Labour Briefing no. 69

t 1

The leaderships of all the

political parties in Britain seem to be moving ever closer

together. An informal coalition is developing around many policies evolved by the

Conservatives over the last decade.

Indeed, some of the most articulate advocates of the values of Thatcherism are to be found in the upper echelons of the Labour Party; and some of Thatcher's most important collaborators are to be found amongst the trade union leadership, all justifying their stance on the grounds of “realism”.

As a result, serious political discussion about other alternatives is being eliminated. Instead, we are treated to high levels of personal abuse amongst political opponents and hyped-up public relations competitions which often conceal an unspoken agreement about fundamentals.

Parliamentary democracy is in danger of being converted into a spectator sport, in which the voter is only allowed to observe the goings-on of the mighty, and listen to the predictions of the pollsters.

Those who stand up for what they believe

if it differs from this restricted

" consensus, are dubbed as extremist, " subversive or seditious, and are virtually | excommunicated by the political

establishment, which has the power to distort their message so as to make it virtually unintelligible to the public.

In one sense, we are moving towards a one-party state in which all the top people are huddied together, whilst the illusion of political choice is preserved by leaving open the question of which team of

' politicians is to be allowed to administer a

virtually unchanged status quo.

This phenomenon is now characteristic of many capitalist societies, especially those in which the labour movement has been prepared to work entirely within the existing political institutions. These institutions were devised to suit the needs of an earlier century.

In Britain the collapse of the Labour leadership towards the right is justified in the name of “modemisation”. However, it is plain to every thinking person that in endorsing market forces, embracing capitalism inside the EEC, tying ourselves even closer to an American-dominated NATO, and supporting the war in Ireland, Labour's much-vaunted re-think is actually a throw-back to the distant past.

Successive Labour leaders have followed this bipartisan prescription for a decade or more, with disastrous electoral results. Labour's present policy reviews are

INSIDE:

*Policy Review Reviewed *East Europe *Trade Union News

*Book & Film reviews *Economic answers *CONFERENCE GREETINGS

Tony Benn adresses tix LondamdBeney Hoffer raly, September 23rd

meeting with resistance inside the Party partly because we know that the “modemisers” are making little impact on the public, who seem to sense what really going on.

If we are to recover the political initiative, we must begin putting across the case for socialism with clarity, sincerity and

That is exactly what we have been doing in the 1988 Leadership campaign — for the first time in many years — and the warmth of the response is an indication of the support for our ideas among millions of

‘PHOTO: Lesa Herbert

Labour Briefing No. 69 September 14-October 11th Page 2

Campaign round-up

Big brother is...

Administering the Poll Tax will draconian attacks on civil liberties.

The “Community Charge Registration Officer" (CCRO) is virtually outside any Local ‘thot conto

In compiling the Poll Tax register, the CCRO has access to-data of all kinds, olectoral togister, DHSS, IRS, vehicle Tieances, brary membership

‘OF those identified as residing ina particular dwelling one (normally male) is designated as the "Responsible Person" and must supply the CCRO with the names of others in the dweling ‘and details about thom including dates of ith

Failure to respond “adoquate1y" (inthe eyes ofthe CORO) wil {elt na £50 fine for a fest of fence, and £200 a month thereafer

The fines are issued directly by the OGRO but the Local Authority i iable for colleton ‘and Couneitors may bo lable for surcharge # they refuse to take Teasonable steps to recover dobts, including srestment of wages and seizure of property.

‘Denis Canavan isthe frst MP to be fined for non-registration and is challongig the ponalty in the courts, Tens of thousands of others throughout Scotland are about to be fined for non: registration, which sooms to have disrupted the publication of a comploto register.

‘Once on a register, each in- <ivdual must inform the CCRO of any changes of addross. in of fect a national identity number systom is boing crested to administer the Tax

‘Overalladministraton costs of the Poll Tax aro ikaly to be four times as high as rates.

itindviduals refuse to pay, oF simply don't have the funds they are abi to a 10% penalty and to pursuit by arrestment of wages, seizure and sale of property, and ultimately imprisonment. A Local Authority Which fails to collect the Tax is aso lable to surcharge.

‘Seoitish Labour Party Recall Conference on the Pol Tax.

‘Soe report p. 6.

By Gordon Morgan Scottish Labour Briefing

non-payment campaign must be waged ntullknowiedg9 ol these ponalios

Effective action by local Authoriios. shoudl stan early. The CCRO should not be appointed: computers and othor ‘equpmentshoud notbe bought, Staff and resources hous not be allocated

Unfortunately, all Scottish ‘Authorities. and many English Authorities have already set up Pall Tax collection machinery NALGO should refuse to o- ‘operate; job adverts should not be placed; posts should be boycoted.

'A mass campaign of norco operation wil make the Tax ever ‘more polically hazardous and hhaston its repeal

SOCIALI

Jointhe Socialist Conference

‘Send the form below to:

‘The Socialist Conference, s 9, Poland Strst, London W1V3DG : Alfiation Form

Name.

Telephonetvo....

Enclosed with this form is the affiliation fee for 1988 (£12 for organisations; £6 for individuals, £3 inwaged)..

1 Inconformity with the requirements of the Data

* Protection Act, | hereby agree to the Socialist

1 Conference keeping the above information on file. cand

Labour, The Assembly, and the Poll Tax

Pamphlet from Labour Briefing Scotland, 60pp, available from: 39 Regent Park Square, Glasgow G41, 20)

This new pamphlet from Labour Briefing Scotland is required reading for socialists both sides of the border.

It provides a gripping account of the development of politics in Scotland during the Thatcher years, focussing on the national question and the crises in both Labour and Tory camps in Scotland.

The case for a mass campaign of resistance to the Poll Tax is argued with power and clarity. The cost to Labour of acquiescense to the Tax is painted vividly.

‘Special bonuses: Craig Binns’ wide-ranging account

of previous attempts to levy poll taxes and resistance to them and James D. Young's considerations on Labour and the national question in Scotiand.

8 5 e

London Against the Poll Tax Day-school on civil disobedience and wrecking the register, Sanday October 16th, 10-5, Conway Hall, Red Lion

back to the Commons and to remind them that they may have been able to balldoze the Poll Tax through Parliament bat that does not mean it has been accepted by the ‘majority of people who will have to pay it. London Against the Poll Tax: 60b St George’s Road, London SEI GET,

(01-219 6566 (day) (also for information about the National

Actioa Campaign).

CONFERENCE

Socialist Conference Regional Contacts

‘Scotland: Margaret Stewart, 96 Queen St (Top Flat), String, FKS 1HN.

Wales: Colin Sweet, Tanybryn Commins Uanrhaeady-Ym-Mochnant via Oswestry, Ciwyd SY10 oBz

North East: Derek Cattell, 2 The Close, Middridge, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham DLS 7JP

North West: c/o John Parkinson, 83 Wellington ‘Street, Preston PR1 810

West Midiands: Pauline Purnell, 25 Worlds End Ave, Quinton, Birmingham B32 1JF

Coventry: Colin Lindsay, Trades Council, Unit 15, ‘The Arches, Spon End, Coventry, CV1 330

East Midiands: Paul Barry, 28 Tunstall Green, Walton, Chesterfield S40 2D¥

Yorkshire: Annette Taberner, 8 St Ronans Road, Sheffield S7 10X

East Anglia: Hugh Kerr, Baytree Cottage, London Road, Potter St, Harlow

‘South West: Peter Crack, 182 Newbridge Road, Bristol BS4 4DS.

Southern & Home Counties: Steve Kendall, Eastfields, Elmwood, Turvey, Beds MK43 8DP

North London: Mandy Mudd, 11 Springfield Road, London N15

‘South London: Greg Tucker, 3 Blades House, Kennington Oval, London SE11 STW

Platform for the National Action Conference Against the Poll Tax

This platform has been adopted by the Socialist Conference Organising Committee and will provide the basis for the National Action Conference to be held in Newcastle on December 10th.

“We beliove that the Poll Tax is aggressively regressive, & major threat to our civil liberties and the franchise, and further undermines the independence of local government. We recognise the need to examine alternatives to both the rates and the Poll Tax.

We believe that defeating the Poll Tax is essential for the defence of our liberties and we call for the broadest possible protest.

To this end we call on all those groups — local broad-based anti-Poll Tax groups and unions, tenants, labour movement bodies and trade unions at every level, churches, political parties and groups, voluntary organisations — and all individuals opposed to the Poll ‘Tax to join together and suppor the National Action Conference on the Poll Tax in Newcastle.

We aim to gather together all these groups and individuals into a national network of resistance — to support each other, to exchange information and materials, to organise local and national demonstrations and lobbies.

We aim to unify and co-ordinate the various tactics of resistance and civil disobedience, from disruption of the register and payment, including mass non-payment, to public, trade union and civie non-co-operation.”

CRC, Police seek ban on anti-racist march

Fightback in Dewsbury

According to police

figures, racial “incidents” moe have increased 40% in By Tim Riley Dewsburysincethestartol Huddersfield

the schools row.

The police answer to thi escalation in violence is 2 call {or the banning of the October 2th anti-racist march.

This march has been organised in an attempl to vage Kirklees Council's anti-

cist policy, alter its dis asterous capitulation to the white parents who refused to

Grounds that the march would disprupt shopping(!) and “do no geod for race relations.” Nonetheless, the organisers are determined that the march will go ahead. It already has the backing of the NUT nationally and Hudderstield Labour Party, and a number of local anti-racist

send their children to a main- groups. ly asian school. The initial police justifies “No to racial

ton for the ban was that the march was organised by “out ” — by which they meant Kirklees Black Workors Group. This would probably not be sufficient grounds for @ ban, but the police have found new and unexpected allies. North Kirklees Community Relations Couneil and its chair, Labour councillor

George Speight, have joined in the call for the ban on the

West Yorkshire Campaign Against Plastic Bullets March and Rally

Saturday October 8th Assemble Ham, Standard Fireworks, Crossland Moor, Huddersfield

March to Mandela Corner in the town

Rally at 12.30pm

Contact: WYAPB, PO Box B20, Huddersfield, HDI 1XS

segregation, Yes to anti-racist education” March in Dewsbury, October 29th, 1.00pm Assemble South Street, Savile Town, to Town Hall Speakers: Bernie Grant MP, lan Mark (NUT exec), Dewsbury and Batley Asian Parents Assn., Cllr. John Harman (invited)

Labour Party Black Section

The Black Agenda Published by Hansib, £3.00 Available from: Fiat 2, Emerson Court, Wimbledon Hill Road, London SW19

Fighting for Black Liberation! Fighting for Socialism!

Labour Briefing No. 69 September 28th October 11th Page 3

Editorial

Their Conference and ours

This year’s Labour Party Conference promises to be a distressing event for many Party members, attached as they are to the quaint notion that they should exercise some influence over the affairs of their own Party.

For a moment, perhaps, we should console ourselves with a vision of what Labour Party Conference oughtto be...

*An annual democratic parliament of the whole labour movement, uniting its trade union and political wings, and recognised by all as its ultimate poltical authority.

Arf assembly encompassing all the movement's. ‘organisations and all its strands of thought, in which issues are openly and honestly debated, and to ‘which elected representatives and officials would have to account for all that they had done (or not done) in the previous year.

An opportunity for women, black people and lesbians and gays and all those in siruggie in Britain or abroad to place their experiences and demands before the whole movement.

+A beacon of solidarity with working and ‘oppressed people everywhere, offering collective Jeadership for the struggle ahead.

We may seem further away from this vision than ‘ever, but the Benn-Hefter challenge has ensured that it remains firmly on the agenda. The leadership contest has given us a hint of the size and strength of the socialist constituency — and the arguing and organising we need to do to mobilise it.

‘When our leaders tum up on telly to boast of the ‘success of their conference, we should remember the struggle for our conference. As socialists, we have our work cut out, but (unlike others) we're building something to last.

Will the Real “Europeans” please stand up?

Is some kind of role reversal going on? Jacques Delors gets cheered at the TUC, while Thatcher lashes out at the very idea of united Europe. Suddenly, Labour looks more European than the

SOUR — TAKE THE POWER

Tories.

‘Thatcher's stridency masks a real quandry for the British ruling class, as they try to juggle “Great relationship” with the US.

No such problems for Labour's leaders, who are now gung-ho for capitalist Europe and 1992. To them, the EC represents not only a palliative to Britain's economic woes, but a way out of their own political impasse.

‘The EC, however, remains utterly hostile to course, as socialists, we are all for breaking down national boundaries. We are all for the unification of Europe — East and West— which can never be ‘achieved via the EC, a board-room in which West European capitalists hammer out their deals.

It Kinnock is a serious “European”, why doesn’t propose a Europe-wide campaign for a 35-hour week? Why doesn't Willis work to build ties between ‘workers in multi-national corporations? What about a ‘campaign against the continent-wide erosion of democratic rights? Or an intemational defence of immigrant workers? What about disarmament, ‘ecology, workers’ sanctions against apartheid? Why have our born-again “European” shown so ttle interest in campaigns of this type, which workers throughout Europe could wage together?

The labour movement should have no truck with ‘Thatcher's chauvinist posturing. but adoration at the allar of the EC, even a reformed EC, is no altemative. We should advocate, without apology, the unification of ail Europe on a socialist basis — a united socialist states of Europe.

This is no utopian fantasy, but the only practical ‘means of solving the myriad problems facing millions of European workers.

Ireland Unfree - and British labour ‘The release of Kevin Macnamara’s policy paper ‘on Ireland, accompanied by Kinnock’s attack on the “Pontius Pilates” who advocate British withdrawal, at least broke Labour's silence on the subject. With the

Gibraltar inquest making daily headlines, and Ireland a topic of conversation across the land, the failure of the Policy Reviews even to mention ireland was becoming an acute embarrassment. However, the cure may once again be worse than the disease.

‘Macnamara claims his paper is based on Conference policy (“unity by consent”) but his proposal to reform the Diplock courts by having three judges sitting instead of one is a poor substitute for Conference's call for a return to trial by jury. Conference also called for the banning of plastic bullets —a subject not mentioned by Macnamara.

Contrary to Kinnock's claims, this new initiative does not represent an alternative to current British policy in ireland. ttis simply another stab at a British solution to “the irish problem’. It is not a step towards withdrawal, as some have.claimed, but another lengthy excuse for maintaining the Unionist veto over irish unity. Kinnock’s attack on the partisans of withdrawal made it clear what the real ‘object of the policy paper is: to place the Labour Party safely within the establishment consensus on Iretand.

Many of us within the labour movement will nonetheless stubbomly persist in raising the arguments for British withdrawal, Kinnock and others may conjure up Biblical analogues to dismiss us as “iresponsible” but the hard facts of history let him down. British rule in ireland was imposed and sustained by force over many centuries. Partition — and the gerrymandered, sectarian statelet it created —was also imposed by force, and is sustained to this day by force. Discrimination, tyranny, and bloodshed inevitably accompany it, and equally inevitably give rise to resistance — including resistance by force.

The new policy paper argues that “without political, legal, social, and economic reform union would itself be unattainable". On the contrary, union is an essential precondition for such reform, and a precondition for union is the withdrawal of British

troops.

The Economy

Who’s got answers to

Capital’s big headache?

cchange rate (the international have the capacity to move in on nal yourmaskels, as is now happen-

Britain's yawning trade as the supporter of industrial deficit. has exposed capital, “production”, and Thatcher's “economic “modemisalion", agains this miracle” as a myth. ‘eactionary” City bias

Tn the last Brofing Paula Now even this rhetoric is Watson described how the Y##ishing. The Labour leader-

government's medicine wil ‘hipnolonge offers even analonly make the underlying ill: "tative capitalist policy.

ness worse. “The reason fr this eapitlaDiath based manufacturing, tons that i elty Thatcher's

policy represents = perfectly reasonable ove for British capital as @ whole. It is painful for ‘capital in some ways, and some

starved of investment during the Thatcher years, bas not had cither the capacity, or good

pec obety 2 lel ce : to meet expanding demand sections of capital suffer more fel op ape orem eam aare prea ‘Asa result, imports have under any capitalist policy. fended in

icluiteestmcs wilhitces, BY Jamie Gough eee gehen Holborn & St

hit industrial investment much ‘more. The fundamental problem will ct worse.

‘The govemment’s apparcat lack of interest in productive investment hax led many people cn the left to imagine that ‘Thatcher represents the interests of the City against those of industrial capital. In this, she is een aa continuing the policy of ‘most British governments ofthe Tast 100 years.

Tn the past, the Labour Party thas sometimes presented itself

Pancras CLP

Any capitalist strategy has to square many circles. One dilem- ‘a is that money in a capitalist cconomy serves sever dif fereat functions, which offen conflict with one another.

Money is the store of value for capitalists, but also the means by which the capitalists exchange the goods they produce. So capital can bave a contradictory attinude to the ex-

valuation of the ni money)

‘Avbigh exchange rate puts 2

jing 20 dramatically

{intemational competitiveness. and for the goods which workers buy (which determine Dilemmas the level of wages). Protec

tionism favours the former, free

Many British industriatcom- ttade, the latter. Thatcher panies, like ICI and GEC, not Plumps for free trade — but ‘only produce in Britain but also ™*RY British capitalists need

hhave enomous assets, incind- Protection. ing money, valued in sterling. Hence the’ debate within the goverment, between Thatcher ‘and Lawsoa, over the exchange vate

Other dilemmas arise from capitaliam’s need, in a period of long term stagnation, to destroy parts of capital in order to in- ‘crease the rate of profit obtained by the rest. This also raises the rate of unemployment and thus helps discipline labour.

‘Thatcher has been quite successful in doing this. Bot there sare penalties: many employers (not necessarily only the least productive) must suffer, and un- ‘employnient benefit bills rock fet. Moreover, other countries swith less stringent policies will

‘Another dilemma for capital hhigh valuation on the store of isthalitwantstosclliteproducts ‘money held by capital, whereas at high prices while paying low low exchange Tate improves prices for the products it uses

‘These and many other dilem-

Lawson: “And in my briicase ! have. Gestructon of the British working cass.

‘mas face all capitalist govern- as a whole. Any alternative ‘ments. The policies Thatcher iresponse to these problems will hhas come up with have certain- also be marked by capital's conly been coloured by the par- tradictions, and will carry some ticular nature of British capital: penalties for capital fs strong overseas interests, its lange military spending, andthe At the moment, British capirelative strength of the British tal as a whole judges that labour movement. ‘Thatcher's policies are the Ieast But this does not mean that unpleasant onoffer. Thisis why, the government's solutions by remaining within the conserve only the interests of the fines of capital, ‘most distinctive sectors of leadership cannot now muster a British capital. They are an at- coherent defence of “productempt at 2 rational response to tion” against Lawson's destruc. the problems of British capital tion.

thermos fesk, 2 cuddly toy, and a programme for the

Labour Briefing No. 69 September 28th October 11th Page 4

Trade Union

RSES P

Maudsley action shows the way!

Nurses at the Maudsley cal grading structure Is tember Sth after atwoto one _noteven ontheagenda ofthe Hospital in South Lon- being implemented. —_voteinfavourolthe actionby Whitey Councl negots don fave just con- — Thenurses, all members the branch's 240 nurse mem. i

cluded 12 days of strike of COHSE(the major union _ bers.

action. atthehospital), suspended After 2 nervous and It came in protest at the the action on Friday Sep- hesitant start, the action be- a8 being central. itis the fac government's refusal to ‘ember 16 = but stressed came shuge success, wih afr motivating Regional and Guarantee full-iunding ‘at they will be out again spirited picket being maic- District Healtn Aumortise to

< before long unless thelr tainedtrom Zam to Spm each nurses onto lower Ofthis year's pay award, demands are met. day at the front of the hospi- ies in order to avoid and at the way the clint: “The stike began on Sep- ‘al For leaflets, post. ia ica, boon ra on in cars, buses, and on or feahots, posters, | aaukcuee Semigsaee siving over hall the ise. ene oF other prmtine: taked erthesthatind and “Management's own o8 constant beeping of car timates ofa 3-6% underfund. i deol homs was heard thoughout ing could moan over 4000 the 12 days. wee Spat tm he branch Visited hospital allover Lon- of ‘and tei don 1 uge support fo the trans, however Mdsley ham, ‘action and solidarity action activists believe tis essential 4 Forster Road, Tottenham, elsewhere. Though It be- thatthe enormous decomont London N17 came apparent that other among nurses who are not

hospitals were not yet ready properly graded must be

01-808 1677 © Seow si enti Se. mite lL SS Maudsicy must be put 0 action at every lovel ord not

practical use in other allowed discontent to dis-

Graham Bash & | The mary vistors to the Sate he husraten and

{als have taken Company mesenge eats possbione nurses to organise effective ei stike action for periods Solicitors nee tae ae : Seen Retail | is Go meow beady Send Socialist Greetings to pole its local goverameat men their: with a recommendaLabour Party Conference bre pry a a 26 Wattisfield Road, ‘Telephone: been completed, a minority | strike action in ‘support of

" 01-985 8892, | of nurses may be this year's pay cision. London ES 9Q) with their individual grading | The actions proposed inand be more reluctant to join. | tudes one day national strike

united campaign of opposi- |on October Sth, a rolling

All building and decorating pablo ele eroermmme freien tre work carried out by reliable iotedy mere trot sehr

builder (the only thing that leans to the left is our politics)

‘The union has rejected the ccoployers’ latest offer of 5.4%, ‘which not only falls short of the 10% claim but, with inflation likely to ise to over 6%, repre- ‘sents 2 cut in real wages. ‘Wage scitlements average 8% so far this year and many other public sector workers (police, teachers, manual | workers) have already received | increases above that figure. ‘The employers’ offer also requires talks over pay scale

NUPE/Hackney Officers Branch | |ew:=» saan

stmcture. Many activists, particularly

Sends greetings to Conference those in London branches faced

‘with massive cuts in jobs and services, do not see pay as a

Support the surcharged |e, Tia is iat. io

‘nota matter of fighting overpay or cats but both.

Councillors — they fought with | |"tetirinsems.0

the employers and central

us — don’t let the government | ee=hcrt== pte ae [ayer Fane victimise them!

Contact: Danny Kewley, tel: 04 340 0470, 416 Mayfield Road, London N8.

Let’s keep up the

fight against Baker!

Stop press: Kitchens our speciality!

national union. In this respect.a successful vote for national | strike action over pay will be a

ite peroemec No cuts in jobs and services! aes

No “HATS” in Hackney! eye ta lator

This artite, writon by a

striker, was taken from the

London Heath Worker — a rank and fle haathworkers’bulotn. ‘Copies may be obtained trem Androw Philips, Union Office, Royal Free Hosptal, Pond Street, Landon NWS.

delay of mass appeals that

could last months or even years.

The government's own timetable of completing the grading exercise by October 31st, and Kenneth Clarke's much-publicsed promise to have the money in nurses! pay packets before Christmas look increasingly tnattainable as the entire Process degenerates into chaos.

It is of utmost importance that the chaosis not met passively by nurses and their unions, and that COHSE and NUPE do not allow their preoccupation with maintaining “unity” with the RCN at

tional Committee will use thisto argue against national strategy of strike action in the Future — ‘over pay or anything else.

By Doug Thorpe

Islington NALGO

Even the proposals for limited action ae now in jeopar4. The deadline forthe ballot has boen extended (doe to the postal dispte) and the result will only be known two days before the scheduled one day ste.

the negotiating table to inter- {ere with mounting an effoctive campaign of industrial action.

In the meantime, COHSE stewards atthe Maudsley are busy writing up an account of the organisation involved in starting and maintaining the strike, to enable others to arn from the strategies employed and the errors

tion by Nurses can be obtained from COHSE Maudsley 898 Branch, o/o Felix Post Unit, Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hil, London SES 8AZ.

that, whatever the result, they cannot pull off a strike with two days’ notice. This is smokescreen.

‘The date (October Sth) is already set — there is no need to wait for the result. Branches should assume the strike is going ahead and organise now (on that basis.

In themselves one and two day strikes will not win the pay claim. But they would be a giant step forward for NALGO. Activists must go all out to secure “yes” vote and then build on that success by arguing for the all-out strike action necessary to ‘win the Full claim.

Labour Briefing No. 69 September 28th October Ith Page S t

Trade Union

Seafarers’ Dispute

A message from

Dover strikers to the Labour Party

After seven months in dispute — the most bitter strike-in our union’s history — 1,000 sacked seafarers continuetotakea stand against profiteering shipping company P&O.

‘Our fight is not over pay. It Is about cuts fa crewing leves, long hours spent on board, and the effects such changes ‘would have on safety sta ards at sea.

We have faced many hurdles —lack of mediacoverage,court action fo prevent the counting of tunion ballot papers that would have endorsed national solidarity action, sequestration of our union funds and offices, reduction of the Dover Easter Docks picket line to six legal pickets while hundreds of other sacked seafarers arrive every moming and evening for mass pickets deemed illegal.

By Susan Haynes Sacked Dover Seafarer

Recenily we've encountered the heavy-handed tactics of local magistrates who have imposed stringent bail conditions restricting movement of active fund-raisers and forbidding strikers from the picket line. Deliberate attempts are being made, as in the miners’ and Printers’ disputes, to break our strike.

Dilemma

Our dilemma has not been helped by 2 half-hearted union leadership and Executive who have bent over backwards to stay within the law. They have not given any clear guidance to take us forward.

eport fro!

R m the Super-pits

Their decision to call off secondary action atthe height of| the dispute — when victory was almost ours — and to disassociate themselves from the mass picket has only served to further isolate the Dover seafarers.

‘Thousands of rank-and-file workers have supported us. But ‘we need the real muscle of the Labour Party and TUC. The meaningless rhetoric of our leaders has proved once again that workers in strggle will get ‘aly limited support from them.

‘Their conscience is eased by setting up hardship fands when we all know that in reality solidarity action is needed toen- ‘sure that yet another group of ‘workers is not broken. If the Isbour movement is to survive the onslaught of Thatcherism ‘we must all be prepared to fight a a united body.

Meanwhile, P&O, with the

aid of the Conservative government, have their entire Dover fleet sailing with mostly untrained crews using the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

We never dreamt in the cold days of February — when Dover seafarers voted totake industrial action against an avaricious company who regard extra profit as paramount and the safety ofthe public as socondary — that our cause would be so hard to win.

Negotiations

We now find ourselves in limbo. Recent attempts to reopen negotiations with P&O hhave not yet bom fruit. We've made it clear to both P&O and ‘our union Executive that we will ‘ot go away.

‘Our first Dover branch meeting since the start of the strike was held on August 20th. We ‘passed motions calling on the ‘General Secretary and the Ex- ‘ecutive to implement a volun- ‘ary levy on all working NUS

ship for all-out stoppage on the issue of safety at sea and the protection of the National Maritime Board agreements. Morale is still high. The heretofore notoriously moderate Dover rank-and-file hhave taken the initiative from day one of the strike. Our goal ‘was and sil is to win —and to hhave the option of returning to our livelihoods with decent

"Seafarers have travelled all over the country collecting funds; to

sustain the struggle, more is neoded.

working conditions.

We formed our Support Groups — a legacy from the ‘miners’ strike — and have been given invaluable assistance from our Jocal mining communities. Strikers travel all ‘around the country to speak, telling the truth about our dis. ppute and raising funds for our Kitchens.

Because we feel so strongly we shall continue to fight and to voice our opinions — from the picket line and any other platforms. We ask comrades to use every avenue open to them to help us step up our campaign

against PRO. We ask trades councils, LabourParty and trade union branches, schools, travel agents, etc, to boycott P&O and tell P&O (at 79 Pall Mall, Lon: ‘don) of their reasons for doing

We also need you to help keep open our kitchens, where ‘we offerhotmealsand company for strikers and their families and where we build the dispute together.

We are grateful for the generosity shown by fellow ‘workers, but if we are to stay solvent and sustain our struggle, like Oliver, we need more,

AUSTIN ROVER CLOSURES

Anti-cuts campaign targets

Yorks minors demonstrate during the Strike; Coal Board economics are as weird now as then.

Daydreams to nightmares

The super-plts of the Selby complex in North Yorkshire, promoted as “the dream pits” of the future, are becoming British Coais nightmare of the Present.

Instead of yielding milions of tonnes of cheap coal, they are producing millions of tornes of © dirt.

‘The CEGB has repeatedly {ejected this “coal because of a 30% ash content (és maximum limit is 15%).

The North Yorkshire area of 19 colioros, which includes the six Selby pits, ost £129 milion this financial yoar. Aft capital charges the losses soared to 2 staggering £130 milion.

‘Abert W. Tuke, Area Director, inhis annual report, says, “Once again, the dismal record of industrial disputes bodeviled us. and completely overshadowed the excolont productivity advan

By DANIEL PARKES

ces. of work at ine dividual pits, the NUM overtime ban and the NACODS wages despute cost this Area 1.2 milion tonnes of coal representing over ‘£40 milion of st sales.” Betwoon June 87 and March 88, the following collieries closed: Nostol, Wheldale, Wook ley/Rodbrook, and South Kitkby/Forrymore Ridings, with a loes of 4,604 jobe. Only three of the Selby pits began to produce coal, Stillingfleet (Stalingrad), | Whitemoor (StrKemoor), and Riccall Sit lingflost is the pit which sacked Ted Seatt, NUM Branch official ‘The North Yorkshire area employs only 13,154. Despite the loss of 1.2 milion tonnes, bl produced within a buckst full

‘of the same tonnage as the previous year. Overall output por manchit has risen since 855 from 3.04 tonnes to a disgrace ful record of 4.45 tonnes. ‘Aturthor investment of £154.4 milion was “sunk” into the Sobby complex this year. But why keep ‘such “loss makers" open?

My train of thought, knowing British Coal from within, and knowing the bastards for what they are, leads me to condude thal they are investing taxpayers money for the day when the “Tories sol off the Selby complex to their fat-cat friends, privatise the industry, and make @ quick kaiiog. |

‘Accidents are tragically rur- | ning at 31.7% per 100,000 shits ‘worked. Health and safety at work should be 2 major cam- | paigning factor for the NUM | Teadership in challenging the | Board's “ight to manage” hard line stance

Party Conference

Austin Rover’s plans to ‘lose the car plants at (Cowley and Llanelli will have a devastating effect, not only on both those

towns and the supporting components industry but they also sound the death knell for the automotive industry in this country.

In Oxford the Trades Council has launched a local campaign to oppose the closures and Oxford East CLP has passed the following resolution which itis sending to Annual Conference as an ‘emergency.

We would urgeall delegates to support the resolution being taken and passed by Conference. The Labour

Party nationally must make

commitment to fight to save such 2 Joss of thousands of Jobs.

By Andy Mar Oxford East CLP

Emergency Resolution for Labour Party Annual Conference

“Conference believes the closure of the Cowley ‘Oxford South Works and the Llanelli plant and the Ihuge job losses in Austin Rovers’ five year plan will bea disaster for both these towns, and isa forerunaer of similar closures affecting the whole fong term future of Austin Rover in Britain as a volume car manufacturer, together with the automotive

component industry in Britain.

“This Conference condemns these closures following the sale of Austin ; Rover to British Aerospace. The Labour Party will ‘organise both in Parliament and outside it together with the trade unions a massive campaign to reverse these plans of closure and fully Support Austia Rover ‘workers ina fight against redundancies including strike action and ‘occupations if these actions are taken or any other actions taken.

“Asan urgent priority we call the next Labour t government to place the industry under democratle and locally accountable control.” 4

Labour Briefing No. 69 September 2th-October 11th Page 6

Labour Party

A modern history of the Labour Party

1945: Labour’s Great Triumph?

vocal hang. ‘With this article on the be eli cele = By Phil Hearse Adleegovernment, Labour sles, gs andthe Bank = Breficheglasance series England were nationalised (Islington North wal bole Pury bleep. _ It was widely noted at the = CLP) Fature topics include time that Tory opposition to ‘Bevanism, Gaitskell’s war these measures was moremuted wien the ruling class thought ‘on Clause Four, the first than expected: in some cases nationalisation had gone too far. they did fe Com roa Wilson government, the Fee ck een Sees ‘In 1947 there was a bitter battle The 40s saw the popular nationalisation of the coal industry. Stopping short of workers’ control, the Heath years, the Social mons division. ‘overrvad haulage and latcrover “nationalised” industry is budozed away in the 80s by the captalist recession. Contract and the rise of Establishment opinion clear- ison and steci and sugar. ber of NATO, developed its The left’s standard bearer, to carry through important Bennism. ly accepted that following the The National Health Service, own nuclear bomb, used its Ancurin Bevan, was a leading reforms — many of which are

War the reconstruction of : ¢ inaugurated in 1948, was = troopson the side of reaction in

Socialists opposed fo the Bitthcpiali rsued tat major gain for the working Groce and Malaya, and eat _ Sacialists opposed to the ceaain public uiltiesbe placed Clase ltmet opposition from the them ino the US oar in Kore, ‘new revisionism” of Kin- tnder state direction. In any censulunt accom, bur frown nock and Gould often <3. phenomenal So eoceoregy augeaipee eee hhearken back to the 1945- compensation (especially tothe Sovialsccurtyalaoreceiveda independence) but only 51 Labour government as coal owners) were awarded — major bomst as did state educa. hesitety. ifitwastheembodiment of | saddling the nascent tion. Mos of these reforms had By 1948 the bulk of Labour the socialist ideal. nationalised industries with 2 heen advocated in the refomnshadbeen

Bot a closer look at history mountain of debt. Beveridge Report, published Morrison then declared the nced reveals different picture. “These new public scclorcom- daring the War, which reflected for-conooldaion’” afer which

‘A process of radicalization paniesquickly took on theform g broad consensus that thegovemmentbegan ton oul had evept throogh the working Of huge, monolithic, economic reconstruction of seam. class as a result of the 1930s bureaucratic institutions, com- necded a heathy and edacated Labourwonthe 1950 election depression and the experiences pletely outside popular control. wodking class. but itz majority slumped from ofthe War. Atlee’sgoverament Indeed, the govemment ex." Attlee’s foreign policy, 148 to six Labour's social weltherefore came to power not plicily rejected workers’ con- guided by Emest Bevin, war a faresefoems were popular, bt it only withasizeablemajority but trol. industry. ‘rodel of Cold War Allanticiam. had no further socialist vision of with a mandate for radical Controversy only broke out Britain became founder mem- major transformation.

Scottish Labour Briefing

Re 2sistance rejected!

By amargin of twoto one, should concentrate on explaining destruction” inthe face of a Tory of-

the Scottish Labour Party By lan Gault Serer many opie fee suit al oem Gems ne reed fe Pollok CLP “The agemcot for mas car

Canterence rejeciea een eS heros [Seana acti terete einer ow dee ‘pays = Bureaucratic inertia and the ab- standing” attitudeto these unable 10 scitency delegates and also by =

It voted fostend for com- Bureaucratic faces pe} —yeocumnbly ot he sas ene pliancewiththePollTaxlaws, Shiey the Seatish Tories to tty ae arening the vane figs wr mio fcang due for implementation in ‘tele the "Week of Action” ass feopl'awagesandibcnctia,stiey TA Necesbe outcome of the Scotland in April 1989. “aap sb" se mpimdtodoby helm. Confercace i a serions setback for ‘The Party's special recall | Though sparsely atiended, _ Anamber of meatem, meloing SCivier campaigning agnnet the Conference, heldin Glasgow on demonstration: wereximdyponby Charles Gray, Labour Leader of 72°25 sa eadiodemeralzaion September 17th, had been Se Scahhuednssrad-made Stabciic Regional Comet = sc incat bevel

Sed of Ac, ext forthone inthe labour move 2 non payment fen SESS proceeded by = “Week of Ac re em anirminccliectve woublersivafiuncaterermncn 4 Noweticles, the sigs apse

fon” agains the Tax organised tect sweet jepertis Cool servic 2 by the Scottish TUC(STUC). “Arie recall Confercce itl 4 peroneal ‘Unfortunately, its activities, io- the Scottish Exccative's statement Disruption to form 2 “Commitee of 100"

long token work stoppage om lig cut ny form of eps oF However, tone delegate pati prominnt indies who Tocaday, Sepember 13h. did ile Ciildobedience wandefendedby th seal choice facing ike Con, fabinipdaciae tee fuck oper siterip reectorchamnetbestong. Shadow Secretary of Stat: Donald ference war mot terme puymcna "The pouseaiesone that ephe td widespread opposition tothe Dewar Te mgwe Wat rater thaa ed'non'payment bet Keercen te Conermeilldcopenoner ie To. tating he Tax Labour Counce. “lomporaty dereption or taal coningroaia”

GOVAN BY-ELECTION — ‘SNP v vs. Labour

The forthcoming Par- someSNPersevenxpecttowin the official ine of acquiascance, liamentary by-election "eset. By Jean ‘Tie slechon it Sevier be: in Glasgow Govan may pavSwtaicaisenccted Mackenzie :conkentaion Sateen well determine the fu- [cuantomtah tecoconory z pom pa mone) ture of Labour In Scot- the (mostly local) demonctrators --«“Scotlish Labour ‘As well as being anti Poll Tax, land. sang The intemationaio and Briefing the SNP is strongly apposed to

(Over and over in recent chanted "You've sold ue out NATO, US Bases, and nuclear

‘ nd has been sa2i ‘weapons. The pistorm holy Years, Scotland has been “Fi covan, whichis festooned Labour has notyetchosan ts tobe far tothe lo of Labour's. ee wih "No Poll Tar Hore” poctors, candidate, but has already Labour wont delend and or laboratory. Toetngs are fuming high over removed trom the panel two ganisothepoopleof Govan, thoy Increasingly, the responce Labour's opposiion to a now Mitantsupporersactveinlocal wil evEably lock toa party tal

tots ion ragonalictene In Payment campaign. anti-Poll Tax campaigns. A can and wil. An SNP victory ‘The recent SNP Conference Labour candidate commitied to wouldtranstorm theanti-Poll Tax

a recent pol, 75% were inl aap ee ee non-payment would retain campalanis Sowltcand take favour of an Assembly; 30% fer 100,000 Scat to rehiwe fo popu tappat an defuse the Scots Labourto te ots forindependence pay. Thot canciato ne by. SN. ‘Waisng passively or he noxt The SNP is confident f dont. Gloctonwitbe-AmSilas.awok However,the candidate Labour goverment ts more aa

ing Labour's 19,500 majority and known former left Labour MP. chosen will probably espouse farce than ever.

member of the first Attlee government, which had generally enjoyedthe support of the left in the Party. A real left ‘opposition emerged only after

1950, in response to two issues

—the introduction of health servvice charges and German rear- ‘mament.

Even then, only a handful of

left MPs (not including Bevan for Michael Foot) opposed the US war in Korea. In 1951 the Tories led by Churchill were retumed to power.

Attlee’s government has

retained its place in Labour's mythology because, unlike the subsequent Wilson and CalTaghan governments, it was able

Knowles raises

now under threat from Thatcherism.

But the Attlee government's key failing was that it was a government of reforming ‘capitalism. For this reason, the nationalisation of industry ‘which it carried out conformed with the bureaucratic logic of the capitalist system, and not ‘with the needs and priorities of the workers.

‘While we defend the remain ing gains of 1945-51 against ‘Thatcher, we shouldbe underno illusions that a retum to 1945 is possible or desirable. Today, a much more radical programme is needed to take the working. class forward,

condom scare

Birmingham Council's Labour Leader Dick Knowles Is getting himself Into all kinds of ‘trouble.

Fret, ho bed to remove the whip rom 20 Labour Counellors ‘who reused to back closure ofa hirer’ hoidey home. Even the Labour Party's National onstitutional Committee (ever know for feionce to the To) ‘efused to upholthediscipinary move, and the whip was rec tered

“Then, he launched an attack on the Counel NALGO branch, ‘which puting up resitanco to the cus andwas planning aoneGay strhe on September 200%

Knowles sent @ letter to all comployoos attacking NALGO as bing ‘more concerned wit the promsion of condoms for people in Winson Groen Prison than about the conditions of thelr mombors" and dominated by

tract" and that "you wil not be allowed to resume work until you sign the declaration overioal.”

“To all employees who take strike action or fall to attend through refusal to cross 2 picket line on 20 September 1988

“Before resuming work you ‘must sign the declaration below ‘and hand it to your Supervisor. You will not be sliowed to commence work until you do $0.

“Following my strike action on 20 September. | hereby give an ‘undertaking that intend to work

By MARK SEATON

normally, (including cover for \acantposts)in accordance with the forms and conditions of my ‘contract and fo support the use ‘et proper procedures forthe Sa omont of disputes.”

NALGO hold a mass moeting ln the West Bromwich Abion Football ground on Monday Soptember 12th, where a resoktion te proceed with the one-day strke waslostby about 800-700

Howaver, this efmbdown fob lowed the withdrawal ofthe nostrike declarations and was part Iy offset by a decision to hold & Ballot on programme of instil action against the cute,

Finally, Knowles ran into probloms at tho District Labour Party mooting (lobbied by NALGO} where he vedo argue that there were no cuts. This assortion met with derision, ven from follow right wingors.A high vacaney factor has resuted in the noar colapsa of social sor. vices and in chido being sent home from schoo! because of teachor 3

‘The Distriet Labour Party passed a resolution opposing {ure cuts and calling for the roversalof cuts made since May, the reinstatomant of any vie timisod Counel workers, publ ‘campaign by the Pary against the cuts, and © one-day. conference ‘on budget “por bringing together tho DLP and the Labour Group.

‘Birmingham Labour Broting has produced alaflet onthe ‘sues involved ard is ealing on the 20 reinstated Councilors 10 mount a major publ campaign Sgainst tho cuts

Labour Briefing No. 69 September 28th-October LIth Page 7

Labour Party

WALLASEY INITIATIVE

Women in Black Sections

Left CLPs begin to organise

but ieeieeeete ented given by speakers from CLPD,

ing 70 delegates from ee CLPs, attended a Con. Surres fr oes, Sesemes

ning: of « decacion which enfortonstely didn’t have time to seveiop.

‘There was also disagreement

ference in Manchester on ini. shou what ds the ER shold

Saturday September 17th. tow ate Nal Cot Despite lck of advertising So Commies a

medthepisicciintaeCor DY Pele ‘ends lot of thought by the

Brent East CLP ae

Different views were also exprened on bow to revive the cam ign agsioet the witch ont, although st seemed to be geacrally agreed that « Conference called by stepended CLPs, witch-banted ine Sividuals, and supporting CLs ‘would be the best initial stp.

"At the end of the day a series of properale were agreed

‘to request 4 regular column in Campaign Group News tor CLPs:

Ference, called by Wallasey CLP, hit on a real need felt by Jeft Labour Partiesin the runup to the Blackpool Con-

ference. idatives, woch as thin Com Les child brought grect- fee and te Chesil Com

ings from the Campaign Group ference, was taken wp conriby-

and Eric Heffer gave a sting ton romBriing voppere Maca

speech on the need to organise Mack who argucd that the two

the fight inthe Labour Party. shown’ be comerposed sd that oetol infrmaation emerged in the Manchester Conference should

tte daceasons wonndticimthion be een as one expect of IER oe os pequet oer bere at

tions of the Conference Arrange- ganisation. ‘Campaign Group meetings:

toents Comme. For stance, tac Invesponec, mento he platform "qs produce’ sewer for

CAC has ruled oat of order all 15 speaker sada they dia'teethe CLs:

fmentiments to the ledership's two inkiatives a comierponed ut oe

‘ims ond Values document, sche tnt the Conference met parcel

Campuignrovp ad the Campsign ced th the Socialist Confeeace

fe labcer Paty Dectrcy eoer coca

tring» igh to reber beck tho“ Tewes abo accopted thtinbuikt CLs ne of shane fm me wat

EAC report ag ore eas veers sat Sehscuca Gactuapear aaron ‘Aitheend of ne conference sox mike Socialnt Conference mailing bast

sion saggering 37 voes willbe shouldbe wed. "A racting wil be hed at lnch

taken clearly inthe hope that befud- ““Tiowever, Vladimir Derer of tinman the Thuey of Latoot

ded legate will doo CLED inne that he cles 06-Party Conference atthe Clifton ‘The heavy emphasis on Labour ie will ony be decked within le iol, Blckpoo. It ir important

any Conference procedore meat Eator Paty. He aso pot frward thar sx many delegates feos Ei

Despite this, some geocral ‘custion did surface “The relationship between Labour

il of Rights for Labour

Party Democracy" wat pases. twas agred io wet up an organs:

ing commitce opentoall delegating

there was Title discussion of the the now well-enown CLPD arge- CLPy-as powble atod. content of esolutionsandlitleform — mentthatthe leftshould proceed c- Farts information is available the platform on prospects forthe left cording to what the present mem from Richard Alpin, Wallacy CLP

beyond Conference itself.

bership ofthe Labour Paty will c- ‘Tedd not help that the introde-

Secretary, 8 Agnes Grove, Wal- ‘cept, which sparked off the begin

lasey, Merseyside L44 IDI

\Conference draws on new strengths

Conferences about separate black schools, put by women, and black ™any nat was also womenin particular, too Sieted

‘often concentrate on : : “gender oppression”to By Kaushika Amin Tottenham

the exclusion of women's broader politi ~~ Women’s Section

cal role.

Their iong (her)story of Tae ahemoon Ww fighting both class and wore heid on sexually, cher | state oppression is forgot- women, young women, and

ten. ‘women and work. It was recog: | The first conference or- nised that specificity of

ganised by women in Black porionce was not enough. Tho often their Kloss have stil not Seer hicome, Comer ats eee ee

fexperiances it {nd reductionist formu: termcrmingham, showed tro pallial debates. and white people face the same that black women are playing : z ‘The workshops were also class enemy and therefore must ‘@ partin struggles against all 524 0 discuss; ways of 3 eae es against Practcalwaysof unite and fight oppression in British organising in local communities However, they did inject a society. and buikding solidarity with wider much-needed political dimen-

The Conference (chaired by campaigns. on which is sometimes lacking Martha Osamor) concentrated“ ARhough the conference went inciscussions of racial or gondo ‘on several major treats to the some way forward in acknow- oppression, A heathy diloguo black communty: the Poll Tax, ledging the corral role of black between woman in Black Sec. Housing Hil, Education Act, im women in Black Sections, Bwas tions and black women in the ‘migration legisiation. weakened by the absence ofwell_SWP would ba welcome.

‘Much discussion focused on known activists fike Diane Ab- This was one of the first major. the dificult questions raised by bott, Sharon Atkin, and Linda conferences to be organised by the Education Act. Women Ballos. Diack women for Black women recognised that black children On the othor hand, thei ab- since the demise of the GLO. fare ail ot gating quay educa. is intoresting that it focused on {ion on a par with chidren fom political change within the mainly white and suburban array

ference lay in the fact that most This is 8 tar ery fom days of these women wore acive not when black women wore pushod ‘only in local Labour Parties but tothe margins. of debate 20 in local communis.

“The input rom SWP members was heartening, akhough 00

Bermondsey witch-hunt

The real conspiracy

Jim Mortimer, a Labour agreement, presumably, with the of the left to get the matir raised Party member for over 50 compiler politics) ‘ihin the Party Loaine Cristian 3

years and a former Soe septs fo camateh General Secretary, has a oie; wae:

wrote to Lamy Whity citing the

By David Osler

presented hard evidence of Teport at evidence of bias. AB efor by “soft left” Party NUI eas teva, Wilkinson was taken off he full-timers to gather secret _ Capacity) apt EH NESS toes information om left- —T=yoacambodmadoud tthe NEC's Orpenieation Com

smite sid, “There was no attempt

wingers in Bermondsey. t.inemedtomert tu "FT" Mortimer is a member of tc 183 Coscrnce,he moved he Bermondsey CLP, which has repo which women te ox been suspended ince January 1988, following allegations of “intimidation” and “abuse” pies ea errinpsc by Miltantsapporters. Sind” many of whom are fall Labour'sOrganisationDiec- time employees of the London tomate, headed by Joyce Gould, Labour Par, is curently mnsing an inquiry | Toe wards and their watchers into the matter. see cums, Mores Me Following the suspension Mor Donagh: Berge, Dave. Wilkin timer came into posession of a $0m Dockyard, Stephen Morgan; ‘circa headed'Soaark Ber. Rive, Joho Brapgns: Aber. tmondicy ~ Notes to Action, 25. Peal Wheeler: Browning Pil Cole: Soman se. Bechayer, Mike Hobday snd Te Na II oe he minves of Hall: Rotherhithe, undecided;

some tot of cavces and records a Cattdral, Deve Evan. ‘cision to comple a computeried McDonagh, Wilkinson, Morgan, Tat of Bermondocy CLP members, 204 Cole are all Assistaot Regional sith sted inton of bir the Loon Labor ing a pottcal profile ofall wards, kinson was as their memberihip, atiendance, ¥etk on the Bemendey ng) present personnel, etc... to build a Brag ws former Depsty PrMtialpofe ofthe GeneralCom, General Secretary of London including the potieal ar- Labour Party who currently works fciations ofthe membership” and onthe national Party's Organisation “to build s polically aware Con- Ditectorae. jency Labour Party strong _ When questioned about these al enough 10 withstand Militants ine lezations, Cole » NOLS actvit in oem Ube cary Be, once strongly Hen” ‘the docoment’s date is correct, tified with the soft left, refused 10 the implication is that the Ber’ say anything. Ex-EETPU fll-imer tmoodecy witch hunt was full year | MeDonagh, instrumental in stop- {nthe making and was intially wn- ping Mardy Murs caidacy in = daraken without official sanction Haringey Council by lection, said from the Paty “the procedure ofthe Laboer Party "Various lists are appended con-iathat you talk to oa press offic.” sisting of handwriten commentson The press office commented: {ypewritien pages. Ove breaksdown “During the course ofan inury » wards a2" Milka Mil", “split” whole lot of things ae theown ou or "OK" Another clasfies trade The NEC knows bow this docement ttaion delegates ax “MT” (Militant came about” Appropritsstcps, we Tendency), "FT" (Gllow traveller), were saured, would be nkenNA (no0-atender) oF "OK" (in But ittook some effort onthe pat

In July, the Tories published a White Paper which was ignored by much of the left, but could have far-reaching implications.

The Paper contained Thatcher's response to the Widdicombe Enquiry into “The conduct of Local Authority Business.”

What with Poll Tax, Clause 28, and at least two attempts ‘to ban “political publicity’ i's easy to see wiry its impor tance has been underestimated!

‘But the effects of some of the clauses on theft especialy the hard left, could be devastating. Wideicombe recommends bar ning Local Authority employees ‘of principal officer status or ‘above from hoiding any poltical

todeay i. there's nodoub t's tre. They cither exceeded their bri ce they got caught ost — one of the

Joyce Gould refutes the sugges Labour Party work is Hackney tion: “There ie absolutely not one NALGO Housing Convenor, Chir jotaof teuthinit.”Forthe record, the of Metropolitan District NALGO names mentioned are: Margaret Broad Left, and joint chair of Lon- ‘Activists in Bermondsey fear a Crear, Laurence Hemming, Bob don Bridge. "It's disgraceful that perge is imminent. They clin to Lee, Bob McKee, Carol Bermondsey Labour Pary should have received information from Shakespeare, and Alan Woods. All be shut down for nine months at =

sources with good Walworth Road are Militant supporters. {ime when itshould be campaigning Yaka hatuptosizmenberhavesl against the poll tax, the Hovsing ready beea singled out for expel- last word is with Laorence Bi, the abolition of ILEA and the ae PA Hemming, who in addition 10 is Councilewts.”

Widdicombe

A Sledgehammer to crack a broken

“those who advise or act on behalf of Local Authonitios”. This is further extended to a ban on “holding offic in apolitical Party, wring oF speaking publicly on matters of party political controversy... and canvassing at ‘lections ~

‘Now | have no intention of defending those highly-paid Chiet Executives who “twintrack” by holding office in one Authority while implementing ‘cuts in another. However, the

guidelines laid down by the reduced,restricting stil further Tories, which oftheirstaffcanbe those who can afford to stand for poltically active. This could al- elected office. fect not just those of us in the | So what can we do, given the Labour Party but also people ae- Tory majority and the pathetic tive in the women's movement, performance by Kinnock ple? ‘gay groups, CND, ete. Local Authority unions must will not just hit those who be ready to take mass action stand for elected office, but GC against the discretionary delegates, people who write for clauses. Labour Party branches ‘and sell Briefing and other left must pass resolutions to commit ‘papers, and a range of other ac- the Party at national and local fivists. Unless we struggle level, especially where Labour is ‘against t now, a range of Coun- in control, to net implementing

Present proposals scare me stiff, _cils (both Labour and Tory con- what few discretionary clauses They ncade an lament of. trotled) will cynically writo exis

cretion which could affect clauses banning politcal activity Tw Loft in general, through thousandsctpocple whoworkin into contracts hector whore met nose Other recommendations in tighten up its concept of the local

the Paper include a ban on the stale and mostings must be held. appointment of “political ad- This is even more urgent in the

By Tony McShea {oP ard tw ondkeg olcoop. Wh tine Ihaly reat on Pol

Birmingham tonal on-lcid persons onto Tak, athe degractl doc: és decsiontaking commitees. merkproduced on alomalveso

Pabow Teetiag. The government will have Rates. powerisdetermie tho Slanding This fightback i overy bit as

They provide for “local nomination” which means that

Orders by which Local important as other campaigns. I Authorfies operate, even down we fail, many comrades will be to the circulation of agendas. disenfranchised trom political

‘Councillors’ expenses will be activity.

Labour Briefing No. 69 September 28th-October 11th Page 8

Labour Party: The Policy Review

Haringey Labour Briefing

“Socialism — or the market?”

— an open discussion, October 17th, 8pm, West Indian Centre, Clarendon Road, London N8.

No cuts! No witch-hunts!

[ Quinton Briefing supporters | Say:

Stop Kinnock! Back Benn and Heffer in the fight for

E socialism!

Hackney Labour Briefing:

Fighting for

Our Libraries!

Relaunched, expanded Birmingham Labour Briefing says:

Support Benn and Heffer;

and fight for socialism!

Lea Bridge Branch

Erdington & Sutton Coldfield cLP

“Democratic Socialis

Labour Lea to Market

‘This philosophy has uncanny resemblances iohas been calied

the “possessive individualism” cof Hobbes and Locke in the 17th century.

“Democratic socialists believe in market allocation — but market allocation guided by agreement that the competitivesystem should pursue the objective of greater freedom, greater equality and

‘Therein nutshell youhave the philosophy of Kinnock’s Democratic Socialist Aims and Values.

Its stress on the market is reinforced with repeated reference to creating conditions in which individuals can make maximum use of their own resources andabilitiesto do well ina competitive society All this adds up to a new departure for Labour's leaders, well to the right of traditional mainstream Laboutism, and a flagrant attempt to accommodate to Thatcher's chamPioning of individualism over

By Paul Lawson

‘These theorists of the rising capitalist class regarded the development of individual potential as intimately Linked with private property and the ‘market society. But of course, unlike the authors of the Policy Review, Hobbes and Locke admitted that only a minority could enjoy the benefite of market capitalise,

Incontrast, Kinnock and Hattersley commit aclassic utopian error — when they imagine some sort of “agreement” that will guide market allocation

Market capitalism aboutin-

aS Cote cng: gaily fra sal (Hackney North CLP)| | Labour Briefing supporters | i . send greetings " . 5 1 Says: to the Conference delegates ‘The United Campaign Against = Strip-Searching . “We're backing Benn Reject Fowler's Employment ” sad : and Heffer! Training Scheme! Strip-searching is a violation No to Workfare! of human and civil rights. Help put an end to it. i Contact UCASS, c/o ALA, 36 Old Queen SOCIALIST eegon | [srt Labour OUTLOOK || =o eects e (MP, Islington North) ‘ . Conference and his agent Keith Veness SOCIALIST OUTLOOK is committed to the develop- : ment of a real socialist alternative both to the ravages of delegates send Conference Greetings. Thatchersim and to the grey tide of Kinnockism and new Fight the Vv e T realism. i witch-hunt! SOCIALIST OUTLOOK has in its first eight issues No Cuts! oO e ony provided in-depth analysis and debate on developments ‘4 in the trade unions, the struggle in the Labour Party, the Vote Benn Ben n and -Fecomposition of B politics and many international and Heffer! i issues of crucial importance for socialists. 2 Eric Heffer Annual subscription rate (ten issues): £8.50 for inland subscriptions Doe Cs £17.00 for inland multi-reader subscriptions i‘ “% QP hire premserr Srey Eo ee £13.00 for European subscriptions yeh at tebe Haringey Against the Witch-hunt £18.00 for all other international subscriptions (US $25.00) October 5th, Defend Mandy Mudd £54.00 for overseas airmail multi-reader subscriptions (US $75.00) 8.15pm Sends greetings to Labour Party Conference a ‘ comin pened Mtl No more expulsions! Stop a Teloot Square the witch-hunt! Leones taser Support Benn-Heffer for an Nerorra stan (har, open, democratic, Bem, torernons” | | campaigning Labour Party! SOCIALIST OUTLOOK. Pt ——s

Labour Briefing No.69 September 28th-Ocwober Lith Page 9

The Labour Party: The Policy Review

ders go

choice presuppose allocation on he basi of social priorities and needs, which the market by its pare rust ignore,

“The document fails even to mention « key word for under: standing modern Britain: capital”. There isno recogition ofthe underying logic of he market: that of private profit. Democratic socialist aims and values appareatly no longer en ils any break with this logic.

‘The policy proposals in the Review mark a sharp break with Labour's guiding thread since 1945 and before — a strong public sector in a “mixed” Sconomy and a powerful wel. fare state. Tn easence, the docu ment accepts that basic changes made by Thalcher are here to say, and that Labour's previous sollectivist notions have had heir day

‘This conclusion is partly right. The Wilson and Caljaghan governments failed precisely because they couldn't

beyond managing coe ige een

jemley propose to start anew not py making a socialist critique of past failings, but by a sharp move towards a more opealy pro-capalit philosophy.

By definition, socialism is

collectivist in spirit and prac-

always falsely counterposed the rights and needs of individuals — including their rights to material wellbeing and freedom of choice —

to social solidarity and collec- ‘ivi

‘Kinnock and Hattersley acceptthe false choice posed by all such theories: East European fotalitarianism versus “Treedoen” of the market. If this were the real choice facing advanced societies we would be in ahopeless historical dilemma — dictatosship ofthe market or of the facclext bureaucracy.

‘Such a view is deeply pes. simistc about human potential, its premise isthe supposed inability of the mass of ordinary people to run their own society according to their owa democratically detemnined s0cial priorities

‘What about the notion of an “agreement” tomake the market fanetion in favour of faimess and freedom? Agreement with ‘whom? The big corporations ‘which dominate the masket?

‘When Norman Willis flew ‘offto the US to appeal to Ford's better nature over the Dundee debacle, his scomful predecessor Len Murray commented: “The problem isthat Fordsdon't Ihave abetternature”. Neither do their competitors.

Tn the Putney debates Oliver Cromwell championed the rights of “men of property” against those “who have no inferest (Le. property) other than in breathing”. Cromwell, at least, was good deal more hhonest about the realities of ‘market capitalism than Kinnock orHattersley

Women’s Organisation Review

NEIL TAKES A LEAD/

\ INTEND TO EUMINATE SOCIALISM IN THIS

A Message to Trade Unionists

Real Policies for “People at Work”

Tony Benn and | are standing to put forward a political alter native to the present Labour leadership.

By Eric Heffer MP

Our objecitve is the creation of a genuinely democratic, classless,

Big Backward Steps

Neil Kinnock and the Labour NEC have decisively rejected women's demands for more power in the Labour Party.

by Gill Lee Briefing Women

The outcome of the much-hailed “Review” of Labour's women’s organisation is now cl

‘The trade union block vote will be imposed for a year, and if that doesn't

‘women quiet, worse

measures will follow.

Briefing Women opposed the Review from the start. We said that its real aim was to weaken the Women’s Organisation and shift it rightward.

‘As a minority within the Labour Women's Action Committee we

argued against handing the Review over to the NEC and predicted that they would use this opportunity to smash Women’s Organisatio

1988 Labour Women’s Conference voted on the Review.

+It demanded that five of its resolutions go straight to Annual Conference.

It wanted a National Labour Women’s, Committee wholly elected by women.

sit agreed that trade unions should have 50% say in Women’s Conference, with more weight given to those unions with more women members.

Proposals

Kinnock & Co. have rejected the Women Conference proposals, which would at least have given some power toa

re-organised conference. They will recommend to Annual Conference a trade union block vote with no weighting given according to women membership.

Resolutions

‘The NEC will oppose taking five resolutions from Women's Conference at Annual Conference. It will recommend continuation of the National Labour Women’s Committee, which is only partially elected.

‘Ata time when Labour

women’s organisation which could lead the struggle against ‘Thatcher's attacks on ‘women, the NEC chose Instead to launch an all-out attack on women’s: ‘organisation in the Party.

| |

socialist society, based ‘on Clause !V of Labour's constitution.

We want all nuclear weapons and bases removed from British soil.

used to re-build the ‘economy, the NHS and the Welfare State.

We want all anti-trade union _ legislation repealed. When that has been achieved, we want to ensure that workers — through their unions — have greater rights than ‘ever before.

The Labour Parly was formed by the trade unions in association with the ILP, Fabians, and the Social Democratic Federation.

The basis of the Labour

Party is the movement of the organised working Glass. It must remain so. The links between the unions and the Party must be strengthened. All struggles of trade unionists against their employers for better wages and conditions, or in defence of jobs and or against privatisation must be fully supported by the Labour Party.

‘unfortunately. wholehearted support from the leadership has not been forthcoming in the past.

Ifithad, the outcome of the miners’ strike, the printers’ struggle, and other disputes might have been

different.

Tony Benn and | have given our unqualified suporttounions and workers

in struggle and will continue to do so.

Every trade union and trade unionist who has been fined, sacked, or wrongly imprisoned as a result of anti-trade union laws must be reimbursed, released, or compensated as soon as a Labour government is retumed to office.

Unemployment has been used as a weapon to undermine the wages and conditions of employed workers. It has badly affected the low paid, espeGially women workers who are too often used as cheap labour.

There must be genuine equality of employment for women. We believe a new Labour government ‘must introduce legislation quickly which will strengthen and improve existing equal rights legis lation.

Inside the Labour Party, women must have the rightto elect their own representatives onto the NEC.

Labour must introduce new rights for the lowpaid, for women workers, must oppose raciall discrimination of any kind, and must repeal all discriminatory legis such as Section 28.

‘We oppose the govemment's so-called training schemes for youth and adults.

A Labour government must introduce real training schemes in co-operation with the trade unions. These must offer trainees trade union rates of pay and working conditions,

and a real prospect of fong-term employment. Unemployment must be tackled. As a first step, we should develop public works schemes including a massive house building and renovation programme through Local Authorities and other public agencies. ‘We must bring in lation which will deal with ues like the “lump” and self-employment. Health and satety legi

lation must be strengthened and must cover oil rigs.

There must be an increase in the number of inspectors. Health and safety at work, in all industries and offices must be a priority.

Labour must also carry out a massive public investment programme t rebuild manufacturing i dustries, ensure proper regional development, and extend public ownership.

It must take back into public ownership all those industries and services privatised by the Tories. with the minimum of compensation, and in some cases, such as ‘no compensation at all

We believe that policies such as these are the only way to get rid of this awful ‘Tory government. This is our objective.

Let us go forward to defeat the government at the next election on the basis of bold, coherent, socialist policies, with the trade unions and the Party membership united and fighting as one.

Labour Briefing No. 69 September 281h-October 11th Page 10

Features

Football ID Card Scheme

A menace to civil liberties

Sometime towards the end of next year, over ‘one million peopie will be compelled by law to carry identity cards with individual photographs.

They will be forced to do this simply because at some time during the next football season, they may wish to watch 2 Football

when there is mass disorder (as at Chelsea and Scarborough last year).

The police have had to resort to evidence tampering in efforts to convict people they regard as hooligan

computer terminal connected to the central data ‘base which will check the code, while a steward checks the photo against the face of the cardholder. A police of ficer wil, of course, be stand: ingby.

So just who is meant to be screened out by the identity

By Craig Brewin

League match. Football the police? Identity cards have been Supporters The courts already have touted in recent years as @ a Sciatign powers to ban people from

panacea toll kinds of social ills: underage drinking, rural violence, AIDS, Poll Tax

(personal capacity)

evasion.. In the card system improve this

been chos , record?

Pig. The truth is that the

‘Aworking party made up of government is less conTory Sports Minister Colin The overwhelming cemed to do something Moynihan and repre- majotity ofthe 2,000 League about football-related

sentatives of the League, the FA, and the Department of the Environment has proposed a system in which central computer will hold details of all registered foot.

matches played each season pass off with no ‘rouble at all. Where it does ‘occur its usually outside the grounds and often involves People who aren't even at-

Only a few months ago, Moynihan said he had no intention of introducing an identity card scheme. Then

ball supporters. tending the game. ‘came the European ChamEach supporter will be is- Closed circuit t pionships in West Germany sued a card with a photo and and crowd segregation have and the media overkil.

Three hundred English fans were arrested (in comParison with 800 German

an electronic code. At each turnstile at every ground in the country there will be a

already made grounds safer. Mass arrests inside grounds are increasingly rare even

five) estimat take an extra 150,000 seconds to get 50,000 people into the ground.

With 30 turnstiles operating, it wil therefore require a total of 90 minutes to get everyone in — a recipe for a crowd-controldisaster, anda

ly deterrent to many potential fans.

fans) but only 29 were Js right, it will charged.

‘The official UEFA report said that the level of violence was “normal” for football matches in Germany and ‘that most arrests ocourred in general mopping-up exercises.

Clearly, identity cards are

not a logical or honest

response to what happened These proposals will be in Germany, nor a means of disastrous for football — for Preventing future trouble. ordinary supporters and for

Moynihan estimates that it club finances. They are also

the thin end of a totalitarian wedge threatening the whole of society.

A national identity card system for alladults would be a shot step from the football scheme, and would delight the Tories and their Poll Tax collectors.

We must not only defeat the proposals, but counter them with positive policies for dealing with racist and ‘macho behaviour on the terraces, for a statutory right of people in existing club membership schemes to participate in the management oftheir club, and forageneral democratisation of the sport atalllevels.

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE COMMON MARKET — STILL THE ONLY SOCIALIST POLICY

Leslie Huckfield MEP (Merseyside East) PO Box 200 Wigan, Lancs WN5 OLU

Verso

Verso

Publishers of Socialist Books

Our authors include: Tony Benn, Eric Heffer, Walter Benjamin, Terry Eagleton, Alexander Cockburn, Boris Kagarlitsky, Manning Marable, Mike Davis... and many more!

6 Meard Street, London W1.

Greetings to Labour Party Conference from ]

Let’s work together for socialism outside NATO and the Common Market

Alf Lomas Euro MEP

Reading Matters Bookshop sends greetings to Labour Party Conference

We're surviving and thriving — despite the Tory bigots!

Good books for socialists... moving soon to new promises on Wood Green High Road.

Reading Matters, 10 Lymington Avenue, London N22.

Belgrano latest! ‘Why wait until 2012 to find out more about the sinking of the Argentine cruiser? Rec 7 The Unnecessary War, Edited by the Belgrano Action Group, £5.95,

paperback, January 1988 fralabe from

Spotesman, Berend

cet ioe, Conble

‘Sweet Notingharm NGT

ser.

‘and in the Report of the ‘Assessors on the Belgrano Enquiry, November 1986, published by B.A.G. £5.75, paperback,

sala from BAG,

T Queen Biabeth Row

Cirencester, loucesterthie GLT IDH.

Labour Briefing No. 69 September 28th-October 11th Page I]

Features

ITALY

Lesbians and Gays

look left

“In Italy, homosexuality simply does not exist so far as the law is concerned,” according to 33 year-old Franco Grillini, national secretary of the federation of Italian lesbian and gay organisations known as ARCIGay.

Ip Grillin’s view, this abserie of legal repression has “historically contributed to the relative invisibility of gay people in Italy and the weakness of the Italian lesbian and gay movement.

“The state policy of repressive tolerance towards hhomosexualsmeans that anyone ‘can behave however they want, solong asitishidden away from the public eye.

“Thin clandestinity has been accepted by many gays... but the future of gay and lesbian rights depends on breaking this social compromise between homosexuals and the state.”

‘Today, ARCI-Gay is in the

forefront of creating a higher public profile and greater polit- ‘al influence for the Italian lesbian and gay community.

Established in 1979, it is part of the left wing ARCI cultural ‘movement — the Italian Association for Recreation and (Culture —which bas overamiltion members.

ARCE-Gay has become the main national lesbian and gay movement in Italy, with 25 branches all over the country.

By PETER TATCHELL

Despite opposition from the Catholic Church, in 1982 Communist-led Bologna Council gave ARCLGay a local office, ‘which Grillini describes as “the first gay centre in lly.” It is now ARCI-Gay’s national

“We are very concemed with ‘questions of civil rights, AIDS,

military service and sex educetion in schools,” says Grillini. “We also organise cultural initiatives such as film seasons and summer festivals.”

In recent years, ARCI-Gay's legislative proposals to outlaw discrimination 00 the grounds of sexual orientation and to recognise coh ‘homosexual

partners accepted by most ofthe left par-

Tn the 1987 general election, Grillini was one of seven apex” ly gay candidates. He stood unsuccessfully in Bologna on a civil liberties and lesbian and gay tights platform on the Italian Communist party's istof ‘candidates,

Tn recent years, the Communists have been trying to break with their doctrinaie past and link up with new social ‘movements involving greens, feminists and lesbians and gays.

‘According to Grillini, ARCI. Gay bas a “good relationship” ‘with the Communist Party and

Posteard by Cath Tate.

Set of posteards ‘on Section 28 ‘available from (Cath Tate, PO Box 647, Londo swe4ik

its daily newspaper, Unita, which gives “favourable ‘coverage” to lesbian and gay is-

He adds, however, that “al- ‘though the Communist Party a rnanimously approved a policy in support of homosexual rights at its last Congress, this policy ‘was not included in the Party's election manifesto. Gay issues were really only raised by gay candidates.”

How did the Italian media respond to Grillini and the other ‘gsy candidates? “The national ress gave us a lot of coverage ‘and most of it was quite fair.”

says Grillini. “There wasno particular anti-gay campaign against me, apart form some telephone threats and insults.

“However, there was a vicious smear ‘campaign against another gay Communist candidate, Nikki Vendola, who was falsely branded a paedophile by his Christian Democrat opponents.”

‘Commenting on the election sesult, Grillini reflects: “I never expected to win, Standing for election gave me 4 public platform to raise lesbian and gay issues with anationwide audience of millions. The question of homosexual rights has rarely

achieved such prominence in Italy.”

Grillini feels that one of ARCL-Gay's most concrete and significant achievements has been to overturn the homophobic attitudes of the national press: “Today, almost all the newspapers talk’ about lesbians and gays and ARCI-Gay in asensitive way which is rarely derogatory. Even the conservative papers avoid perjorative language most of the ime.”

Peter Tatchell is the author of AIDS: A Guide to Survival, published by Gay Men's Press, £3.95,

Communists for capitalism

Facing the future?

Ifyou thought Kinnock’s Policy Review was bad, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

Last year the Marxism Today Communist Party rem- ‘nant sent away ateam of eight to redraft its 1977 programme The British Road to Socialism.

The team, which included such luminaries as Beatrix Campbell, Marxism Today editor Martin Jacques, and Financial Times journalist Chatlie Leadbeater, were given “completely free hand”. The result, Facing upto the Future, has now been released to considerable fanfare — from the right

‘Cautious souls (present author included) might argue that letting the characters listed above loose on any document remotely connected with socialism was asking for trouble. Monty Johnston

long-standing CP theoretician, may now agree, having used the

sent on the central question of, class

Bryan Gould did not share Monty's reservations. In a Guardian asticle Bryan noted ‘wistfully that unlike his Labour arty parliamentary comrades, the CP does not have tocontend ‘with any organised link with the labour movement. Freed from such fetters, the CP can lead a charge tothe right that outpaces even Labour's Policy Review.

Bryan may whinge, but there inaserious point here, Labour's Policy Reviewers have to face Party Conference. Today, with the tradeunion Leaders delivering the block votes to a grateful Shadow Cabinet, it may seem that the working class has noinfluence over the Party.

Bt this may not always be ! the case, The Bryan Goulds of

this world live in fear of any at tempt by ordinary Labour and trade union activists to win control of their Conference. Bryan is painfully aware of this, Ihaving been shouted down at last year’s Conference.

One of the most notable themes of the document is the virtual abandonment of class as 2 tool for understanding society.The document points ‘ut that “central tothe realignment on the Felis the recomposition of the working class.”

‘What those of us who have failed to realign have notunderstood is that “class in modem capitalism is not the product of «single polarisation between a ruling class, which owns the means of production, and 2 working class of wage labourers."

‘This type of language is less than honest. Labour Briefing. for one, has long recognised tha the working cassis diverse — which is why we support demands for greater representation for women in the Labour Party and trades unions, the fight for black Sections, the Positive Images Campaign in Haringey, and the anti-Clause 28 campaigns nationally.

It is precisely because we recognise the diversity of the working class that we give such priority to the fight for autonomous organisation within the labour movement.

But where we see diversity and therefore set the building of class unity high on the agenda ina fight against “arulingclass, which owns the means of production”, the CP sees only “contradictory class locations” ‘The CP narrows class politics to “action at work”. Before you ccan say “Popular Front”, class is no longer the major division in society and the CP is off in

By Bryn Griffiths Tottenham CLP

‘search of new social forces.

‘With class out ofthe way, the CP advocates the creation of “popular alliances” of Black people, women, the green movement, public sector professionals, the voluntary sector, dissident nationalism,

‘ioned buthe docs appear on the front page of Marziem Today. No doubt he's waiting forthe call

One of the CP's favourite historical examples include “popular froots against fascism in the 300". The lates issue of Revolutionary History (produced by Socialist Plat oma) catalogues the slaughter of Trotskyisis and Anarchists by the Spanish CP during the wil War — an atrocity sponsored and justified by the Popalar Front, surly a concept in need of at least some cntical appraisal!

More contemporary ex samples include Live Aid and the Mandela concerts — positive developments, cenainly, but are they permanent sub stitutes forthe organised work ing clase? I doubt it

‘The conduct of the miners strike in South Wales ix another CP example, apparently more useful, bat actually a coded attack on Scargilliem. No ackknowledgment is given to the ole played by Scargill and Heathfield on the NUM Exec tive in fighting for Women Against Pit Closures to have ‘constitutional satus within the NUM.

Having abandoned class

politits, the CPao longer hasto explain how the working class ccan seize control of the means of production from the capitalist class,

‘The CP rejects “statist notions of social ownership” and suggests “legislation could be passed forcing the top 200.companies to make over 10-15% of the shares to workers” trasts, or wage-earner investment

boards, or the state could take strategic stakes devolved to regulatory bodies.”

Here the CP rejects Clause IV and lines up squarely behind the Labour right It reads like a parody of a Bryan Gould speech and would be funny if it ‘vamn’t much a gross distortion of, the word “communist

‘The document ends with the Fabian declaration that socialists “must gradually extend their influence throughout the society.” For, if anyone still hasn't got the message,the ‘writerexplains: “Socialism will not be made in Britain in the 19906 or the first decade of the next century by this strategy.”

Socialists looking for alter-

natives to Kinnock’s Policy Review will receive litle help from Marxism Today. Our time ‘will be spent more productively participating in the policy debates taking place in the Socialist Conference.

“Travelling light seems to have freed them (the CP) to look to the future with an open-mindedness and elligence which the Labour Party, imprisoned by its past achievements, hostage to aspirations, has not always found easy to demonstrate.”

Bryan Gould MP

Labour Briefing No. 69 September 28th-October Hlth Poge 12

—=———S

Letters Building Briefing misses the gree rater: SUBSCRIBE TO BRIEFING beat Wonantt: Make sure of your copy of the fortnightly

(You're) Welcome to the SLD

Dear Briefing,

recently read through acopy of the SLD's introductory brochure eniled “Welcome to the Social & Liberal Demoerat.

‘As expected,the contents were a ragbag of nebulous no-

tnd cosmetic concessions — strikingly similar, infact, to the “Aims and Values” and Policy Review documents carrently being foisted upoa us by the Labour leadership.

Whilst “Democratic social ists believe in matket allocation” and tha “the operation of the market ... is @ generally satisfactory means of determin ing provision and consumption”, the SLD says that it “will recognise the role and power of the market — But we cannot rely on market forces alone...”

Will the electorate spot the difference? Would they bother to vote a all?

Tn fact the only major dit ferences between the SLD’ ‘vague vision of future freedom and fairness and the Labour Policy Review'spuny proposals for a “talent-based economy” with “user-friendly services” ae the old Liberal ideas about

Proportional Representa and Regional Devolution — ‘which we have yet to adopt.

With no common ownership commitments, democratic socialists and social (or liberal) democrats will obviously share alot in common — capitalism, forastart. Refusing to recognise all around usthe evidence of exploitation, and thus filing toaddress the key questions of ‘ownership and control, these “aims and values” amount to 2 complete capitulation to capitalism.

‘When what's urgently sequired is a straight Socialist challenge to capitalist control, Kinnock is instead preparing the ‘ground for a merger with the ‘SLD — or some such alliance amangement — to pose as =

1 substitute for “Thatcherism”.

Its high time to realise — as ‘Thatcher did year ago—that the Capitalist System has outgrown the Welfare State. Any return to the cory Butskellite Keynesian consensus politics would be hopelessly inadequate.

‘This is no time to haul down the Red Flag of Socialism and hoist the white flag of surrender. Defend Clause IV and defeat the Policy Review —orLabour will become Liberal.

Yours 5

Richard Hanford

Secretary, Mid Sussex CLP

Dear Briefing, What the Major ignores is | Labour Briefing. Annual subscriptions are £12 4 that this so-called “synthetic” {individuals), £24 (institutions). Write to Labour | must disagree with ome or alienated” musicis, itany- | Briefing, PO Box 457, London SW2 5UZ

ts mad jor : ee ee ines eee we (cheques, etc., payable to Labour Briefing).

Briefing’s Summer Special. Sounds” sfhe praises so high

Mymain objecton'stothe SOUS" Se Pas Name . paragraph in which she do. Y.1%, ed misses “the synthetic froth of Address . most western pop and the {Fim angst of much ofthe i ' Sependent alternatives” RU Serear il koran SELL LABOUR BRIEFING

; if you're @ regular reader, you obviously feel the from its being synthetic of singing at all. Could we hear | need to read each issue of Briefing. But why keep ‘synthesiser-based. Thismay her without a recording | the good news to yourself? ‘00m a trivial issue, but the studio, a record deck, a | Bulk orders are available on sale or return for you to bourgeois myths behind the radio? sell to your friends: or the many other Majors diomiccive comment "All the “eynthetic froth” | Briefing reeders who take this easily saleable paper inform the reet of the aricle, bende dois foreground tech. | %2 thei! Labour Party, trade union and campaign ind aye too common tology te-ehew how mre | meetogs, Join the resistance! Just send the form to, amongst socialist views on w the | PO Box 487, London SW2 SUZ. artmusic. is produced is integral to the | Nome music itselt.

Community ‘That sound is not possible | Address Socialists’ ons of without technological “intering new or technolog ference”. Yes, we're a long | ~~

cal are understandable, Way form the time when | peace send me (min. order 5} copies of

ae how eat science ee Labour Briefing on sale ot return, starting with issue

eae ns, Pepecksierey) BRIEFING 500 CLUB

id such atime ever exist? | | It is very expensive to produce @ socialist newspaper ‘No, i's far better to press | — despite our high sales up and down the country, ‘onwith the means of produc. | We Still need @ subsidy to keep the paper fortnightly 4 and keep up with all the activities we want to be Sonor Asmany | Dart of. We have no rich back hide le oe ee, Bart of. We have no rich becker, no hidden sources demonstrated, the syn- at seer : a epson The Briefing 500 Club exists to offer our support ‘thesiser tecord deck | the opportunity of making a small reguler donation ‘can be used to unite the op- | and enter @ fortnightly draw for a £25 prize — this pressed peoplesoltheworid. | for just £1 per week, or £4 per month. Will you Wiliam West ‘spare the cost of a pint of beer of less than a packet Haringey Labour Briefing | of cigarettes each week? We can't guarantee you'll win the prize — but we will guarantee that unless

Periscope Column.

‘Send snippets and info to Greg Bassett, Labour Briefing, PO Box 457,

Lon

‘sw2 SUZ

Unintelli-

gence Service

Another shock revelation in the Guardian!

Apparently MI5 and the Special Branch are labouring under the misapprehension that Harriet Harman MP and her TGwU-bureaucrat husband Jack Dromey are a threat to the state.

Sooo???

Labour's Leaders tell us ‘withdrawal from the EEC is Rot an option, but a new ‘opinion poll commissioned by the Euro-bureaucrats themselves suggests the Great Brlish Public thinks otherwise.

Les than 40% of people in the Uk feeltheyhavebenefied from Common Market membership. When asked “What comes fo mind! you hear EC?” only 17% had what the polisters call a positive evaluation. Of those whohadheardot the European Parlament, 27% were generally favourable; 46% unfavourable.

‘The news for revolutionaries, however. less than en couraging. The percent- ‘age favouring revolution {ary action in Brin is down 10.4% (from 1981 high of 7)

We'll have to move the Brist

ing office to Greece. who lead the EC table on 11%. The Luxembourgeo'slive up to thelr name with the lowest on 2%. I could be a Jong. hard, winter.

With solidarity like this...

one Briefing supporter — ‘2 London postal worker = "returned home from the picket line one morning during the strike to find on his doormat... a delivery of post. well, not to worry, other ‘offices were joining the strike day by day cur London postie sat ‘down to open his lot~ ters; only to find every single item of mail, which had got through the near-total blockade came from labour movement or ganisations!

Alton Bill boosts abortions

Don't blink, it’s true. New figures show that at ‘the height of Alton’ s campaign to reduce abortion time Limits to 18 weeks, the total

Tpunber of abortions on genewfedworken slater. | You enter, you won't! women resident in motes 500 Club supporters also receive @ Briefing Befeain rove bya mas Who! more useful term | supporters card automatically. Just fill in the sive 15.18. teplaces i? They're not | standing order form below, and return it to PO Box

significantly, the num £0". ond wilbe staring a | 457, London SW2 SUZ.

‘ber of abortions per- debate in the paper on formed after 18 weeks whether to go for rose from 1,384 in the “Dwteaueraic colectvst” | Bankers ‘order form for gene 1987 quarter te. oF stale copii ear

1,942 in 1988. One 'secaned tail con. | “bow Briefing S00 Cie

Clearly, Alton’s claim tributor, arriving in the Brief ‘that bis campaign vas Ng office shortly after this | Bankers Or Saving Lives" is tree amazing plece of news, |,

his cynical, | was aghast. “But |haven't | 7°

Zishonest propaganda _lgued the “state cop’

Gust have helped draw wih them for 15 years!" he

Ttention to theexist- gasped:Deforegongottio | at

Sxnume memories of that

(bank name, sort code!

fence (however

perilous) of safe, , cstonttime. 2 : (address) Pieai abortion ia Meanwhie,cmember of the Socialist Organiser Editorial | From: er {your named

Britain. Board was fo be heard at

History goes the recent ClPs Con- | At

e ference In Manchester, full circle Claiming that the debate 3 ae {your address) ‘You may have thought that reflected longstanding ‘after discovering the new _ concems held within SO. panacea of “federalism”. Bui how have these Sociatst | presse debit trom my account each month the sum af £4, Socials? Organsers con. Organkor supporters | f\evour of Labour Brieling No. 2 account, Co-operative fribution to the further managed to keep thelr | Bonk Swsttord £18, Code 08-90-76, Account no. Govelopment of theory concerns 30 quiet for so | S0349967. woud jst be 10 continue long. c nearby Briefing sup- ‘Gppiving It fo every areain _ porter wanted to know. Starting on ghalds ke sev tte) the word (roland, Poles ~Theprogramme’snotwatton tine, Quebec. the Mol- on tablets of stone.” came | Ther {date} of each month vines... what's next? Is- the answer. lington?). It would seem that Sociatst | Signature Intact. they have deckied!o- Orgonters programme & | pated ‘turn thelt attention to wren on tabiets of soap.

‘nother old chesinut: the We wal for the ultimate terbose pore peel ne eam

Organiser Snnounees the Eattorial_ the tem “soci” & no OOOOOOOoGooDoooGooNNoConoD Board's inlenton fo crop lange wef. and start a

fio torn "woe sigies’, debate on whether to [Printed by East West Graphio (TU), 01-954 3827 Gnd "tts “extensions! Yencme ther paper The Or | Pritod by abour Briefing, PO Box 457, London SW2: “deformed” and “de- ganiseror simply The. S by died af

My account number is:

fer on

Briefing goes to Labour Party Conference! ‘The Briefing office at Labour Party Conference is at 18b Queen Street (above the shop). Hf you are reading Briefing for the first time (or the umpteenth), and you want to contact us, call into the office] any time between 11am and 7am (yes, the office is shut from 7am to 11am!). It you want to keep in touch, make sure you fill in the subscription form above for your copy of the paper ‘each fortnight. Briefing sellers: please note that we are rushing out an issue of Briefingimmediately after Party Conference, so we keep up with our normal fortnightly schedule. However, having been away at Conference while we would normally have been producing the paper, we shall probably be printing a day or so late. Ring 01-733 7016 after Party Conference for the latest details of when you'll be receiving your paper. Apologies {or late arrival of the last two papers: we're having problems mastering the new technology. We hope to have cracked it soon; and hope that in the meantime you appreciate the new clearer type, which should

Labour Briefing No. 69 Seplember 28th October LIth Page 13

Reviews

BOOK REVIE

A Health Campaigner’s Handbook

By MARK SEATON

Cutting the Lifeline: the fight ‘for the NHS, edited

by John Lister, garvices, AIDS, and am wulances

Journeyman Press; “This book speaks out

£3.50. {or the silenced majority,”

says John Lister, “the 82% of the population who depend totally on the NHS for their health care and ject all of the arguments trotted out by the Thatcherite think tanks.” t's also a good book to sellthrough your local CLP or trade union branch. Copies can be obtained from LHE, 335 Grays inn

Don't wait for Labour's answer to Thatcher's “NHS Review” — go out and buy this new paperback now!

Cutting the Litetine, edited by London Health Emergency Information Officer John Lister, is a ‘campaigner's handbook, an asset for anyone ‘engaged in the daily battle to save the NHS from Tory

present crisis, and the growth of the fight to detend it

‘The second halt consists ‘of some 20 articles from activists in COHSE, NUPE, NALGO, MSF, SHA, MIND, and numerous campaigns, covering topics as diverse

3 private _medicin migrant workers, dental

BOOK REVIEW

John Maclean battles on!

iadectty ohinghiteane ‘thoboltle tha mltart

John Maclean: ioe or Educator of the ints ean be parpit Working Class, a nating topics: tom to en pamphlet by Pormaa ct Soot Seca James D. Young, taste Nowbatle Abooy Co Clydeside Press, 37 lage, an¢ the Scotish univerHigh Street, Tis focus on Maclean's

achievements as 2 teacher

shows how his intomationalism

was rooted in the everyday

Tike realities of Scottish working ‘ase cuture,

Glasgow, 36pp.

“Working peo| everyone else, have a way of forgetting the struggles and sacrifices that made possible the improved conditions they enjoy

By Mike Marqusee Haringey Labour

today.” Briefing tibutordamoeD. Young ke of Nenow pamphlet wiithsfting The pamphlet conch wih

{quote from the American Wobb- an homage tothe late Harry Mely, Ralph Chapin. Shane: *..a new era full of "Young's eaxamination ofthe promise and potential is opening distinctive contribution to work ‘us. By putting ing class education made by sodalism back onto the agenda socialist revolutionary John of contemporary politics, the Maclean (1870-1923) js part of Scoltish loft can help to inspire his general counter-offensive to and encourage our bretheran in the establishment induced for- Chile, South Altica, America, \gatfulnesswhich besets not only and England. the working masses, but many With the example of John left activists as well Maclean, Hary McShane andan

Young knows that history is a army of socialist foreboars powerful weapon in the class before us, we can now begin to Struggle, and he rages offective- prove thatthe Yorward march of Iyinthese pages against the use Labour has not boon halted”

FILM REVIEW

‘AWorld Apart, directed — by Chris Menges from ‘Shawn Slovo's script, is based on Siovo's own experiences growing up as the daughter of ‘Communist and anti-apartheid activist, Rluth First, who was murdered by the South African regime in 1981. The film focusses on the personal cost of fighting racism and tyranny, is admirably non-sectarian, and has the honesty to acknowledge that, in the end, t's the Justice of the struggle itself which holds us together.

BOOK REVIEW

The Isthmus of Revolution

‘imperialist control — with Mexico

tionary process to national and No one will agree with

: omecranc tats. Danketiey's views bat tis curly to the north and deaperatly um Power in the ‘Whi never ecoig or sc- igi th ical soit bla. sable Colombia Ge south — mes tata Denicrkysiempistoweigh stip shold siempt io undertand wou bea massive blow in favour

slesiresran ps ‘critically te mccemsive policies of popelar revolutionary movements of socialism inthe Americas. Dunkerley, Verso, tie vasous mar popula rpmise- ~sympathtcallyandwithontscc- _Dunkerey iss that, despite the £29.95 tom Ths cre does toost area — at ako wiet Ge apparent stakemate in the region, the — paying tite ote exrsrtinary simplistic sone of cherieaers. surge for popular power i far from

‘over. In that sense, despite its deta,

‘Courage and creativity of revolsDunkerley's own book ix just the

Sonsry movements which are

Victory

Historical and materialist Creryvher valfed by yours — storys far in method, stunning in its often very young — militants. The victory of the FSLN in : sweep and erudition, this \Nicaragas andthe ongoing warin EL Mistake

new book is without doubt By Phil Hearse, eaaapleniacrsapis = > > ——hnlow the nstemalan struggle. | Vero have made a mistake in the single most important __[stington North Bet Guatemala is the largest, most publishing this indispensable

work on recent Central CLP populous country of the isthmus, —rource-book | wvish £30 edition, American politics la the Depron Serene erg oar pera Tagish lanteoge, Foland mvcomene paperback son moon m For

mE ANNES azary For Dekcey, te oatome of Duttreysview html ‘ne

Subtitled A Plc History 8 Sicengean renion oases oncome of te epoal sense Boag ad tee jor bi ‘America it Snsccided. While stating that may well be decided by the batle in have mostly ignored Dunkerley's Charts economic, social, and Nicsragas ie -nct any Lind of the forests and mosnisina of bool theft toatdnt—even polldcal developments from eckce” sta" he noncthcies Gusta The dee offered by [i i mean undertaking» heroic fhe cad of the Spanish Cap- “ies Gose sip ef "opi: te poplar frcerin htcouty in ightofece Your local bay get taincy General in 1921 to the to laty tou weigh ently beldof ic No mciant can pally be ‘Arias pina ts 1987, Sec tlancrel sara nenniets ewes ef ec castis cabot

Dunkerley provides a the ithmus of revolution without

region. ae ane “The loss of Central America to

ae BOOK REVIEW Esewrces=s| El Salvador: Behind the lines

‘economy and structure of s0city ‘created the preconditions for mex Plosion-

Agribusiness ‘The development of agsibesiness

ot ome —_ ~ zones were frequently viruses in the body a a fstrialisation meant the the |, yg ‘evacuated, with patients shrapnel, pebbles and red a cevlopet of wbnintion om » reple's Remedy: Thoved on stretchers or __gf8en chilis. as props. teweck. Heath Coren Et “The most stirng soctions of

eee, hammocks minutes after The most sting regionsharedthe grotcaque features | Salvador’s War of major surgery. jects sespsbicleit of "Somoza Family Lid.” in :

~ Mi Sse sched up and return to tho

icaagen imgeriaiom and whe | Liferation, Monthy By Mike Phipps front to dia, the vilagors who

igarchy nonetheless combined to. Review Press, New York ¥, a 4 ‘rebuild their lives alter a Keep the mans impovernbad. Eeiee Woolwich CLP {government ar-sad has

The resale — growing populs- dices Fetoned thew homes, the

Yet despite the air-raids, poverty and disease, and

trben and youth

re ‘six-hour’ over a, fet. the development of meee | Francisco Metzi, hobr bate overa primitive

“operating tablo" to save the

popalar organisations, and con- | whose book The the absence of proper We of a companoro eee" —"™ | People’s Remedy will equipment, medical Pheori expasive mire be published in supplies of skiled Theorist

Revolutionary —_| Rnerica next month, is pereonna, the Po pelea

“ termination and cot 6 moving

Dunkeriey shows how these con- | & European health Se ‘emotive - but his conclusion fe Sines led to he development of | worker who spent ee. ‘nassatable: “When tho ‘evolutionary movements ia the | three years behind the ho rs cbjective ofa struggle isthe fee of mana teraton move: | Gur fines inthe rges strongly. Rberation ofthe poopie, Ris Feak oo | Rormeaserae Humour ceria

“The“staes” of Cental America, | controlled by the FMLN —_Thore are even passages of Sotpacks and aven momentary he notes, a of relatively ree! | (Farabundo Marti Front gimhumour. On one ears

‘ecasion, Metz, unable to

“But history i on the sido of ‘make his modical jargon

sete oe perk of te rte° | of National Liberation) S onthe oppressed, ea

share important cements of s com

ron celtwre and of course =com- | In war-torn El Salvador. Understood by local health

spon langue MetzI's book Is the obrioore, Gomonsiraesthe Revohtlorary acy in Ei ‘The geval domination of the | story of medical work In Fowersofvaious abiotics by Salvador has pesieted for 100

region by pera the need t | the most appalling making use of mitary analogy. many yoars for the Bul

defeat dictatorial local oligarchies, | conditions. Makeshift He sets up @ mock battle Popular and just nature of this

‘and the everpresat land qeeston | hospitals in the baile

leoda decisive weight inthe revolo- between bacteria, drugs and

Struggle not fo be recognised.”

Labour Briefing No. 69 September 2th-October Lith Page 14

International Briefing

Eastern Europe and the USSR

Nationalism and internationalism

At a meeting of the Central Committee of ; the Soviet Communist Party on July 29th, Mikhall Gorbachev, faced by rising nationalist protests in the Caucasus and the Baltic Republics, talked of the need for tougher penaltles forthose who stirup national enmity.

leanwhile, in the Western Ukrainian city of Lviv, nationalist activists from six non-Russian nationalities appealed to President Reagan not to abandon their cause.

(On the face of it, choosing sides between Reagan and Gorbachev ought to be easy. But, as usual, things are not

~—- asthey Seem. Official “internationalism” tums out to be a cover for

nationalist discrimination; appeals for class unity a cover for repression.

A socialist

By Colin Meade Surbiton CLP

The Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu now plans to destroy 2,000 villages, many with predominantly —_nonRomanian populations. In the winter of 84-85, Turks living in Bulgaria were required to adopt Bulgarian names.

‘When, in 1981, Albanians in the Kosovo region of ‘Yugoslavia tried to exercise their right of self-determination they were met with systematic repression, followed now by an attempt to mobilise Serbs in an anti-Albbanian crusade led by Serbian Communist Party head ‘Slobodan Milosevic.

In the Soviet Union it was standard practice to connthe chauvinism of Georgians or Ukrainians, but

‘excuse the chauvinism of the

In the Ukraine, 70% of books and pamp!

‘are in Russian, al-

though Russian is the first

language for only 20% of the

In the 30s, savage repression was meted out to socalled is nationalists, in the non-Russian parts of the Soviet Union. 80% of Ukrainian writers and artists

perished.

‘According to one writer, “The desire to stamp out the agents of the Ukrainian national idea was so extreme that several hundred blind bandurysty — itinerant folk singers — were executed.”

Mass deportations of ‘minority groups took place during and after the "Great Patriotic War" and the ruling

caste has never hesitated to inthe hope of diverting attention trom its own failures.

it should be remembered that at one time, under the Hapsburgs, Romanians were oppressed by Hun- ‘garians. Today's victims can be tomorrow's tyrants, and national enmity can exist together the oppressor or the ‘oppressed.

Nationalism

Socialists should therefore support not nationalism, but a programme for’ the democratic solution of the national question, based on the end of all discrimination and a state system which ai aa

This approach does not come out of the blue. The proposal for a Balkan Federation, for exemple, has a long pedigree. in 1947,

POLAND

‘Yugoslavia's leader Tito and the Bulgarian Dmitrov met to discuss a possible union of the two states. Stalin, however, was dead against the idea.

Vision

The old vision of a United Socialist States of Europe needs to be revived and developed. in the meantime, we must lend support to all those who dare to challenge the fake official “working class unity”, who tel the truth about what these slogans conceal, or who. suffer persecution for protesting against national oppression. ‘Among democratic opposition circk rationalist approach to the national question appears to be gaining ground. A small group of Romanian exiles living in the Hungarian capital of Budapest has recently approached the Hungarian Democratic Union to express

support for Hungarians and ‘ther minorities in Romani

Supporters of the Czechoslovak democratic front, Charter 77, have also offered support to the people of Romania. A Bulgarian dissident, Tzeko Tsekov, protested against the antiTurkish campaign, and the very same people who appealed to Reagan also put out a statement opposing: “Any attempt by reactionary foroes to preserve the status quo and divide us,setting Azerbaijanis against Arjane, Russians and Ukrainians against Crimean Tartars, Christians against Muslims, Orthodox. against Catholics, and inciting everyone against the Jews. Their mistake is not to reject the national policies of the bureaucracy, but to believe that Reagan eupports genuine self-deterination of the peoples of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.

alternative for Polish workers

‘The following article was written for Labour

Briefing by JAN SYLWESTROWICZ of the International Department of ‘the Polish Socialist Party.

After a break of 40 years, an independent socialist party is again functioning in Eastern ,

‘The Polish Socialist Party (PPS) was set up in November 1987 by socialist activists from Solldarnosc, the independent peace movement, and other

‘The old PPS ceased toeist in 1948, when it was forcibly merged withthe Stalinist Polish ‘Workers’ Party, whose name then changed to the Polish United Workers’ Party.

The PPS had teen moving shaepty leftwards since the 1930s, The programme adopted at its Radom ‘Congress in 1937 was based on the international criss of capital, prortised involvement the one ing clare struggle, emphasined the fight for women's rights, and reasserted the Party's traditional an clerical

‘The PPS organised worker brigades to defend Wareas from the

s== Nazis in 1939, and conducted se Livy throughout the occupation.

‘Towards the end of the War it

strened the neces ng an independent

bai fa revolutionary social transformation, withthe nationalisation of large-scale industries and the development of democratic ‘worker co-operatives im smaller

‘This political tradition has inspired leftwing mitans in Poland to re-establish the PPS. Unfor tunately, its founding conference ‘wa broken up by secarty police.

The Polish Stalinist ike to play cp thee “iberal” reforms and boast (Oat dissidents are now foe to walk the srets but they draw the fine the PPS: four of whose leading members were jailed in May for at lending 2 worker” protest necting atthe Doel metallurgical plant Wroclaw:

Released on surety afer a month, ‘tear ofthem were rearrested dering the Augatsikes sod sill remain prison, ntried.

Despite the repression, the PPS ‘continues 10 publicize ie repre-

otatives’ names and iit om ite ‘ight to function openly.

“An application for regitation ax legal cremation wor tected by te courte

"A propaganda victory was won however, wl te Ombudeman for Civil Rights (who has po decinion making powers) declared that the ‘courts had committed = “procedural” error in. denying the PPS reghurion — i tamed out dhe Sarno statutory bane Tor doing sa, 1S te Stalinist had never bothered Topas any leginltion regulatig the creston of political partes

"The Ombudsman's opinion wat rejected by goverment spokespersom Jerzy Urban, who merely noted

that the government “took = dif (erent view of the nar.”

“The Party's difficaltics bave not prevented i from making remark ble ses forward, hanksto acon ‘Selent clan approach.

Before this year's Fest wave of strikes (AprivMay), many leading figeres in Solidarnose began to argue for 2 move away from the ‘movement's traditional bases the tones (where they claimed effec. tive work was now impossible) towards arsinbow coalition of nde pendent initiatives, from ecology ‘roupe and clandestine ‘eaters 10 the creston of snail private businesses ("breaking the HS ceconomic monopoly")

“Against this, the PPS argued for 2 return to the factories, for Strengthening the undergroved workers commissions developing the factory bulletins, and focssing Solidamone’s efforts om ite basic

bieare marriage of buresveratic lansing and market mechanisms

{hat add ep to an * tack on working cae ving sandads, the PPS proposed a democratic ‘ocilit approach — the “soca tion” of both the factories and the planning sysem by handing them Deer the workers

‘At the beginning of the year, many of Soldamons’s intellectual “ivison” began to warn of the danger of “ancontrlled”, “spon taneows” prot. These, hey si, ‘coukt frighten Gorbachev ard bis Polish supporters into shandonng

Despite the miftary repression which Janszeick started, Polish workers continue to organise

resistance to the regime.

Uber eforms.

“The PPS argoed that all efforts nad fo be made to prepare 3 2% save of worker’ siugglen to beat ‘tthe attacks valved nthese very teforme.

Events since the have proves the PPS correct. The worker straggles of ApriMay and August were the oct wdepread deveined ad polscally concious snes marl

The legalisation of Solidarnone was the central demand and the strikes were organised in = demscrati aod open wey. All ta demonstrates that for Polish

‘workers democracy remain central {6 their otroggle again Stalinism.

‘Of cours, the PPS's forces re ssill relatively weak. Ix financial Situation — of enormous importance given the costs of operating “iMhegally” —ie dire

Its coming wader presee fom other sections of Sotidarnose to adopt «more “reatonsble™ line (Gotich relied in a sal mpi in Febraary, with four members ofthe ational leadership leaving).

‘The futore will be dificult Yet

the fact dha the PPS exist, and it presenting Polish workers with ‘genvinely socialist solution to the Crisis caused by 40 year of Stalinist ‘minrule, should please the entire ants Sialinist et, East and West Messages of support —in particular, condemning the Fepression of the PPS and calling for its immediate legalisation — should be seat to: Tadeusz Rachowskl, Chair, PPS Central Executive Committee), UL. Melssnera 2ia54, Warsaw.

Labour Briefing No.69 September 8th-October Llth Page 15

Intemational Briefing

LABOUR AND PALESTINE

Stop leadership support for Israeli cut-throats!

ANDREW HORNUNG, on behalf of the Labour Movement Campaign for Palestine, looks at the division between Labour Party Conference policy and the public positions of Labour's leadership over a period of intense struggle by the Palestinian people. What difference does this year’s Party Conference make?

[At last! Thi possibility’ ‘focused the word's attonion —retses to take sido oponty. of a debate on the 0” the brutality of Israeli taks of ‘peaceful conxistoncs’, Solonialiom and the rational but doesnt merfion Palestinian central Issue of Middle Tioits of the Palestinian statehood. East politics: the Pales- pooie, It gives support to Israet's tinian question. ss Labour Party. although that In the past, the com- Uprising Party's leading representatives plexity of the Lebanese ofthe pomer of wn tirge of tying to crush war, the trantaq war, ecatee a = It talks of the Peres. pieingtbatrotoven sop kabalve andthe necdto mete | fernecine fighting within ‘atUpteingthatnoteventsop i get ore the Palestinian camp all foveal their truo hostity to &. and Jordan in an mlemnatonal abscured the fundamental Trustheresoluonscomtadby omc ® Sn temas question of Palestinian PoaleZion(theBilishprotegoos hs finally given Up he pratcal statehood. of israef's Labour Party) cancon- claims on the West Bank. Now the uprising in the cealits real intent. ‘There follow three; “Occupied Territories” has iaks of deep concer. but combing dupy with dvr

Work for solidarity with the Irish struggle

sagroforestry", and “natural | Twenty years after the civil rights marches, does the 1988 Labour P "but when wo gett | major advance in labour movement support for the position of Brit the nub of theissue, tothe q¥es- | 114 MILTON, Hackney North & Stoke Newington CLP, and Labour Committee oa Ireland ion of the ight ofthe Palestinian | activist, Iooks at the issues. jpecple tonationalstatahood, we | Find the mealy mouthed phrase | The upsurge in CLP sup- even the Tory cabinet. Our front Bris withdrawal and slf-Setercece | Pet ok eae oe ae finian in 4 T. manda to confront he new leis. "Invite an et to your SGmmas'as tthe authors | Withdrawalfrom Irelands [5% propoacdty heTores. LaboerPurtyorrounion esting Wanted ts distance themsowes | @PPFopriate at a Party “Thincen CLEs hive resolutions and pot a short reeoltion like thi {rom even such vagueness. Conference which com- and smcmincnts supporting Brith “This CLP believes that ‘This resolution should be | memorates 20 years of withiawsl, sppored by + prob- Britain has o progressive role roundly rejected by Conference! | struggle in the six counties. “b+ mjonty of CLs. Sadly, the to ply im Ireland, thatthe Irish ‘The remaining rosokstons all | Ge October Sth, 1968, civil "HOR block vote will be wielded people aca whole havea right fo

‘clearly express theit support for tecnanchere were bavoned idly agsinot it. fletermine their own future and

Frame-up of US socialist the Palestinian Seog andthe | cerihestrectsbby the RUC amd. paigs w free tar Patyrec ball «| eat en taal terefore tinconaitional opposition to s paiga w force te Pesy tv olds‘ ebharoreaony ona thenotorious B Specials. tmjor poy debe nest year on polly from icant

niiso the Palestinians’ right to | _ They were marching for an

Defend Mark igre he Pcs | Spm ang a Nunbe face

Curtis! Seca eeemesta| §=©6 CHEMICAL WARFARE

Deny. advocate Conference pokey on | OSD. ten achieved im the this issue. past 20 years by successive British

outtimee’ | eeenices| Stop lraq

aS = “thesa tom Lowishom East, | [iy qneaion tapes cmagh for By Pete Firmin Brent East CLP ceuueeiegee| ee

setae: | cue | attacking the

‘American socialists are appealing for international | ying inthe creation ofa socular | Party Conference, the font teach

support for a political activist framed by the police. democratic state of Palestinians | tcam recused « 1,000 word policy Peck Corti rorked af the Swift mest-facking pleat in: | andJawx: precipi cater see urds! Des Motnes ows. noe Teonean fost Exprg.| _Tusbakelmsteer esteey

‘On March Lst police raided the Swift plant and arrested one | Forest Walthamstowo and Wer- | justification of version of the“ar-

satadoan nl 16 Meson workers ow mig cares | Io Escort Pan oe | moni ali ft Seed by

using information obtained from supposedly confidential am- | 4 4 Palestinian stato in the | Northem iland Sccreiay. Attest, | A delegation led by Jeremy Corbyn MP is now

nesty application forms. Occupied Terttories alongside a | this policy is simed at eanificaon | seeking meetings with the British Embassies of all ‘Thre dayslater, Cutis went toamesting withco-workers'0 | Secure leraot state witinispro- | by seal bed ona elet tut! | Bermanent members of the UN Security Council to ‘protest at the arrests. : : "67 borders; Be cocish Jest and sconomic | urge action to stop the carnage in Kurdistan. The Onhis way home, woman pleadedwithhim foralif saying | the thd group rgprecented | omevort of ei mi 26 cr. | Gelegation, which includes Harry Cohen MP, Mag site rae eee tp far he mab be So ec gy Oe Cee Se pageant coreg Beresford (CND), Lucy Beck (National Peace ‘porch while she looked inside. Feebe ean es ster ale of | _ Thtisnucee.Itsbows nom | Council), and representatives of the Kurdish

‘He never saw the woman again, but moments later police ran * = “ ‘hemser. | derstanding of the real political | Cultural Centre, issued the following statement. ‘onto the porch, arrested Curtis and charged him with attempted | this debate, confining eee 6 eaten | <omeceenheneen pe open

‘ves on thie question now to ani ie 2 s Sistonce on iscacl withdrawal | tn#ed lcland—anew Ireland, not | Kurdish people in Iraq. Before the ceasefire in the Gul

a gaol, Curtis was called a pie ewerss ‘and beaten wp. | ng ‘of the PLO. pres chase a se426cou | War, over 2,500 Kurdish villages had been destroyed by esas acess See FE ae yeep rere 5 rape, burglary, 8 Conference con eeuen wriich.taes_| Killed, including 4,000 by the use of chemical weapons.

the police He faces 25-year prison sentence if found gui. orf i docs sete, | KARE Ng AOC 9 ie oss of cree reae nly with the conscet of the_| The tragedy in the town of Halabja ealir this year is:

Curtis is a member of the Socialist Workers Party and his | is worth recaling that when | saaity of ir people of Norden | just one example of this horror. sie

‘name is on FBI files because of his Cental American Solidarity | theso taues wore lst debated | Icland” will unification take |" Since the oaasefre inthe kan-aq war,he plight of

‘work. Such filer are made available local palie departments. | at Conforonc, i 1982, Con- | pnceisgoingtot upto tek | the Kurdieh people has become even move deshorato,

Rumour also hasit that Swift's owners are looking forsfour- | ference ight camedownonthe | ind file of the Party toexpose this | Yn 0g fy Hoccbaons a: 000 have sought refuge in Turkey, and it appears.

year wage freeze when the contract negotiations begin in | side of the secular democratic | rotiencore and top fis imitative in a

‘Augus. Irisnot dfficull to see why they want activistslike Cur- | state soktion ieeaks that about 5,000 have been kiled by the use of

<< “Ofcourse Rwouldbe good to |" Remistionson rcland have teen | chemical and biological weapons. ‘Over 4,000 people have seat letters and petitions protesting | have a soricus debate at Gon- | placedim the“democracy forthe in. | We condemn totally and unreservedly the use of

at Cunts's tectnent, including the Campaten Group of MPs, | ference, between those altema- | vides! anicommunity”sctionof || chemical and biological weapons, and fervently believe

Rallis have been held in his defence at which the UN repre- | tives. What is of primary impor- | "ts Conerast om for tw sk glass pe ppc tetra

of the African National Congress, amongst others, i pore ys sag ieee segue Jee ee thie

sentatives gress, among: leaders loud an clea’ that tis | composite resolutions, one ©8 | the Iraqi government and doing everything possible to

have spoken. time to stop supporting the | Britshwithirewalandons ont. | sve the lives of the millions of Kurdish people stil in Briefing readers are asked to raise the issue in trade union and | eolopialist cut throats of the le- | Setlcealsctiontocadcmployment | Labour Pasty bodies. ‘aol Labour Party; tis time to | “Sie. = x dehste on | AS. delegation, we have met the British government

‘Send messages demanding the charges against Curis be | supportthestruggleolthePalos- | ,, Simply schewing + rcland would be a small victory. 1f_ | 0 express our deep concem about this. We also believe dropped to: James Smith, Polk County See 408 bho | Sees esau: | we get that far, surely those in the | that the United Nations must act to protect the lives of County Courthouse, Sth and Mulbery, Des Moines, Iowa | conditionally and unequivocaly. | ‘rt uous who siumefely sxp- | Kurdish people. All member slates should now express 50209, USA as the chosen representative f | perediherescltononempioyment | thoi ness t total emb Copies at mestages and any contribution shouldbe sent to |the Palesinan people; ad to | & Sect | tig preparedness to impose a tal embargo on arms jes of messages and any contributions should be sent to | he Palestina peopl: and © | Gcrnion a sles to Garand hss eenitriowacags Oete the Mid Cia Defeare Campaign, PO Bor 1018,DesMoincs, |” . ge {the Iraqi regime trom maintaining ts armed forces.

lowa 50311, USA. fae SEE 2010 | fereme i now well to the tight of

Labour Briefing No.69 September 28th October 11th Page 16

socialism

PHOTO: Leesa Herbert

Benn addresses the London rally

‘A London Campaign for onthenurses' picketline at Socialism meeting inCam- Maudsley Hospital in Londen Town Hall on Sepiem- don, was a result of presber 23rd was addressed by sure exerted by the leaderTony Benn and EricHetler, _shipchallenge.

Betty Heathfield, Haringey Tony Benn said the camClr. Martha Osamor, Pete paign had been about “repMarshall of COHSE, Lam- resentation — providing a beth Cllr. Joan Twelves, ~ voice for millions who sutand Jeremy Corbyn. {er under a system which

Betty. Heathfield puts profits before human ‘summed up socialism in a need.” hutshell: “Take the fot and _He described the scores between us all.” of “serious meetings”

Eric Helfer reminded the which he and Eric Hetfer meeting of when Dennis had addressed as “politics ‘Skinner placedaBilliorthe _ without Robin Day.” abolition of the House of He imagined Bryan Lords before the Com- Gould or Marxism Today mons in 1976 (when telling Nelson Mandela to Labour had a majority and “be realistic, now, Nelson, abolitionwas—asitisnow you've been in goal 26 — Party policy). years and what has it got

Erie and Tony Benn (and z John Prescott) had voted for it, Kinnock and Hatterstey had not

Eric wondered If Hattersiey's belated conversion to Party policy, like his amazing appearance

“W turns my stomach,” Benn admitied, “that Blackpool we will be asked to. embrace Wapping electriciaris by the same people who expelied Liverpoo! Councillors.”

Greetings to Labour Party

Conference delegates from

Tony Benn and Eric Heffer

“There are millions of people in Britain

who need socialism — and look to Labour to give a lead.”

Who's backing Benn

and Heffer?

Ata press conference in Camden Town Hail Tony Benn quoted @ HarrisiGalup poll showing that he enjoyed the support of ‘some 16% of the public — ‘some 7 million people. The pollwas taken at the beginning of the leadership campaign.

‘Benn noted that his support was now some three times as large as that enjoyed by David Owen. He ‘said therefore he expected the BBC to give him three timesasmuch coverage as itgave Owen.

The attendant media minions laughed nervousty

Comment: TGWU left debacle

‘There was never much chance of the TGWU backing Benn or Heffer in the leadership contest. But we all hoped for better than this.

The National Executive wound up endorsing Kinnock and Hattersley unani- ‘mously —alter the walkout of the — right-wing delegates.

Even a vote for Prescott ‘or an abstention would have been better than this stitch-up.

What kind of message does it send to the TGWU rank-and-file? What sup-

Giving a lead in the struggle for

port can they expect from the “left” executive when they find themselves in struggle?

The TGWU has democratically-decided policies against nuclear ‘weapons, for the repeal of anti-rade union laws, for boycotting ET, and for Isolating the EEPTU. What do these commitments amount to when the exuctive endorses @ Labour leadership opposed to all of them?

Obviously, left executive members were under intense pressure, from various sources.

‘A premium was placed ‘on unity —and support for Ron Todd.

But this time they got their priorities wrong. If they goon like this they will be more part of the problem than the solution.

Trade Union ballot results

The National Communications Union has alloted its members on the Labour leadership, with each branch casting a single “block"vote, according to its size.

Kinnock 28,000 (72%); ‘Benn 10,800 (28%); Hetfer 6,400; Hattersley 11,000; Prescott 20,000.

This is a better result for the left than many expected.

The Fire Brigades Union also held a ballot but has yet to release the official figures as we go to press.

Reports indicate that

Labour Briefing Party Conference

Fringe Meeting

Sunday October 2nd

8pm (or after Conference Se: ends)

New Clifton Hotel, Talbot Square,

Blackpool Tony Benn MP Eric Heffer MP Martha Osamor Vice Chair Black Mandy Mudd Haringey Again Pauline Purnell labour Briefing Women

Plus: Stella Mann-Cairns from the Unit campaign Against Strip-Searching

latter the smoke clears from the Leadership battle Where next for Labour's left?

NEC Slate

The slate printed below has been agreed by the

Campaign Group, Labour Left Liaison, and the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy.

It has been presented to the left rank and file as a fait accompli

‘Alter consuiting local groups and supporters, the Labour Briefing Steering Committee has voted to support the siate in full - though with many reservations about the undemocratic way in which it was drawn up and the political records of some of the people on it.

‘The Campaign Group should open up the process of slate-making to the left in the CLPs and trade unior Democracy in slate-making can only help to strengthen and unify us.

NEC Voting: 4 Leader: Tony Benn Basu ity Leader: Eric Heffer

Treasurer: Gavin Strang ‘Constituency Section: Diane Abbot, Tony Benn, Eric Helfer, Ken Livingstone, Jo Richardson, Dennis

ner, Audrey Wise.

Women’s Section: Margaret Beckett, Joan Maynard, Ciare Short, Anni Marjoram, Martha Osamor. Conference Arrangements Committee (CLP Section): Pete Wilsman

Kinnock beat Benn by about four to one and that Prescott and Hattersley were neck and neck, with Helfer getting slightly less than Benn’s vote. The union will be backing Kinnock and Prescott at Con-

ship campaign within all the affiliated unions, reaching into branch and regional meetings, forcussing on the workplace and on picket lines.

ference. Stop Pres: 'SOGAT, NUPE, COHSE, SHA backs SF a if

pons mnee yet gl Benn/Heffer

“The key question in aiiof The Socialist Health Asthem will be the size ol the sociation willcastits (quite minority vote for Benn-Hef- small) block vote in the fer. trade union and Socialist

The trade union vote in Societies section of th the electoral college will electoral college for Benn, not even begin to reflect and Heffer. the support for Benn and Therealities of the strugHeffer amongst the trade gle in the NHS are wellunion rank and file. known to SHA members,

‘Next time, we needtoor- and obviously contributed genise a-vigorous leader-_10 a wise decision.

Democracy ... AEU-style!

Note the AEU executive's strong recommendation, printed on the ballot paper itself. Maybe Thatcher and her cabinet will follow suit ..