach in Southall Ray at: Viliers High School, Boyd Avenue, Southall.

Plaque laying ceremony to commemorate the events of April23rd 1979- 6.30pm.

{Organised by Southall monitoring Project, Caribbean Focus, and Ant Pascst Acton)