Labour Briefing no. 91

INSIDE:

vx Hungary and the GDR: Stalinism in crisis

ex Socialist Movement: organising in the Labour Party

ve Tories add to Kurds’

persecution x New Realism in the Trade Unions: Conference for socialists ¥ Behind the Crash

LDFORD FOUR RELEASED

Thatcher: presiding regaily over a state conspiracy

The freeing of the Guildford Four is a major victory for Irish freedom, for the working class, and for all those oppressed by the might of the British state.

This was eloquently expressed by a group of building workers constructing an office block opposite the Old Bailey. On the afternoon of the appeal, scores of them spontaneously downed tools to await the prisoners’ release.

With hard hats still on, they roared in welcome, but also in anger, as Gerry Conlon at last emerged, punching the air with a clenched fist.

The Irish community that many of these workers come from has long been aware of the Four’s innocence. For every one of the Guildford Four, there have been 15,000 other Irish people arrested under the racist Prevention of Terrorism Act, abused and held incommunicado. Less than one per cent of these are ever charged with “terrorist offences”.

Britain’s black community, — with its own long history of police raids, frame-ups, media trials, and community criminalisation — also has cause to celebrate this victory.

By PIERS MOSTYN

The convictions of the Broadwater Farm Three, like those of the Guildford Four, were obtained by use of terror and uncorroborated confessions.

Pressure must also be applied to quash the convictions of the Birmingham Six and Judith Ward and to establish the innocence of the Maguire Seven (including Guiseppe Conlon who died in prison in 1980), whose

OW?

convictions stemmed directly from the Guildford conspiracy.

The guilty ones

No wing of the British ruling class comes out of this nightmare with a shred of credit. Never, not even up to and including the

last moments of Lord Lane's judgement, were the rights of the innocent prisoners given priority over the need to quench the increasingly foul stench of corruption and conspiracy emanating from the state’s criminal justice institutions.

The attempt to credit the DPP and the Avon & Somerset police with uncovering the “new” evidence is entirely eclipsed by the fact that this evidence has been in police files for 15 years!

The DPP admits to sitting on it since July, ostensibly to establish its veracity and significance.

Continued on centre pages: The Collaborators;

The Conspiracy; The Cover-up; The Political Ramifications

Labour Briefing

>. 91 October 25th-November 7th Page 2

“Green Tax” isn’t enough

Dear Briefing, |

I would have thought that the Socialist Environment Resour- ‘ces Association (SERA) would have produced a more coherent critique. of the politics of "no growth” than that outlined in Briefing. 90.

While criticising the idea that we should adhere to the capitalist conoept of measuring growth in monetary terms, the article nevertheless does not propose an alternative.

The critique is. not radical enough, leading to support for reactionary proposals such as an environment tax.

Furthermore, suggesting that the greenhouse effect is just a threat to future generations is vastly underestimating the problem, which is likely to kill millions by starvation and violent weather conditions within the next few years (if it hasn't started already)

It is agreed that global production of greenhouse ‘gases must be reduced by 50% almost immediately. This implies a greater reduction in the imperialist countries, the main

producers.

As far as control of CO2 is concemed, as well as more efficient energy use, cleaner energy sources, the ending of ‘wastage in production and use of commodities, it will mean the ending of private car ownership, its replacement by a free public transport system, etc.

creation of massive unemployment, and major attacks on the democratic tights of the working lass.

‘A workers’ solution will demand not just the regulation of markets, but their suppression and the introduction of a planned economy, a shorter working week, the end of planned obsolescence, and more collective use of commodities.

In that respect — as well as ‘others — it also represents a challenge to the bourgeois nuclear family.

This implies a massive reduc tion in “growth” — measured in terms of volume of production. but potentially anincrease inthe

Peaceful itis, ishing. No one to sell you a Labour Briefing...

Cat shits out edit in he speci “The introduction of a of the bag? greuloely proportonal Slectoral systom would offer Dear Briefing, | this movement a wider choice Iwas interested to see in of vehicles for political the recently published | representation.” ‘Socialist Society pamphlet [find this statement Negotiating the Rapids interesting given the mont of principled” arguments about ‘ democracy which we have representation is explicitly been treated to in the pages of seen as.a means of Briefing by supporters of PR, ‘encouraging comrades on the | not least those in the Socialist left of the Labour Party to Society. Jeave the Party as an aid in I think the phrase is, ‘setting up a new left party. comrades, “The cat's out of ‘The pamphiet states, “in our the bag!” or maybe, “The shit view fe Socialist Movement is about tohit he fan” Texte preparing te goed John Waton tor an eco- socialist party” Birmingham —==

Justice for the

Mineworkers

Dear Briefing,

Lam writing, on behalf of the National Justice for Mineworkers (Campaign, tocorrect someerrorsin ‘your repor of the NUM Centennial Gala in Bamsley in June of this

‘Your article, printed in issue no. 87 (July Sth-September 12th) claims that “Asthur Scargill ordered the NIMC" to provide sacked men to lead off the march ‘through Bamsicy.

‘No so, Pm afraid, comrades. We were requested to provide 14 sack- ‘ed men to lead off the procession.

I is also untme, as you farther claim, that no one was prepared to pasticipate. Infact 1S turned up and Ted the procession off, taking it in tums to camry the national banner, ‘and with a sacked miners’ banner behind that.

‘The criteria forthe choice of the men that we made was that they were all people who had rendered service to the cause of other sacked and victimised miners, cither through the National Justice for Mineworkers Campaign or their local Regional Justice campaigns.

‘And two of the men were jailed miners — Terry French, our Notional Organiser, and Dennis Pen- ‘ington, who are our main speakers at Conference fringe and other meetings

‘The sacked men and their families have enough problems as itis with an intransigent Coal Board and 2 labour movement supine from the effects of New Realism. ‘We don’t need il informed articles such as this from comrades in the socialist world.

‘Asthur Scargill is our Honorary. President and Peter Heathficld our Honorary Vice Presideat.

‘They, almost alone among leaders of a major union, are 2i-

tempting to halt the drift towards New Realism, calling asthey do for trade unionism based on strugele, fight back and solidarity, rather than on tawdry class collaboration ‘with the owners of capital.

Itistheirnamesin ourletterhead, and their presence on oar platforms ‘at major labour movement events ‘and conference fringe meetings, that gives the Justice Campaign ‘much of the standing that we have in the movement.

Ken Homer is not challenging for Peter Heathfield’s position of National Secretary by the way, as your article also claims. He is

‘as the Broad Left candidate for the vacant position of Vice President.

Please try to get your facts right first if you are going to criticise. ‘You won't be taken seriously asa sccialist paper unless you do.

PERISCOPE

For Sale: Rainforest

Scotland's young Tories want to sell off the Amazonian rain forests.

Martin Burns, chairman of the Scottish Young Conservatives Policy Unit, told a debate or— ganized by the Green Society at Edinburgh University that the Brazilian government should be persuaded to sell the forest to a merchant bank who would then offer shares to people concerned about the environment’.

He said:"The privatise: tion of the rain forests would be a further demonstration that only capitalien has the anawers to the world’s environmental

oblems.”

And nuclear power is the cleanest, safest form of energy the world has ever known.

Tories’ Fascist Fringe Defence Secretary Tom King’s attack on the left for Inviting Geny Adams toaddress a Labour Party Conference fringe meeting won him a predictable standing ovation at the Torles’ own annual bash. But one of the sideshows at

from France's National Front, West Germany's

systematic murder of thousands of peasants, ‘workers, and leftists in EISaF vader.

“He's a good solid conservaExecutive Director of Westem Goals. “He knows how to deal with com-

Tony Benn leading the NIMC banner during the Great Miners’ Strite of 1984/6.

Don’t substitute rumour and gossip for informed analysis. The better sort of socialisis stat their analysis from the world as iti, not as they imagine it tobe.

If you are going to canny articles that Inunch their arguments ith such phrases as “rumour has it”, as this article did, the writer of those atcleshad beter seek apostion at 4 gossip columnist with one of the capitalist tabloids asbetter befitting his level of political awareness.

1 was recently down in Birmin- ‘ghamon a speaking ourforthe Justice Campaign, a the instigation of ‘comrade associated with Labour Briefing. Not only did he put me up ‘at his own home for three days at hhis own expense but he spent a day ‘off work taking me around union offices and making contacts for us.

Fortunately I, and the Justice

byitsbetterclements,notits worse,

If any Labour Briefing reader ‘wants. « speaker at any meetings, or even better, a speaking tourfortwo orthree days, please contact us and they can find out the facts, and not the fictions, about the Justice Cam-

aig.

‘We'd particularly welcome @ chance to address workplace meetings, shop stewards committees, ‘Trades Councils, et.

‘Waite to the National Justice for Mineworkers Campaiga, c/o North East NUM, PO Box 6, Red Hil, Durham DH 4BB, or telephone Darham (091) 384 3515 and we'll try to get you a sacked miner or an officer of the Justice Campaign to ‘address your meeting.

Yours comradely, Terry Norman, Secretary, NIMC

munists and liberals, which 's what the Conservative Party is supposed to be about.”

North allegedly told journalists that — Major ’Aubisson’s tactics would soon bring about asolution to the irish question.

Dialogue or death squads, Mr. King?

Not quite so many £££

for Tories

Company donations to the Conservative Party fell substantially last year, according to Labour Research.

Whereas 397 companies gave the Tories £5.25 million in election year, only 246 contributed £2.93 million last year.

The SLD and SDP seem to have lost out pletely.

Labour Research failed to uncover any doni tions to either party, in comparison to 27 companies which gave £160,100 to the Alliance in 1987.

The City again emerged as the Tories’ major funders with a total of £939,885, a third of all Tory donations.

The top ten company donations include some fomiliar names (Taylor

Woodrow, Pé0, Allied Lyon, Trusthouse Forte, United B.

cuits, Glaxo) but

Tories may be a bit worried that Hanson, the sixth largest doner, recently took over Consolidated Goldfields, the seventh largest.

No Bias here!

How nice to see the September/October Issue of Labour Party News (the Labour Party magazine malled directly to each Labour Party member's home address) explaining tomembers the workings of Labour Party Conterence,

‘One aspect of Party Conference explained by LPNis the elections. The blurb runs:

“An Important function of conference Is the election of a_new National Executive Committee.

“Much Interest will centre on the seven representatives elected by local Parties. John Prescott ls expected tomakeastrong challenge In this secttoh. John Smith, ‘the victor of the Vale of Glamorgan by-election, Is also standing for the first time."

Election campaigns are, | suppose, Inevitably conducted through the media. Goodness knows why these two should have been singled out from the many candidates for a special mention: maybe the editor of LPN just likes people called John.

Greg.

Labour Briefing No. 91 October 25t-November Th Page 3

Editorial

Freedom for the Guildford Four —

no triumph for British justice

. There are no words for the injustice perpetrated against the Guildford Four. And though they can never be compensated for the years behind bars, for their brutal treatment by police and prison officers, for the endiess lies told about them in the courts and the media, they deserve every penny that can be squeezed out of their persecutors.

Meanwhile, the cover-up has begun. The decision to release the Four was clearly part of a damage limitation exercise by the DPP. There will now be an attempt to confine blame to relatively low ranking police officers.

‘This will never satisfy those who have been fighting for the Guildford Four and other victims of state frame-ups, who know that responsibility for these outrages reaches the highest levels.

‘We remember ail too well the hysterically anti-Irish climate in which these convictions were obtained and ‘the mobilisation of all the resources of the state and the media to obtain them.

The media conveniently forget this. They also fail to recognise that the Irish connection is not incidental.

Judicial safeguards failed not by accident or because of the misdeeds of maverick cops. They simply could not withstand the harsh imperatives of British imperialism in Ireland, with its ever present outriders, anti-Irish racism and state terror.

Far from being a “triumph for British justice” the case of the Guildford Four is further proof that the judiciary is ‘a subservient and entirely political institution acting in the interests of the ruling class.

‘The release of the Four is, however, most definitely a ‘triumph for all those grass roots campaigners who struggled so hard for so many years against such huge

BRIEFING ————_-

TASOUR — TAKE THE POWER:

‘odds to force this issue onto the political stage. Only last month the Labour leadership refused to allow a ‘motion on the Guildford Four on to Conference agenda.

Meanwhile, the Birmingham Six, the Maguire Seven, and the Tottenham Three are still rotting in British gadls, victims of the subordination of justice to political ‘expedience — and of the acceptance in British courts of license for police torturers and liars.

One member: no vote

No one should be fooled by the “democratic” veneer ‘of the Edmonds proposals and the current NEC. consultation on Conference structures.

Edmonds is mapping out the latest stage in the leadership's long term drive to sever the Party's historic links with the trade unions, remove once and for all any ‘danger from a resurgent rank and file, and make Labour ‘a “safe bet” for the ruling class in perpetuity.

This is not a technical or constitutional issue. At its heart is the very nature of the Party and its capacity to ‘act as an instrument of socialist advance.

‘The trade unions created the Labour Party in order to ‘secure a political voice for the organised working class. However muted or distorted that voice has been in succeeding decades, to lose now even the possibility of it being made effective would be a tragic setback for all workers in this country, one from which the struggle for socialism would not recover for many years.

‘The Edmonds attack will not result in an immediate ‘break with the unions or indeed any reduction in the power of the union bureaucracy at Party Conference. In ‘the short run the “reforms” are likely further to

it even more the preserve of unagcountable fulltimers ‘and even less responsive to the rank and file.

This package will also lead to a further erosion of the rights and powers of CLP members. With Conference gutted and reduced to a rally for the greater glorification of the Parliamentary leadership, with policy in the hands of elitist “expert” committees, and with the NEC reduced to a self-perpetuating machinery for the domination of the Party by the PLP, the Walworth Road apparatus, and the trade union bureaucracy, it will not be so much ‘a question of “one member, one vote" as “one member, ‘no vote”.

The left must respond to this attack with a positive agenda. We cannot allow ourselves to be seen as the defenders of a status quo that is hardly the last word in participatory democracy.

We have to set out’ radical, far-reaching demands for the empowerment of rank and file trade union and CLP members and for the acountability of the PLP and full-time officials.

We have to offer a vision of socialist democracy, based on unrestricted debate, an active and informed mass membership, and collective decision-making a al levels.

We can only effectively defend the trade union link — and the trade union voice at Conference — if we also take up the basic question of trade union democracy. We have to fight to retain and democratise the block vote.

Just how this can or should be done is a matter of urgent debate for the left. Indeed, the best first step in the defence of Party democracy and the trade union link is for the lett to initiate that debate as of now.

In the coming months Briefing will make this debate a Priority — as part of our effort to organise with others the defeat of the Edmonds proposals.

Behind the headlines

Socialists on

telly:

Who’s using whom?

My relationship with the media has changed dramatically over the past 18 months.

T started off, like many activists, talking to the local press, issuing press releases, and responding to enquiric

‘The left locally had to work hard to get any space in the media, and we thought we were lucky if we got 4 £0 minute slot on LBC, one of London's local radio stations.

‘Theo, thanks to Larry Whitty, 1 hit the big time and received the dubious honour of being doorstepped by the Sun.

‘The feeling of total panic when you open your door and realise you an’t leave the house without confronting people whose sole aim is

By Mandy Mudd Tottenham CLP

society and the press respond. The constructed images can be quite volatile and open to manipulation.

Ken Livingstone was once portrayed as x fire-breathing monster. Now he’s “cuddly Ken” ‘Some might say that the softening of his image went with a softening up of his politics!

‘Another view would be that by making himself available and visible people could see he didn’t eat habjes (or breakfast fp became hander for false image to be com structed,

driven by the need for new stories and new faces and this means that ‘opportunities do aris.

My experiences on chat shows

have taught me thal programme ‘makers want “controlled confrootation”. They want sparky people sho can air “controversial” views.

‘The programme makers have to produce to a weekly schedule and secure an audience. Within those limits they are sometimes prepared tobe flexible.

Participants

ln that sense we are no more “set up” than other participants The oot iniioes past of & all tht

Po peng wey

tohumiliste youlsnotone 'd wish Thisgavehim the space to speak meat factors on any comrade. cout on “unpopalar” issues such as" "The postive partie that anymex

‘But in the long run the publicity Tcland and lesbian and gay sights. sage we manage to get though

did serve a purpose: it created & reaches millions

media profile forme, albeit, not the Capitalist "And people do listen. They day Mandy Mudd, so0n hore addressing the second Socialist Conforance in Chesterfiold, has not always been a one T would necessarily have Ls following my appearance oa After accomplished pubs speaker — but it comes wih practice, and conviction in your poes! chosen. i Of course, as socialists, we can Dark. the Saturday before Pasty

‘The modia create “images” and never completely win with the Conference, 2 number of people in ‘sin point people expect to pay you movement, wher itcan be usedto interestingly and sincerely on = “personalities” — but they cannot capitalist media. The time and Brighton stoppedme not just to say for a story or appearance and we jfinance our own press and {range of subjects. =

should alwayschim our fees. lpublicy, Sociale only become “per- "The ills needed to be ine scales” becate of what hy viewed or appent on TV ce min. toprenes Atfmaey eed is fesse ly esta fcco a ay ed poled ens io hbons of canern ad st coo ae

always control them. Not all Sic readers consume their paper pas-

— Once scenthing or someone hax

‘= national profile other sections of

freedom we are allowed to get our message across remains minimal: they wall always try to distort and discredit what we s2y.

But the press and TV are also

they'd seen me on the telly, bt also ei aeiec marie oan ‘raised in the programme.

‘The media can also be a source ‘ofincome for socialists. After acer-

Mind you, the rule of thamb does ‘seem tobe that you have to be hated |and reviled before you can be lowed |< soa thick skin comes in handy too.

Labour Briefing No. 91 October 25th-November 7th Page 4

Socialist Movement

Rebuilding the Labour left

‘At Labour Party Conference! the Socialist Movement helda By Bryn Griffiths fringe meeting for its sup- am CLP porters to discuss their ac- Tottenham C! tivities within the Party.

"The meeting gave delegatesan Events since Conference have ‘opportunity to discuss the im- bome out Benn’s view. During the plications of the Policy Review pastiamentary debate oo defence

The aim of the statement is 1o Socialist Policy Review provides develop a broader audience for our a allow us to engage with all those us with a resource to develop alter- approach but twill also allow usto mee Party members dissatisfied with native to Kinnock, Gould, Ed- place the Labour lefts concems at

Kinnock’s direction mond et. the centre of the Socialist Movej ‘After discussion and possible One comrade atthe Birmingham ment asa whole,

ing, the statement should be meeting stressed the need to ‘The Birmingham meeting esused to Tsunch and gain sponsor- repoliticise Labour Paty stractures tablished an interim organising ship for a major national con- and revive real policy debates at committee to work up proposals

Lo loon Be fen) 5 thal sesso sia eae BD 3 ference ofthe Labour left cary in Party meetings. Here, too, the and come back fo another mestng proposals to weaken the mem- the resolution moved by Broce |§ 1900. In this forum the detail on Socialist Movement can take a tobe held in London on Saturday, Bertip and sever the Party's Kent at Confers an ped y E B potdesand sauce wiluvetoposveccubton. Rove ag a al jewnion large majority, tabled «resolution f hammered je developmentof this new in: tis an open meeting an Big ts Gpesin Hen tie] \oriacs cts capstone Te 2 One areathatwilloeed particular tative within the Pay inoferocial Labour Briefing groups of supReareci cP ctcdindicgued” Labor Enos Beach aks agai attention ithe ced to both defend. importance to Labour Brifing. poner should make surpeopleat-

conccmed with the resrcied space| him! nd democratisethe Block vole. Not only docs it allow sto _tond from theirareas

Sralable for socialist argue and] Bena’s contsbution was made "Whilst itis important to avoid ‘organise in the Party. | doubly important by the interven- z tee Diary of activities and events However, the balance sheet was| tion of Labour Left Liaison mem- Tony Bena isunlikely thet any organisation of not totally negative, | bersatthe Campaign Group’sCon- and not waste its time in any at- the Labour left could survive with “Woy 11/12.

Delegates pointed out the posi-| ference assessment fringe mesting. tempt to build wider popalar sup- * fodged position on this crucial Socialist Movement National Trade Union Conference.

tive achievements of the lesbian’ ‘These comrades argued that the port for socials geestion, Ring Will McMahon, 01-251 6225. SF cay Gonmaias’ srugle for an’ Socialis Mavement’s"twrintrck” "Qn October L4th, Socialist | Asesousdebatc on howto ight Noy 1 Sp sppenig tpproschhadtakenleftacivstsout Movemeat supporters met in Bir. theEdmondsproposalswillbencar Welsh Socialist Conference, ring Janet, 0449-24978, Mraat'Bene mode an imprompts of the Party and affempted 10 minghamtodecasshow weshoolé the top of the agenda at te Con- Now 25, appearance atthe meeting to offer scapegoat Briefing and other SM organise within the Labour Pasty. f©*=9°%. Socialist Movement Organising Committee, Birmingham fis support forthe idea of organis- supporters forall the lefts failures There was a great deal of agree- Mar 17/18, 1990. ‘ng the Socialist Movement within at Conference. ‘ment amongst those present on the Debate National Green/Socialist Movement Conference, London. the Panty. ct heed to relaunch snd rebuild the sap Other initiatives: Ta frank and positive conrib- Subsequently _Labourlefton anew basis With this detetein mind, theta OWEEON and Gay Working Groupie aiming to produce a

tion, Benn outlined the need forthe 2 ‘The focus ofthe meeting wasor. Briefing Steering Committee setup Lesbian and Gay agenda to develop and broaden the work of the [eft to link up with those Fighting Anne Pettfor of the Labour ganisational. Reg Race introduced = working paty todraftapamphlet Group and to enable itt take its work and polices into the wider thtsilethe Party strctures,wamed. Women’s Action Committees draft founding statement on be- outlining a positive, democratic al- 3-3ist Movement and beyond. If you want to get involved ting fgaine a strategy based on simply (LWAC) has subsequently takento half of the Socialist Movement na- _ temative to Edmonds, Rebeces Flemming, 01-364 1402.

seizing the Party machinery, and the pages of Tribune to launch a tional officers. ‘On many questions the Labour PSSerte re Wn ae beginning to organise a series of public meetings at universities and colleges and a fringe at the NUS.

ingham, 01-250 0955.

predicted that even those left similar sectarian attack. “Theee was. strong fecling that it left has appeared conservative and policies passed by Conference) Pete Willeman of CLPDpottheir_was impotant to ge the statement reactive in its outlock, On the soir ronltetenoeddy hcleaterchip| anpencattlonty inthe lane of Tighteothe deftintobe widely cr- Policy Review the ft knew what Couemanee, Be

Te eS REE Sige at Lead, iste ceaniee cat” koa egume te wan tan cea Nee USAT Meee ee ee mechanistic answer to a politicall should remain completely silent amendment before it is adopted or what it was for. give us a national profile in the media, Ring Alan Slingsby, problem.” outside the structures of the Party published. ‘The Socialist Movement's 01-274 9182,

Economic Notebook ; Behind the Stock Market Collapse

Junk Bond chickens come home to roost

‘The era of the jumk bond would become unable to finance banks with hundreds of billions in In the event, the Federal Reserve citetoaspectactlarcloseon teirlowns ifeconomic slowdown unredcemable debt — sent the jt. — backed by a co-ordinated inter Friday, October 13th, ‘caused camings and profits ofall. ters info the Stock Market and national effort — was able to Te=-

day, October 13h gay, The effects of defanlis and. brought tte LBO fen oan. coethemutis. Inbohhe USand tone the great erash of October bankruptcies would fiat be felt Thesharecollapsewastiggered Japan financial institutions took since the great crak of stove gmonget the “funny money” by pews thatthe financing ofthe concerted action fo suport share 1987, thelong-prediced denove playerofthe unk boodiarketand $6.75 bilion LBO of United Air- prices

Fra ced take crerseed buy-out WoOld in tam feed throvgh into = lines was in trouble. The aidinc The Japanese markets opcned

Gok tially srvived. estabilisation ofthe conventional business is notoriously vulnerable fire and did begin to fall, but ended The meny-ge-round of specula- ftancialmarkets. to the ups and downs of the busi- the day just 1.5% down (compared tion wan based on gigantic take- The wamings signs have been nest cycle toa 19% fallin 1987).

ton Mal “evecwedon averge stound oralongtime—athirdof Japanese banks pulled out ofthe The City, next to open, predict Sri of bononing nine taten the junk bonds ised since 197 United Airlines package being put ably fared worst and plunged £40

PHOTO: Graeme Cookson

Sia higher than the amount of have ru into trouble. together by Citibank and Chase billion before lnch. capital pat op by the take-over bid- Manhattan. ‘When Wall Stet opened it el dasinvalved ay Dave Palace ‘Theieconcernwasthat heavily by 67 pinthen raed to end the Piste indebied United wouldbeunablet© ay up by 86 points, the second ‘executives, legal advisors, and Hornsey & Wood ‘eam sufficient profits ina tighten- largest daily increase on record. Gaon eet te Leet Green CEP jog economic climate to mpey be The US tise buoyed London and Ghickeat prof in wold history in Riph levels of unsecured Jct (nub-the City coded the day with shares ‘rapacious action that har ject to sharp interest ae floctos- down by only £20 bilon. Joetbae Wall Suet in be 80: This wmmer a whole ngs of om) equedhy he BOs. remainstoteseentowlaing ete ails sed pushed US Stock Market heavily indebied companies began Japancsebanks'enormousfunds this ‘s. ‘ _awson’s resignation contims no one has any confidence in Sees Market _eeily indebted companies Vet now dominate the world financial feavns tha Black Monday” wes Thatcharseconoml poli. WH a Stock Exchange Chal Nicola

ae pnd YP USbarksfind ayments and atempied ty sro markets The ideas tat they were not repeated was the current Gooden (above) say-es to cae forthe goverment te rst? theres daeeeoasly eapesed: ver" their debts by ising still Pulling ox ofthe LBO gamecamse strengthofthe dollarwhicheasured tion of capital seeking speculative pendent of the financial markets,

rtp to $10 billion having gone more and even high yield junk Panic on Wall Street. that there was no massive flight of profits — is likely to go away. Lawson now hasto deal with this {nto some very shaky LBOs. bonds. “There wars flight from shares of Japanese capital from US-based Corporate America's debt crisis as well a. falling currency, an unMaik bonds sreatonn of second Then, in September the junk- take-overtargetedfiemslike United financial ants remains as deep as ever and can manageable deficit, rising infla-

a oo ee gartsiCommpckeunlempia cal and sock of ther debe-burdeoed Yet itis preciely the cua! only become worse when interest tion, and high intrest aes Conventional finance is not ob- lapsed fim strength ofthe dollar whichhasex- raiesrise or growth lows furher. The City's anfi-inflationary {hinsble.Theyofferveryhighinie"S1Obillion was lashed from the When the maskets reopened on acerbated the US trade deficit. Themethodsusedtostaveoffthe rigour soon goes out the window careethebeccot highrise they, valve of the nk market na mat_ Monday, wouldtherebearepeatof ‘The announcement of the Stock Market crisis — the central when its own neck ison the line Tae eat call i wise of financial ter of days. The US Securiies and the October °87 crash? The US Aagust USmoothly wade deficit at hanks pumping in greats liquidity Expect the juggler to drop

problems. Exchange Commission launched Federal Reserve pledged itself to $10 billion ($2 billion worse than — can only increase the infltion- another ball soon.

‘They have sscured a seemingly an urgent inguiry pump liquiity into the financial expected) caused Wall Street and ary pressures they havebecn trying PS: I'm sure Briefing readers endles, supply of defict financing ‘The possiblity that a series of s3Stem to stabilise the markets. It the City to fall once again. to damp down. unl be pleased to know that for buy-outs and take-overs debtsaldied conporationscould go bad already dove this sucessfully Clearly nove ofthe fundamental The City of London has once Maxwell personally lost at least

See en ed thar bankrupt in the worsening. in Octber 1987, albeit the cost cansesofinsabityinthefinacial again shown iti to be the most £144-milion nthe Iatest crash. het indekied US compentions economic situation —andlenvethe of high world inflation. Syaem_—aivotanoveraccomols- unstable, weakest, and most de-

Labour Briefing No. 91 October 26th- November 7th Page $

Campaign!

Beating the Broadcast Ban

‘Speaking out in Bettast

Success for

“A national shame of gigantic This is exactly what happened Proportions” was how Peter with the Fowler Review, which Townsend, Chair of the Dis- — See eee abblty Alliance, rescted fo era mili diblad people oe ape! bi = (amongst others) lost out as result gare oe cof massive cuts in means tested Published by the OMee of fear, Popalation, Censuses, and Sore On ow Ochs, here areal veys (OPCS), the reports con- jcast6 5 million disable v2 previously admitted by any. {uav’ vey has bees a ap ‘They also, cleasly confirm that ete but willnet report fora couple

: of years). poverty is widespread amongst ‘ = eilletenre sy ‘The findings showed that thew

day of action

The first anniversary ofthe the General Secretary of the British broadcasting ban threemain unions, on Sinn Fein and other UJ. BETA, and ACTT.

groups from the North of _A tally at the Dominion

Theatre featured music and Ireland was marked by protests across the Pomedy a= well as speeches

from Paul McGill, NUJ Presi-

country. dent, Clare Short MP, and Roy

Buoyed by the unexpected Hattersley, who was booed for release of the Gulldiord Four,

his predictable efforts to put a activists demonstrated out: ‘safe distance” between himself side broadcasting offices

and Sinn Fein throughout the country. A petition against the ban orOn the previous day, Gerry

ganised by the Campaign for ‘Adams MP held a press con- Press and Broadcasting ference in London. Freedom with 5,000 He pointed out to the

was handed in at Downing numerous representatives of Street. the interational media present _Protestpickets were mounted that they, unlike thelr Brtish col. outside the main broadcasting | leagues, were allowed to report |

agu ‘offices in London Sheffield, Birhis words (a BBC crew was also

mingham, Leeds, Brighton, and presentbutcouldmaks itieuse elsewhere. Of the film they shot). The Troops Out Movement | ‘Adams urged journalists to (TOM) organised a demonstracome to the north of Irland and tion outside the Houses of Par0¢ the war for themselves. He liament. Three protesters

‘compared their attempt to cover chained themseives to the railthe War from London with an at- ings. Nine people were arrested tempt to cover the Vietnam war and two charged.

from Washington. ATOM spokesperson called

In London, October 19—one year since the impositon of the ban — was a day of varied activity

Some 1000 media union members marched from Portland Place past BBC, ITV, and Channel 4 offices, ied by

the day of action a success and said the purpose of the ban was

to distort the truth about Ireland | in the eyes of the British public | —and prevent the demand for | selt-determination for the irish

people from being raised

through the British media,

“Communities of Resistance” A National Conference

Saturday November 11th, 10-6 Hackney Town Hall, Mare St, London ES Organised by Hackney Council, Refugee

Forum, Anti-Fascist Action, Local Groups to look at the implications facing black workers in 1992.

rom: Tony Panayiotou, Hackney Town Hall, Mare St, London E8, tel. 01-986 3123 ext. 3353.

National Black Students Alliance and Broadwater Farm Defence Campaign Black struggle and the fight against racism: a conference for the student movement London Schoo! of Economics Students’ Union, Houghton Street, London WC2 ‘Saturday November 11 10.30am-6.00pm

‘Speakers include: Stafford Scott; Unmesh Desai; Families of the “Tottenham Three”; National Black Students’

Workshops on: Poticing the Community; immigration and

fugees; Racist Attacks and Fascist Violence

Details and registration from: Broadwater Farm Defence ‘Campaign, 79, Tangmere, BWF, London +7 5NB

| strained by = nil-cost remit, ic

Altogether, OPCS have produced sit reports on diabilityin Beitain, covering prevalance of disability, employment, services, et

‘They were meant tobe followed by a comprehensive review of dis ability benefits —or so the gover ment promised back in 1984 when itcommisioned the reports.

‘The last one came out in Fay this year and, 0, you haven't missed ihe news about the review, becmise the government is amply fone to make public any plans for benefits for disabled people

Disability organisations, which hhavecometogetherto form the Dix.

ity Benefits Consortiars, arc insisting that there must be an indeppendeut, open review of dinability benefits

It should inclade disabled representatives with inowledge of svial security and its evidence and Tindings thould be made public.

“The last social security review seas the infamous Fowler review of 1984, notable for the absence of claimant representatives and forthe inclusion of businessmen whose knowledge of social security was limited, to say the least

Above all, the disability organisstions do not want the dix ability benefits review to be con-

tinually lower than those of nondisabled workers

By Linda Lennard Disability Alliance.

‘Three quarters of people with disabilities —or 4.3 million people

sworge people at 1988 prices. This

anger amongst disabled people. amounts to an £8 billion per year “The OCPS f

‘The OCPS findings are, if anything, an underestimate of the current crisis. This is because of the methods used, the ommission of ‘Northem Ireland, and the fact that the financial data war collected in 1985 — before last year's massive cuts in benefits.

‘According to the Disabilities Allliance — a federation of over 120 ‘organisations — 2 comprehensive disability income is needed.

‘This would consist of a disability pension paid at 2 decent rate to People unable to work because of their disability, and s disability costs allowance for people in and cot of work, towards the extra costs of disability, on a sliding scale

‘This would have to be comple. ‘mented by action to eneure disabled people have access to education, properly paid jobs, transport, et: ‘Any day now, there will be 2 White Paper on Care in the ComHow are people with dis supposed to live in the -ommunity and participate fully in veryday life without enough money 10 get by, Tet alone pay for the extre costs of disability? What price community-care?

‘findings. “poverty” be found in the reports! ‘The govemment’s amazing jus tification for refusing to set up 20 independent review along the lines proposed by disability organisatioas is that if cannot have an independent review — as it is the government which has to make ‘decisions and find resources! What we are left with is deep

For more information on the campaign for a comprehensive disability Income, contact the Disability Alliance, 25, Denmark Street. London WC2 aN.

‘where no new money is putin and any gains for one group bave to be paid for by cats for others.

Extreme right attacks DLOs

The ‘threatening to disband Direct Labour Organisations in Bristol and Hi-

government is competitive behaviour over

tendering on the part of 14

awarded a vehicle maintenance contract to its DLO when the SLD voted with Labour instead of the Tories as it usually does. On Monday September 4th Hunt formally complained to Bristol and Hillingdon. PULSE had prepared press releases — ‘embargoed until Tuesday — before Hunt's letter had even landed on the Counciis' desks. All this, Saunders argues, is But PULSE is more than up-

mented links to Italy's neo-fascist MSI.

They are joined by the Freedom Association's Norris McWhirter.

‘Sponsor Robert Jones MP is former marketting consultant with Servisystom and Cleanaway, two of the most important bidders for privatised council contracts.

PULSE admits to having received funding from com-

This comes in direct response to pressure from former far-right ex-student activists now exerting a strong influence on mainstream Tory policies.

Local Government Minister David Hunt has alleged that

Loughborough University

during its 1985 conference. Saunders sent PULSE’S

complaints to the DoE in a letter

the two Councils rigged compul- : panies which tender for Local apn dated Friday September 1st, A

sory competitive tendering in : thority contracts. ft also

favour of their own DLOs. ag eee eee claims 1,500 subscribers at

“great opportunity to make

These on : £500 2 head. This tts up to at one working day after the pallial capital out of the fact feast £780,000 in hard cosh Departmomtctine Emironment thet many ofthe most blaant 0.

received a dossier from the free c&Se¢8. come from Councils con- ‘Saunders once proposed an

trolled by political opponents.”

Bristol is the only Labour controlled Council in the South West. Hung Hillingdon only

FCS conference motion te Genationalise money. That one fel Now t looks as though he's found a licence to print

market pressure group Public and Local Service Efficiency Campaign (PULSE),

PULSE were alleging anti-

paign letterhead, including ‘Teresa Gorman. Monday Ciubber Teddy Taylor, and Neil Hamilton, @ man with docu-

Labour Briefing No. 91 October 25%h-November 7th Page 6 j

Labour Party

“Eco-Socialism”

For a Red-green alignment

meat and resource-base fo support of society at the heart of the

PETER TATCHELL argues that a new = oe order of any socialist project (something to “eco-socialist” politics is central to left renewal, “7y.2"aho now an excl aipcommanedo popular radicalisation, and human survival. precondition for the resolution of ee:

What do Briefing readers think? Please write in, {)_(- oor Sonumditions be, Senge

‘women, and North and Soath, etc. _ A tdical redefinition, moderTete is ee ete et et rise of green polities repre- eal danger to the survival of even beginning to contemplate « "Oils polities — as opposed to sents the biggest challenge to| humanity. socialist farure unless we have a Wtesocial pert et socialism since it first Rampant industria! produc planetcapableofsustininghuman. 7rd fy lis LEC, Marion ‘emerged as the driving force. tivism and unrestrained economic life. . SLapetarploveedcered for human emancip: in stowth, the deadly dogmas of both ‘The response a policed peskiog, most emancipatory elements of cour “4 traditional capitalism and orthodox 10 the ecological crisis is therefore scion a

early 200 years ago... Sovialiom, tcaton devastaing. the limos test of progressive °CICEY sod scalmn

ons Re Gate cl pe meget pbke This involves not simply the

serlous becausellt comesat a time: - 3 atithmetical addition of ecology 10 the destruction of the Earth's finite : ion ‘when the left is in profound tur- ‘he destruction of Refusing ‘socialism, but the transformation of

pice abe fn ent ; teciallon lif ag a highs ss Piinkered;Ithas been routed and A! nspresent,thelftin refusing to theis — eco-socaliom © peered margloalsed within both the ctstopbe,the ecological sss ectd its polices around aad towardea sealation of ccelop Labour Party and wider society. 00™ he ceatal political isme of 1) greg agenda Iflefipartcs per- cal crisis based on social justice for ofthe et har sponded eer by _ ON lobl vas th principal "Trot iey wil end ap. "The pte oratorio recat int soit fds Sotreen nt Got Pte nsoming msn thet ces! btwn agi or {lism or falling in behind the SPs and labour, but between SSE cuales aod wetelen a Labour Party leadership. omaniy and aru debris os (eosin Coming ecard eer ae sEst Both responses have effectively Inthe name of technologicaland status quo, they risk becoming the While the capitalist imperatives bial dca the catain on social as social progres, he caleespricers - New Conservatives, holding tack of priate owocrdup, pretockon and public acunésbiltyhaveakey million ooo be radicalied and project for human emancipation at of economic expansionism is the struggle for environmental for profit, and compelitive free role to play in its resolution, ‘won to a green and socialist comGe rayuaoet wink’ Arecctcaly wstenisisg Ge pemvaiedbeanerdvd scar coucmies cea ime Techeooe aeeshae f cums calcliis makes tho reewalf this biclogial foundation ofall ving," What in taniowe tended isn Caee of the ecological isle, geeapalieediardeienccen, "thir vadicalisaon ls posable Pet hae ol pee | bogs radical definition of scilin to socal mearursmuchascommos fortnity to Tencw its radical because the ecological crisis There ca be lite dou thatthe Without x suaiable envron- put the ecological Woniformation Ownership, economic planning. nen strengthen the can for socal Bymnovingtotheforrent he ing tnd through mow ecient more te scdigiatmiiral bs tas fae dle piace OF

Labour Committee on Ireland cd repel eons Se,

Tions of peopleconcemed about en- ly fundamental to the refoundation vironmental ismes, but who have of 8 project for human emancipa-

= = hitherto not identified with the tion. That project is eco-socialism | traditional labour movement. and it opens the door to socialist Ta the process, many of these renewal and popular radicalisation.

withdrawal movement Mawel . Sunnisieeet soma... City Centre

Because of this pote

Debate on the LC!'s future direction has raged within By Padraig

the organisation for more Secretary, London ‘Withdrawal, including the 12th rally was at the very most

than two years since the poe % Troops Out Movement and the 6.000. Only by axing those f I J t 4 Irish in Britain Representation numbers to the Irish Freedom

Seaton souaunen the Group. Movement march the previous ‘or saie:

“Time To Go” initiative. ia Thereisrealconcernonthe photograph of British soldiers _ The continuing shift to the week do we get the number

tightin the Labour Party means which turned out on the tenth part of many LCI members carrying a coffin draped in the Fightin : :

thatthe organisation isdisap- Union Jack. SEES By Birmingham Labour Briefing pearing into “Time To Go". When questioned about this ‘The end resuit of the ‘Time To a

‘Tin toltotiechemeninad concession to British tsshif.ecpecalyintherunup. , neo vaneing the case for British chauviniem, a member of the ‘0 the next election. (Gh wht agit clossrs pong | Having made an almighty mess ofthe City Centre,

withdrawal and self-determina- Editorial Board replied that the, Clearly. Bis mportantthatwe 25 something larger than itself | Birmingham's right wing Labour Group leadership seem to tion within the Labour Party and cover could equally be seen as fort ahowcwselvestobecome and winging up in the pocket of | have decided the best thing to do is fo privatise the wider labour movement & concession to Republican ork around issues like the we. Labour Party leadership, | = Srebonsspagmnret a ps satin ap of Diuting sighs ate areedy _ Salngsippatershave con- broadcasting ban wit althese nctyay oopt cr trina de Birmingham Oy Centre sae

provent Hopestfatthe 20th ane sistendy backed initatves such inthe Labour Party wiing iodo {2Gtorae Baten ung ass, |. Based on US model, these asociations would present commensal

niversary of British troops being 28 “Time To Go" which seek to $0; Including Roy Hattersley, The LCi must resist attempts | interests in various quarters which make up the City Centre, We can sent on to the streets of the broaden the basis of support for tomake itmerely awingof"Time | look forward to financial quarier association, an entertainment quater North would be marked by a Briish withdrawal Distinction To Go". We should also defend | association, « Broad Stret quarter association, etc.

flood of resolutions to Labour tthe same time, we have ar LCI suppor for the right of the | These would be accompanied by 2 overall forum to look atthe City Party Conference were com-' gued that such a broad move. _ However, thereisadistinction _Itish to self-determination. | Centre as a whole. Quite who elects this unaccountable forum ix not pletely dashed Tent will encompass a wide between working with the Whatever the public utteran- | known

There were only six, most of variety of diferent positions, in- Labour leadership around such ces of “Time To Go, ts basic| The whole idea was one of the main proposals to emerge from the them moved through CLPs by cluding those who support sell issues as sirp searching and tivustis to suggest a Settiement | recent Highbury Initiative Symposium joiily sponsored by the City Briefing supporters determination and those who the PTA and capitulating to inirelandon terms{avourable to | Council and the Tories’ Cty Action Team,

Organisational decline, as support British withdrawal for them on everything else, as the interests of the British, | Apparently more than 100 people from Britain and overseas took part ever, goes hard in hand with other reasons. some slements in“Time ToGo" Aswa gotopress, the London | inthe two-day Symposium —the (small brain-<hild, we understand, of political retrest. The LC! The main complaint about have done LCLAGM, which would have | the “Tory Manager" ofthe ity Council Development Department, magazine, Labour & Ireland, “Time To Go" is that its Un- “Time To Go", despite its in- boon the place to start this ur | Albert Bore has virtually become the house- democratic structure blocks tentions, has claarly failed 1o gent debate, has been | People were flown from all over the world, and wined and dined at journal of Time To Go" open discussion. Thisis exaver- mobilise wider forces beyond postponed. However. the dis- | the Council's expense for 48 hours simply co work out» scheme to

Apart from carrying a very bated by its attempt to impose the “traditional” withdrawal cussions must stil be Held in | privatise the City Centre and keep the “if-af out ofthe heart of resticled debate on “Time To its particular politics on the movement. Getting names on London and in other regions in | Bimingham — the “business city”, ma the Labour Group leadership Go", there was the "20 Wasted whole withdrawal movement. paper is nat the same thing as the run-up to the LCI AGM on | chose tacall it a recent Association of Metropolitan Authorities Years” cover, complete with This has led to the exclusion building @, movement to get February 24/25th next year. | conference.

Labour Party

Hammond’s Week

Brighton on the rocks

DAN CARTER gives his considered response to a week spent in a well known South Coast resort — and what it heralded for the Labour

left.

Labour Party Conference ‘wasn’t as bad as we predicted. Tt was worse.

Fortunately the Labour Party is presently sodivorced from the class struggle that its rightward rush will hhave little reflection in the eal batflee going on — over Poll Tax, ‘wages, working conditions, antideportation struggles, or nuclear ‘weapons.

One victory to be singled out is the commitment to lesbisn and gay ‘equality. With Briefing supporters proposing and seconding the resolution, a card. vote backed by the TGWU, NUPE, and other major unions ensured the NEC sell-out ‘was overturned.

‘Wenow face abate toensureits inclusion in the Party manifesto.

‘The platform contributions were marked by a stay-within-the-law, ‘minimalist, media-conscious social democrat approach which would hhave fitted into the German SPD, French Socialist Party, or even the British SDP with equal ease.

don't like to say it, but the lose of Ken Livingstone from the NEC was clearly a blow to the left. Livingstone was clearly identified with heartfelt criticisms of the Policy Review and for that reason his removal is a real loss

‘Thefactthat the othertwo targets of the Kinnockite LCC — Benn and Skinner — remain firmly in place shows that it may have been

2 vote against Livingstone’ opportunism morethan a vote again! the hard left

‘The simultancous dumping of Gwyneth Dunwoody from the ‘Women’s Section led to rejoicing amongst socialists and small fury creatures threatened by her sponsors inthe fur trade

Conference this year was smatked by even deeper immersion in the world of Public Relations. Forthe first time, more tickets were inmued to PR firms than to Constituency vistors

Kincock's speech was another case ofthe bland leading the bland. The Briefing Daily Bulletin reported the US Ambassador's reaction: “Very impressive. We se his approach to disarmament as the best route. He's talking language swecan understand”

We should draw some comfort from the fact that somewhere we are winning the underlying argu ments on issues like black self-o ganisation and women’s representation — often indicated notin what we won (very litle) but in defeats for the NEC or for right wing proposals.

"The real boosts came at the fringe events:

sthe Irish meeting with Geny

Sinn Fein MP for. West attracting around 800

sthe lesbian and gay lobby: sthe picket of Maxwell's janket

ee Fe tant

(Dan Carter looks back fondly to years fe 1987: when the press was rushing to interview Jeremy Corbyn on the seafront

group. With its daily bulletin, Briefing played a major part in organising

the left presence and was singled ‘out for 2 Channel 4 News feature. ‘The passing of the GMB com- ‘posite (the “Edmonds proposals”) ‘will mean the beginning of the end forany kind of policy-making Con-

ference.

Labour Party Conference

How unilateralism wasn’t defended

Kinnock’s victory on defence was probably the biggest single defeat for the left al this year's Labour Party Conference.

Unilateratism was the last major policy commitment remaining from the left advance of the early 80s.

tended from the start as a two year exercise in ridding the Party of ll vestiges of lett policy, jn particular unilateralism.

‘Though Kinnock would have liked to have dumped it last year, 1989 was always the target date. Last year’s Conference setback only made him more determined to succeed in the final push this year.

In response to this ti Labour Briefing took the initia: tive early this year of writing to all organisations in the Labour Party which support unilateral nuclear disarmament, inviting them to a meeting to discuss a

By Pete Firmin Brent East CLP

‘common campaign aimed at maintaining Party policy.

We had hoped that these diverse organisations, or at least some of them, could unite around this one single issue, setting aside important differen ces on other policies in the interest of winning on disarmament.

twas not fo be. Although the first meeting, on the February 2nd, was well attended, two orujal_organisations were ‘adamant that there could be no ‘common initiative.

Tribune editor Phil Kelly said he was not willing to have a ‘common campaign with those who wished to use unilateralism ‘as astick with which to beat the Party leadership.

He said we should all simply support each other's campaigns, including the Tribune petition.

‘The Labour Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (represented by Secretary Carol Turner) which we hoped would be keenest on a united campaign, was also against joint intatives.

Kinnock: victorious over a divided tor.

In response to suggestions that by working collectively the various organisations could be far more effective in taking the issues into union branches, CLPs, and the affiliated organisations, LCND was

‘complacent about

both their om ability to do this and the likelihood of retaining unilatoralist policy.

Without these key organisations, litle was possible, and after a couple more meetings — at which there was essentially no change — the initiative petered out.

‘There was no high profile campaign; the LCND AGM in Marchwas poorly attended: and we lost in Brighton.

There is of course no guarantee that we could have defeated Kinnock at Conference however good a campaign we had mounted. But the left wasn't ‘oven willing to try.

‘Sectarianism and sectional interests were put above fighting for something we all claimed to believe in. We watched a historical triumph overturned with out any effective opposition.

two are to have any hope of ‘winning policy in future the left needs to look at its falure this time round and not repeat its mistakes.

I've seen ups and downs since Unfortunately, Brighton will be myfiretConferencein’78, utuntil most memorable for the words of now Constituency delogstes have Eric Hammond of the EETPU: atleasthadthe chancetogetupand “I don’t know what you're speak in opposition to the tide of moaning about. It's the best week reaction sweeping down from the of my life."

Nf said.

Leeds

District Party double standards

By a Leeds Briefing supporter

Leeds District Labour Party (DLP), meeting on (October 18th, voted to campaign against the Poll Tax.

But an amendment proposed by a Tribune supporter was also carried.

This committed the Party to oppose non-registration and inon-payment and other unlawful acts and rejected the original ‘tesolution’s proposal for working with existing anti-Poll Tax |groups, in favour of co-operation “where appropriate”.

The mover of the amendment explained in his ward the Poll "Tax groups were ‘not serious"... because they campaigned for rnon-tegistration| On this basis the Party will find few groups to co-operate with.

The hypoctisy of the argument against breaking the law was exposed a few minutes later.

‘Leeds Poly, like other now privatised polys, is proposing to implement a “single union deal”: only NATFHE will be recognised for teaching staif, only NALGO for clerical staff, and only NUPE for manual employees.

‘GMB delegates proposed a resolution calling on Leeds Council to withdraw financial support for and other co-operation with Leeds Poly.

Opposition to the resolution came from Cllr Geoff Driver, Leeds Council representative on the Poly's Governing Body, and from the District Party Secretary, who complained that the resolution would be uniawiul.

Nonetheless, it was passed overwhelmingly.

Evidently, trade union delegates, who dominate Leeds DLP, ‘are prepared to contemplate unlawiul action by the Council to defend their members — but not to defend those people who ‘won't be able to pay the Poll Tax.

Labour Briefing No. 91 October 26th-November 7th Page 8

Democracy and the British State

Socialists and the struggle for ‘democracy’

As a word, “democracy” has been largely emptied of meaning In recent years.

I Is @ universal panaces, something that everybody Supports but defines differently.

Its main usage in the corridors of power and hallways of the media is as a synonym for capitalism. The level of democacy is proportional to the level of capitalist development in any given country.

For the soft-eft in the Labour Party and student movement, democracy ‘means moderation, oF more specifically a pathologi-

patently neither democratic nor left but rather a euphemism for {clightly) critical Kinnockites with a hostility to other forces. But for socialists the concept ‘of democracy is or ought to be clear. It is not about being able to cast a vote once every five years or about free markets. tis about everybody participating equally in society as a whole. ‘Our definition of democratic rights flows from that. Democratic rights are therefore all-encompassing. They do not peter out when things get controversial, as many liber Sar em Meni are the PTA, for instance, are both fundamental democratic rights fesues, as well as questions of racism and imperialism.

By Rebecca Flemming

Likewise, the left must not be dismissive of causes seemingly far removed from the sphere of economic strife. Appearances are often deceptive and frequently a product of traditional conservatism and vested interest.

‘Ten years of Thatcher have been ton years of attacks on domocratic rights. A legislative landslide of repression has

ideology.

The Immigration Acts, the ant-trade union laws, the Police ‘and Criminal Evidence Act, the Public Order Act, Section 28 ‘and the media ban on Sinn Fein are the most obvious testament to the profoundly _antidemocratic vision of the Tories.

Football ID cards, the threats 10 the “tight to silence" and the

very tangible and sometimes terrible impact on millions of peoples’ lives: people who are deported, wrongly convicted,

queerbashed, murdered in police custody, strip searchedin prisons...

‘There are many lessons tobe learnt from our experiences under Thatcher: about the deeper meanings of democracy, about the importance of democratic rights, about the alliances that can and ‘cannot be built on these issues.

Thisis not to say that any particular segmentot history can be characterised simply as a period ‘of regression or progression.

Lite a complex and contradiotory business.

For instance, the passage of ‘Section 28 into the law of the landis undoubtedly a step backwards. It is a law that enand endorses

Moreover, twas precisely the. {fact that the situation seemedto, be improving for lesbians and) gay men in this country that} Provided @ central impetus for! Section 28.

GUILDFORI

A more likely cause of the delay

Ahandtul ofleftiocal Counciis | was to earure that the conspiracy

were beginning to take their responsibiities to their lesbian ‘and gay communities sémi- ‘seriously; the public perception oflesbian and gay sexuality was shifting; the lesbian and gay ‘community was continuing to ‘grow and diversity.

Section 28 is an attempt to halt the advances of the years since Stonewall and if possible turn them back.

‘These advances were themselves the product of the struggles of the lesbian and gay movement, not the spontaneous rest of the passage of time or the gift of a benevolent system. They were fought for tooth and nail

It is essential that socialists are not coy about socialist ‘democracy and do not allow the tight (outside or inside the Labour Party) to continue to ‘usurp the moral high ground on democracy.

Let's confront them at every tum with a clear, alternative vision of complete, all-embracing concept of democracy, which will expose their partial and often rhetorical commit- ‘ment to the genuine article.

Kurd’s death panics Home Office

On Thursday October Sth, Siho Iyiguya and Doga Arsian set fire to themselves in their prison cells.

‘They were Kurdish refugees fleeing oppression in Turkey only to find themselves detained by the Home Office for four months ‘while the Secretary of State considered thelr fate.

Stho has since died in hospital.

‘Their desperate and courageous actions, in conjunction with demonstrations, hunger strikes, and constant legal intervention, ali orgmised by the Kurds themselves, have forced the Home Office t© review detention policy.

‘Within days, several refugees were released. Many of those held in Gloucester prison were ding- ‘nosed as clinically depressed.

Home Office policy isnotoriously fickle, however, and it may not be long before detentions become ‘once more the order of the day.

Home Office procedure is intimidating even for those refugees at large on temporary admission ‘The attitudes of individual Im- ‘migration Officers and interpreters (the Home Office will only use its own) vary enormously.

By a Briefing legal correspondent

While some are patient and sympathetic in eliciting information from a memory possibly damaged by torture, traumatised by grief or simply fazed by the interviewing situation itself, many archectoring, patronising, and arrogant

‘The basic problem for Kurdish asylum applicants is that, despite the mounds of evidence, the goverment chooses not to believe that Kurds are oppressed as a nation.

‘This is « cynical manoeuvre to ‘enable Britain to getroundthe 1951 International Convention on Haman Rights — which Britain signed and which has been central to British propaganda on its own human rights record.

‘Thus Kurds have to prove their ‘own individual oppression and political activity to show that they have a “well-founded fear of persecution” if they are returned.

‘This presents many with a pain ful dilemma: most have been mem-

bers or sympathisers of illegal

‘So political asylum applicants cither have to divulge secret information, and possibly expose comrades back in Turkey to danger, or damage their chances of obtaining asylum by keeping silent.

Moreover, many are semi literate, low-level political sympathisers, active in resisting oppression bat often without the range of knowledge or the vocabulary necessary toestablish credentials as 2 politica refugee in Home Office, terms, though that is exactly what they are.

Very few Kurds are being granted full refugee status

Most (itis too soon to give a percentage) af those who can stay are merely given one year's “Exceptioaal Leave To Enter”, after which they have to go through the process of applying all over again.

Most of those who are deported vill be arrested by Turkish police on arrival the Turkish government likes to see Kurds emigrate, but takes a dim view of those who ex: pose its state terrorism.

It is obvious that the deportees from Britain haven't simply been con holiday, because most of their passports have expired.

‘The plight of Kurdish refugeesin Britain proves that immigration

to play in campaigning for the rights of the Kurdish asylum seekers, We must demand thatthe British goverment: sreleases all detainees: sends the deportations; “grants all asylum seckers the

right to settle.

SIHO IYIGUVEN FUNERAL MARCH Saturday October

28th, ddam

From: Loyola Hall, 56 High

Road, Tottenham,

London N15,

To:

Downing Street,

London SW1

‘which put the Four behind bars could be extended into a carefully stage-managed damage-limitation ‘exercise dressed up as an appeal court hearing.

In sheer contempt of the Four's rights and dignity as innocent prisoners, the existence of this ‘evidence was not communicated to them tilla couple of days before the new appeal. lis contents were not revealed until an hour before.

‘At the appeal, the prosecution ‘went to great lengths to exonerate

‘The DPP presentation was pepered with statements denying in effect thatthe Metropolitan Police (Gociuding Peter Imbert, now its Commissioner), the DPP at the time, prosecution counsel (Sir Michael Havers, subsequently Solicitor General), and the trial [judge Donaldson (now Master of the Rolls) had any knowledge of or ‘were involved in any way in this conspiracy.

(Given that there has not yet been criminal investigation or « judicial inguiry, one wonders how the PP’ office felt able tomake such statements with confidence.

Tis approach was mizrored by Lord Chief Justice Lane, wino also insinuated that there may be ex- [planations for the conspiracy and perjury compatible with the Four being guilty.

‘There was 20 apology, no hint of regret or humility, not even amen tion that a miscartiage of justice nad occurred,

Brutality The vindictive brutality of the

system was such that right up to the point of their release, the Four were

and strip searched four times before the appeal hearing.

‘The Surrey officers whose testimony has now been shown 2s bogus also testified at the trial that

resulted in Paul

ds.

Under the Nosthem Ireland 50% remission system, Hill would probably have finished that sentence several years ago.

All this would have been obvious tothe DPP well in advance of the appeal, yet he had the gall to state in court that he “didn’t know” whether the DPP for Northem Ireland had been informed and that no attempt bad yet been made to process the documentation necessary for a speedy appeal or at the very least for bail pending it

Hill's re-arrest by the RUC after being denied access to his lawyers, his extra day in prison and subsequent appearance in court in handcuffs were undoubtedly planned in advance — all past of a continuing effort to discredit the victorious prisoners and forestall the inevitable crisis of confidence

in the criminal justice eystem.

The collaborators ‘The media have LS gia

that some integrity can found in at least a wing of th establishment.

But the public would be fe ‘piven for being ignorant ofits ex

‘ments so fond of eriticising hm rights abuses elsewhere.

responsible forthe hysteria and ter ror that helped keep the co under wraps for so long. Indeed they mounted a tematic campaign of vilificatio against any who dared to back i

that the Birmingham Six were is nocent men, it“encournged forterrorism.”

aul Hill’s uncle Errol Smalley ‘was protesting right up to the fi appeal that Neil Kinnock and th Labour leadership had failed e to answer letters conceming. the isme, let alone declare their

port. In the days following the DPA

tersley summoned up the co to say he had “mixed emotions

| | ‘Labor Brieting No: 81 ‘October 25th:November 7th Page 9

Democracy and the British State: Ireland

Dublin governments. Even the ‘most ardent backers of the AngloIkish Accord have yet to claim that the release was somehow attribute to any post-Hillboroogh ‘commitment t0 justice and civil

"This is hardly surprising given that the only party to the Accord that could have used it to raise the issue, the 26-county state, singularIy failed todo 20.

‘The supporers of the Dublin = tablishment in this country are equally culpable. In recent years the organisers of the main Ish event of the year the Roundwood Park Festival in Brent, have prevented the Guildford Four and Birmingham Six campaigns from booking stalls to distribute inforimation.

The conspiracy

‘The first question is: how far did the conspiracy extend?

Whereas minimal evidence is usually required tocoavict defendants on conspiracy charges relating to Irish “terrorism” (as with the Winchester Three) the courts are unlikely to accept as, sufficient the considerable evidence that might be available of a widespread police con. spiracy in the case of the Guildford Four.

Michael Havers accurately predicted the outcome of the final appeal at the time of the original trial. Referring tothe prisoners’ ar- ‘uments in their own defence, he said:

“Accusations of the most appalling kind have been made against the police during this tra

“IF tme, there has been a really sigantic conspiracy between the two police forces — the Suey police and the bomb squad — through officers of all ranks.

“If the allegations are true, there hhas been # most appalling perversion of justice

Havers knew that the chances of participation (let alone mere knowledge) in the affair being restricted to few Surrey police officers was highly improbable.

has fong bean secn on dentonstrations in Baitain, asin this ish in Britain

UILTY NOW?

Mos likely he knew because he himself was involved.

Itappears clear now that the DP and prosecuting counsel may have denied the defence access 10 key alibi statements and detention records.

‘Can they and Peter Imbert have been unaware of the existence of a fine bour interview or of its subsequent suppression, given that it fell within the single week that all the other interviews and statements ‘were made?

Imbert was involved in interviews involving what are now shown tobe false confessions.

‘Can he really sill claim tobe unaware that these statements, were

IRA active service unit have been consistent and bones, to their own detriment, whilst the contrary bas been true ofthe police, the prosecution lawyers, and probably members ofthe judiciary.

The cover-up

Conspiracy theories should generally be avoided. But in this case it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the conspiracy which gaoled the Guildford Four is now continwing in the form of a cover

hhave the powers-that-be been ‘aware of this and why should it all come oat now?

tis eapecially strange given that the remit of the Avon & Somerset spy police procedures and records.

‘tis suggested thatthe diligence ‘and commitment to truth of the newly established and “independent” Crown Prosecution

‘This seems unlikely. The CPS is ‘not imbued with any new policy regarding tuch investigations. It is staffed by broadly the same type of people at senior evel as before.

Why should it suddenly decide tolook at this aspect ofan old case?

It is far more likely that the police, successive DPPs and their staffs, and the judiciary involvedin processing appeals have been aware of the Guildford Four's innocence at least since 1975 when the Balcombe Street Unit was arrested.

‘The unit were never ch: swith the Guildford and Woolwich bombings, despite having voluntarily confessed to them.

For 15 years the volunteers of an

‘been made at a certain stage that 2 cctisis couldn't be avoided and = needed.

Tn the context ofthe Stalker Af. 02/4000 from the “Doodiebug’, c/o Conway Education Centre, 57 Conway Street, Belfast BT12.

fair and revelations about MIS assassinations and bombing camppaigns in Ireland in the 1970s, itis ‘cany to see why the establishment ‘was under increasing pressure and fhad to find a way of containing it.

The political ramifications

‘The Guildford Four scandal must be seen as the most

recent sign of a weakening of the ruling consensus oa Irish

§ ig

Rrepreseotation | lust expose the cover-up over the Guildford Four, and stop up the battle fo free other political

This has been evident for several years now over issues such as Stalker, Gibraltar, and the media ban.

In 2 way it resembles the Watergate and Contragate scandals inthe USA. It expresses, as they did, a political crisis within the state ‘erupting in the wake of defeats for imperialism. s

‘Watergate followed defeat in Vietnam. Contragate followed ‘defeat in Central America and the Middle East. The Guildford Four scandal follows the long-term failure of the British to inflict military defeat on Irish

Baitish rule in Ireland remains of ‘central importance to the apparatus of the state.

It is revealing that many of the ‘ever-mounting list of police forces currently under official investigation for malpractice and comuption have Irish connections: the Surrey police, the Metropolitan, the RUC, the West Midlands Serious Crimes ‘Squad

"The Broadwater Farm squad is ‘also now under investigation over very similar arising out of the difficulties in imposing social and political control over the black ‘community

Class peace in this country has Jong been dependent on the cultivation of the ideological assumption that the police, the cousts and the legal apparatus are “independent” and “neutral”

It is on this basix thet Britain remains one of few countries that will allow convictions based oa un- ‘corroborated confessions.

If these confessions ate later retracted, but the prisoner cannot prove what was done to her or him to get it, any conviction must rest purely on the credibility of the police.

The judiciary and the legal profession actively collaborate in promoting this credibility. The Guildford Four revelations expose the fragility of this set-up and un- <dermine the public confidence itis based on.

In the North of Ireland 80% of Republican political prisoners have been convicted solely on the basis of confessions.

‘These convictions occur in juryless courts after detentions based on “draconian” legal powers and inter rogation procedures that have been repeatedly denounced by Amnesty and other human rights organisations.

Detention

Without the denial of legal rights and torture and abuse in detention there would be no confessions. Without confession-only evidence being acceptable there would be no convictions.

‘The only person considering the facts on which the charge is founded is the judge. These facts consist solely of a confession, the credibility of which rests entirely ‘on confidence in the RUC.

‘Take away any one prop of this system and the whole lot will collapse like a house of cards.

‘The Guildford Four scandal should be used to force a major public debate on the injustices in prisons and courts on which British

rule in Ireland is so dependent, | The function of thir setup is purely political. Lis an extension of the military-security apparatus which seeks to contain and if pos-

It forms part of a process of torrorising the community. Ordinary ‘people are made to feel that to stick. their heads above the parapet is to risk life and liberty

Prisoners are held as political hostages — collectively punishing the whole community for the activities of those brave enough to ‘make themselves visible,

Ineffect, an ultimatum is issued: this will be the commenity’s fate unless it ceases tb give political support to resistance and actively collaborates with imperialism.

‘The collapse of the Guildford Four case is a fundamental body blow to this strategy and threatens to seriously discredit the ideologi ccal assumptions that go with it.

‘Many of these points were made inthe statements issued by Hill and Conlon during their first few minutes of freedom.

It is a testament to their deter ‘mination and strength of mind that after 15 years of hell they remain unbroken,

It was also a testament to the altimate and inevitable failure of the British strategy on Ireland.

As socialists we salute these four working class heroes, their families and the small band of activists who struggled for so long to get them fre.

Labour Briefing No. 91 October 25th-November 7th Page 10

The Women's Page

teachers, parents and lecturers ‘attended the Women for Socialism Education Dayschool on October 7th.

Many of the women there were trade unionists and Labour Party members.

Women for Socialism, the autonomous women’s section of the Socialist Movement, planned the dayschool against the backdrop of inequalities which the Education Reform Act has drastically reinforced.

The event made @ start in bringing together a range of womeninvolved indifferent sectors of education and in ending our isolation by developing our ideas collectively.

Papers had been written on "A decade of Thatcherism” and on ‘Different feminist views on education”.

The introduction to the day was given by Caroline Benn, who pointed out that the educetion system was not equally accossible forall

Education has always been riddled with clase, gender, and race privileges. The Tories were now reinforcing these patterns.

‘A speaker from Women Against Fundamentalism talked aboutthe reactionary role of furrdamentaliom — especially as regards women — in all

By JAN POLLOCK

religions and religious schools. WAF's demand for secular

‘education for all received strong

‘suppor from the audience.

ln workshops, women then |

talked oftheir own experience of ‘education, looking towards the need for socialist femininsts to develop a positive alternative vision of education which can inform andmotivate defence campaigns against Tory attacks.

Why should those who received a racist, sexist, heterosexist and anti-working class education rush to defend the previous system which failed them?

Alternative

A positive alternative programme must be developed = not by a few white, male “experts", but collectively by community groups and trade unionists.

So far, the response of the white male leaderships of the teaching unions to Tory attacks has been to bury their heads in the sand.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party Policy Review has also resolutely refused to develop a

‘or feminist alternative in education. Itmerely promises

‘Brent teachers and campaignars labbying the Council against cuts.

to implement the new Tory ‘education model in @ "more compassionate” way.

But the morning workshops at the day school made a start in developing an alternative vision of education.

Afternoon workshops continued the moming's explorations by looking at attacks in compulsory and post-compulsory education. The post-16

To join Women for Socialism, or for further information write to

Ruth Clarke. 7 Cumberiai

workshop concentrated on access to education as a key The compulsory education group brought some of thei ideas to the plenary, including the need to develop an alternative manifesto in education. The whole dayschool agreed this was the necessary next stage,

After @ report on the days- ‘choot has gone out io those who attended, there will be a mesting to discuss on alternative manifesto,

if you're interested in this meeting (with creche) to be held in North London, write to Women and Education Colective, co 46 Arthur Road,

* London N7, or phone 01-272

7649 for more information.

Under the Tories, the kind of educational standards we'd ike to see are going into 2 side: how can we reverse the trend?

wuting a video made in the US by the Fund for the Majority, called “Abortion: For I”. Made as the answer to “The Silent Scream” and “The Eclipse of Reason”, itis a hard-hitting, moving, and powerful account of how access to safe, legal abortion is important to all women, world-wide. It opens with an abortion which, unlike that featured in the two antiabortion videos, concentrates on the women and her reacions. The video, which will be shown at the NAC Conference, is available for hire or purchase. Details of the Conference, video, and international journal can all be obtained from NAC, Wesley House, 4 Wild Court, London WC2B SAU (01-405 4801).

Sports Extra

Many football fans consider ticket-touting to be one of the game’s greatest problems, but the rich and powerful are going one better.

‘They now tout the clubs them. selves.

For£30million youcan even get the once great Manchester United Fe.

Unfortunately the urge to own thisbitof footballing nostalgia, and ‘ith it the associated media atten tion and egoinflation,can leadeven the tich to bite off more than they can chew.

However, if you want control of Manchester United and have just 2 few million pounds, as opposed to tens of millions of pounds, there is ssi way in

This involves the Knighton method, better know to Labour Party activists as “caucus democracy”.

Instead of putting up the £30 miltion, (£10 million to the majority shareholder, £10 million to the other shareholders, and £10 million

By Eric Warbing

{0 the club), set up a new company with (say) £5.5 million and get = few other people to stump up an additional £4.5 million

‘Then get this company to to buy but the majority shareholder.

‘Cross your fingers and hope that the multitude of minority shareholders want to hold on to their bit of nostalgia rather than ex: change it for cash, promise the club its money on the “nevernever”, and bingo, Man Utd FC is all yours

Unfortunately, this method means finding people to put up large amounts of money for very Tittle in return

Tf such people are not forthcoming, then the only result at the end of the processishumiliation, alarge pphone bill, audible laughter from as far away as Anfield and Highbury, and a place on the Board in return for keeping quiet about the club's private Financial affairs

‘The financial situation at Old ‘Trafford has always been interest-

Manchester United Psst! Wanna buy a Football Club?

ing. Originally bought by the Ed- ‘wards family as a sideline, with the collapse of its meat business Manchester United eventually be- ‘came the family's major inves ‘meat

To this day Manchester United remain the only football club to pay regular dividends to shareholders, the majority of course going to Martin Edwards, current chairman” and full-time paid Chief Executive,

Criticism

It was probably recent criticism of Edwards's position, allied to ‘continuous envy of Liverpool, who not only win everything insight but also sign the likes of Beardsley and Bames while United have to do with Mal Donachy and Steve Bruce, that led to the attempted ale

‘Knighton wat seen by some as the herald of 2 new dawn, the man who would tum the club around. ‘The League Championship, not seen at Old Trafford since 1967,

was round the comer. Glory days ‘were here agin.

But atthe end of it al, after the hype all we were Jet with was 9 ‘ary wealthy man trying 1 sort out {business deal with another very ‘wealthy man.

As far as the fans are concerned, it shoulda’ really matter who owns the club, unless of course its the fans themselves. But one of fousball's major problems ie that it has always boon dependant on heroes.

‘This may be fine on the pitch, where wnyone with talent might end tp playing for Manchester United. But when it comes 10 the tmininstration and management of the game, money buys power and, apparently. instant hero sate

‘AI the ‘moment, it seems that there are lrgenumbersof people in football and the medin who think that the wealthy ar the only able people when if comes to running the game.

“This view isnot bome out by the hontific experiences of many foot ball supporters in recent seasons.

Pest... gota spare £4.5 milion’

Labour Briefing No. 91 October 26th-Hovember 7th Page 11

Reviews

BOOK REVIEW

The struggle for the | 8-hour day in the US .

In the US in the early 194 — Serer y akete: nese a8 By Mike Phipps We want to smell the flowers, many strikes for shorter ich CLP i iiSee Apes anion wages. A oeulgiehd We're sure that God has willed it. ‘The problem was often in- 5 Wicibpemplnee shat te wosing dy wae pwaty Attd we mean to have eight hours. ing time” by manipulating reduced in the US over many We’re summoning our forces

We want to feel the sunshine;

Remecedstietenst Yt igaitninizma. 0m shipyard, shop and mill signee aren

a = Ponenaleg ae Speier cope Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, ee — mee: |working clase bales of the

ing $500 to full Geis own ae did Ue Civil War maecs EIGKE hours for what we will. denounced it as “a step in the PSecody, deihieceaican

oe lier toes Geers WEL fects of large-scale state epres- terests. — poten cone In the 1840s, women stikes Sion following the Haymarket Henry Ford, for example, in- _Roediger and Fover’s valu- cinating insight into. the

millworkers fought agsinst the Deep rooted racism and events of May 1886 and the tiated an cight hour day in able study has two weaknesses |S.nati08 insight int

bosses” Bi ogg Sighting sexism weakened and defeated subsequent rightward drift of order to run his mechanised First it's not always possible ee penta ee

up” —fixing hours from before struggles. In 1877, a general the American Federation of production lines on a con- -— or useful — to separate

sunrise to after sunset. From strike which had shut down St Labour. Simons te-shiftsyiem. _stugees for fewer hours from >= Go, rama a Hise oy

then on, strikes became the Louis, city of 300,000 people, It chars the relationship be- The Great Depression of the the broader agenda of labour | Hlth

Ceatral means of forcing cuts in was lost when white workers tween the political and in- 1930s increased pressure for a demands aa given moment (an | woh ne Oak:

the working day. tried to negotiate aseparatedeal dustrial struggles and how cat in bours — and pay. issue relevant tothe cument35-/ Rovau acy pane ‘This book provides adetailed aguinetthe more militantbacks. employers adapted workers’ When the Fair Labour Stan- hour week campaign). The | pewiiger and Filip

and absorbing account of bow ‘The book. examines the ef- demands to meet their own in- dards Act was passed in 1938, book often filters out other

BOOK REVIEW

‘Executions Kipling, Rushdie, and

‘the imperial armour

& soive nothing’ =

| | Descent asa of Race

Ahol! there's actiind & like a Satan foe to 2

‘Hangmen of England, by Police officers. Berry was once and expensive before 1971). abcess Sree bring about unity / Bret Dalley, WH aiene assisted at an execution by aA typical literary moder, | a SS ee £1295. member of the landed gentry,a true to the spirit of those | Thls special issue

$$ magistrate in Essex, Sir Claude homicides which led to the gal- | investigates the

z s | relationship between Brian Bailey’s book, writ. de Crespigny lows is in Tess of the | ten from sn anti-capital This wasso.utmgeoustothe _D'Urbevilles where Tee kis | Mperiallsm and the

f api aS literature it generates. punishment viewpoint, Social sensibilities of the day herseducer and is subsequently Reteces Setccieoe

shows the brutalising ef- that questions were raised in hanged. | ideas sre reproduced in ever fects of being an ex- Parliament. If judicial execution was any | changing forms, even after “Tatieeetiewse — Autoboprepiy _iiag' Tas meaeice | eee es i utobiogray a ar J. it nt

Peceg the hangmen = Spe ‘happen. | In a provocative article, Celebrities”, Tim Brenan. peceonaiedgid ated variably end up as hopeless The Last hangman was Albert | *Cosmopalitans and ‘examines the work of writers response by the Raj to dress; in the Workhouse, or’ Pieces aoe ‘such as Salman Rushdie, anti-colonial rebellion and the poscaljaldias Bevel South African ma azine | eerie ecm oem

p — Mukherjee, Mario Var taining it.

Being an Official Ex- autobiography he wrote: rete aealy rling peor)

ccutioner was not a full-time “I have come to the con- Straddiing the First and the

i we si , | cape Picea patd the wages were clusion that executions sove | Workers Revolution [Tits Wes, they create an By Shahid Tilley

nothing, and are only an anti- | image of the latter for | Tottenham CLP quated relic of a primitive | This new, up-to-the-minute journal of revolutionary _|| consumption by the vast

By A.L. ‘desire for revenge which takes | Marxism, while written to intervene in the debates and | Wester literary market Closer to home, in Britain's ome way and hands over the | initiatives in South Africa, provides an invaluable He notes their ability to ‘oldest colony, Northern,

One executioner. James responsibility for revenge to | source of information and ideas for British activists. | ColaPse the boundaries L Ireland, Bil Rolsten examines Berry, complained in the 1880s other people.” ‘The first issue jeads with an in-depth assessment of the | Petween the popular andthe | the images of women in mass, that be was forced io scour the This is a wll writen book, | struggles ofthe is ive years, and goes onto map out the | =tUS"Bourgeis nove. ard paperback icon Papers to discover when he was not at all sensationalist, al- | tasks of revolutionary socialists in South Africa today. rakaae omen In "Mother's, Whores and likely tobe employed again and though quite graphic in parts. | _ Particularly valuable is the section on the “Economic re Nereeatusionment Villains", he argues that old ould much prefer‘ be on a Part of the book's purpose is | vile", which takes the reader through he less wellknown | a°dweaness.” | exist stereotypes of Irish bh to show that capital proigtament { 2etall behind the better known generalities. may be alterature ol hwomen are continuously

nd hgetde | _ Other articles expand on the struggles in Namibia, the combat, laced with vengeful churned out to provide a

However, there were perks isno deterrent, Most of the case | soviet Union end orn

- Z Rarinegets preiachaleyh bce backdrop for stories set in the attached 10 the job. As the bistoriesthatBailey givesusare | ~ Setting Nis analysis and demands unashamedly in a

whether itultimately tends to eh corfict,

hhangmen supplied tbeis own pathetic, astonishing in their | Trotskyist context, Workers’ Revolution appeals for {ap off the subversive spiritof This isa valuable edition of Tope they were entitled to sell it lack of foresight or planning. | contributions trom readers, so that itcan act as.a plaiiorm | peoples’ sbuggles inthe Third |pa™anaciassenion off'in short lengths afier tbeex- Murders have always been | for discussion of the burning Issues of the day. Era atls aes ‘explores the historical ecution. They were alsoentitled committed casually and for en eae cepeeaten tne cet kogiste SASHES ih Ree rs grisea heey ose hare to the clothes wom by the con- such tifles as another man’s | Labour Briefing office, PO Box 1235, London Né 2U~ earn imperialism. it also reminds us dimuon terearon Overcoat of to femove an up. __ Send cheques (payable 1 Labour Briefing) with your | rveatenom Xilngs wig, thatthe peril armour

The social origin of the wanted spouse (remember, | OT": £2.95 for | copy; £11.50 lor 5 copies: £22.70 for 10 inned | consists of more than just the

e the assumptions of Imperial ‘bangmen was similar to that of divorce was extremely difficult | C°PIOS (!ncluding postage and packing). Hee 4 'perial money and guns.

‘asou Brfng No. 91 October 28t-Noventer 7h Page 12

Trade Union Briefing

How can we beat

New Realism?

‘The Social

Movement Trade Union

Conference in Sheffield on November L1/12th

clearly be a watershed

the battle against

New Realism, as hundreds of socialists meet to discuss an alternative to the positions currently dominant at the top level of the unions.

Here we reprint the introduction to the policy

statement whic!

is to be discussed at the

Conference, and which will form the basis of

future campaigning.

Socialist idens and traditions in trade unions, and the position of trade unions in society, have been weakened not only by the Thatcher onslaught, but also by attacks om shop floor organisation which began under the Labour Government of 1974/79.

(Ona global scale, internation al capital has been reorganising, restructuring and attacking the trade unions worldwide.

Tn 1979 the Tories declared was on the working class, a war they have since pursued by stacking tide union organisation, social ser. vices, education and the NHS; and by selling off public assets to give taxcats othe rich,

‘Bat the tide is turning aganst the ‘Tories: The unions, though batted and weakened, ae alive and kicking and the time is now ripe for a long overdue regeneration of a trade union moveroent ready and able to take on the government, the ‘employers, and aew realism within the uniods.

The Black Section has been in the forefront in raising issues of quality for black trade unionists within the labour movement.

Even a quick scan across a sample of trade unions Indicates the Important inftuence that the Black Section has had in placing these issues firmly on the agenda.

‘The trade union bureaucrats, now realise that piecemeal ap-

proaches toredressingthe huge imbalances in representation in

the movement will not be tolerated by black workers.

This same officialdom also now realises that not showing a commitment to removing racism from the workplace is completely unacceptable.

This has come about not by chance or through any sudden remorse on the part of the trade union leadership, but through organised pressure by black workers ourselves.

More and more pressure con-

Trade imioniem in Britsin has often been perceived as being separate from politics, an idea that from their earliest years both the Labour Party and the TUC have ttied to foster, principally by driving x wedge between the “industrial” and “political” wings of the movement

‘One of the aims of this conference is to show that trade sanionism is political.

‘We wantto show that trade unioo struggles can give rise to some of the most dynamic and modem ideas on the current political scene = ideas about the potential of automation and planned: produc tion, and ideas about the genuine democratic principles hidden away atthe grass roots of trade union oF ‘ganisation.

‘Some sectors of today’s trade tunion movement are receptive to thie kind of political development, ‘others are stuck in the compromise, collaboration and sectionalism which have always been the bane of the British trade union movement.

Black Sections

Getting organised

tinuas to be applied across a ‘number of unions by the Black Section.

Most recenity MSF has been targetted by our movement as a key focus for action — for a number of reasons.

By Roger Mckenzie National Trade Union Organiser, LP Black Sections

‘One of these is the apparent influence of Ken Gill (General Secretary) in TUC corridors as Chair of “Race Relations”

‘Also, there was the policy conflict that arose after merger between the ASTMS position of supporter the pincpies ofa

tion by Black workers scion TASS poston opposing

"Rhos excellent work by com rades inside and outside MSF (led by Black Sections sup-

On the one hand, the five years of retreat which followed the miners” strike bas now given way to the more confident mood as expressed in this summer's industrial ‘upsurge, with its series of remarkable strike votes expressed in the strength of the strikes that followed.

British Rail workers were 100 percent solid, NALGO workers in their fire national strike were 90 percent solid (with more women on strike than at any other time in Britain), and rail workers and Loodon Underground workers organised impressive official and unofficial action.

But on the other hand, recent stmmggles show that many of the features which have been so destructive in the past are still present.

The London Underground strike, in classic fashion, ended ‘with a deal agreed over the heads of the rank and file by their leaders, the British Rail strike could have won much more by getting completely rid of the strings that were anached, and, in our view, the defeat of the dockers was duc, in ‘major part, tothe failore of TGWU leaders to adopt a policy of defiance ‘of the Tory anti-nnion laws.

‘The dockers’ defeat is » serious setback for the labour movement, but it will not have the same dull ingeffectasthe miners’ defeathad.

“The dockers represent = comparatively small section of woekers and thei fate is not tightly bound to that of the Iabour movement as a ‘whole, which isin 2 period of upswing. All the factors which created the recent upsurge are still there — inflation, mortgage rates

porters) the union now has aNe-

tonal Committee decision sup- | ‘our aims.

This indicates the results that

can be achieved through the

development of our organisation within individual trade unions.

Here is the key to our future development. Not only is necessary to develop organisa ‘ion within individual unions, but also across the movement as 2 whole.

The Black Section willbe call ing @ Conference for Black workers organised by Black workers, due 16 take place in carly 1990.

Its major aims will be the

mobilisation of Black workers |

‘across the movement and the creation of our own networks of on

:garisation, We hope this will resutt in the establishment of a powertul force within the trade union ‘movement, enhancing stil further the national campaigning

| soon be « majority of the

‘work carried out by the Biack Sections.

and disenchantment with the Tory project — in particular their attack ‘on the NHS and the privatisation of, ‘water and electricity.

‘We have to reject compromises ‘and rebuild trade union strength on the basis of militant struggle to improve the wages and working con itions of trade union members, and build solidarity with those in “struggle and those victimised in the

process

Butthe TUC remains tied tonew realism, preaching accommodation and reireat when solidarity and struggle could bring much needed

away from these ideas 10 some extent, accepting that something can bedone—aslong asit iskept within strict limits — and does not chalIenge new realism overall. The Labour leadership remains ‘wedded unflinchingly to the policy review. Bur they face a contradic tion in shifting the party massively to the sight ata time when there is ‘arisen militancy in the ranks of the tnions. The pressure will be fel there as well.

Opportunities

Today, new opportunities exist alongside unresolved problems. But now, new people are emerging ‘more confident and less moulded by the defeats of the last 10 years, and there are also signs of new self at rank and fle level.

“There also exists an increased awarenessin the general population ‘of the need for trade unions and the right of trade unions to express themselves freely.

‘Women are gradually changing the structures of the trade unions, by forcing them to come to terms ‘with the fact that the white male domination of the unions has to be challenged because women will

workforce ‘The needs of the large black

eta oer

the structure ofthe unions, Positive ‘ction fas to be applied — not just for women workers but for black, lesbian and gay workers as well. ‘Matters such as the environment, reproductive rights, free abortion fon demand and Poll Tax must be ‘een as mainstream trade union is- ‘ves. is time forthe unions fo take 2 lead on such issues and not just

Fane cat ee women

every level of the trade union ‘movement, but we reject the new a :

Since ope pA PEO ‘win womens” votes

Both TUC and Labour leader: hope that the issue of effectiv power ~ an issue that Labour anc! trade union women have spen ‘years campaigning for — has bee: pushed off the agends.

We have to reassert the need for 1 radical programme for socialist

‘We are in favour of an economy which reverses the priorities of previous Tory sad Labour Govern ments and makes its priority the serving of social needs rather than

| the maximisation of profits.

Our policies are for the major financial institutions and private companies to be taken into public ‘ownership: for control overthe distribution of investment and of profits, and for powers to control multinationals inclading their in- ‘vestments and surpluses.

‘This conference sets cut to highlight four main areas of direct relevance to trade unionism today:

The struggle against new

Solidarity or ‘secondary action’, is now illegal under the series of

trade union laws introduced since pot is

1982. Yet solidarity is needed now ‘more than ever before.

"We have seen in the series of strikes typified by Silentnight, ‘Wapping and the seafarers’ dispute that the Tory Government has managed to get right to the heart of the collective meaning of trade ‘union action — with a series of vindictive measures preventing trade ‘unionists from doing what they need most — taking action in support of each other.

Perhaps the most tragic example cof this was during the P&O dispute. Seafarers up and down the country clearly showed that they were

to.come out in mupport of

the sacked P&O workers, only tobe ‘eventually beaten back by their naip's fear of the law.

Legislation

‘Industrial relations legislation in Bstsin has now become s0 ppressive that it has been roundly condemned by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Natios body which deale ‘with employment matters.

‘They identified eight ar where Britain lage behind miniImo requirements accepted by ver 100 countries. Among them trv thebanon unions st GCHQ, the deaial of negotiating rights for teachers, backing, the ban on

‘action’, Sed thosigin of employers to sack workers when they ae on strike.

Paboor laws in Britsin are sow the most repressive in Westcm Europe and recent experiences like the dock aike ave shown that's no good trying to get round the legal process,

“The more concessions ae made,

‘Striking Fords workers bring a salidanty banner 1c nurses’ picket Ine.

the move laws the ruling class will invent to trip the unions up even ‘more effsctively next time.

lion members, and in par ticular their leaders, are often held back from defying the law through 1 fear thatthe courts will intervene and ‘destroy the union’ by seizing its anset

However, the greatest asset a union fan is not bricks and mortar for money in the bank, but its memters and their ability to struggle. ‘The mincrs showed how the moverent us 8 whole can keep workers in stroggle afloat.

Underlying this is the ismue of trade union solidanity, Even before the cureat series of Inws, trade uunionsin Britain were notorious for thei failure to lend each other sup-

strugale.

‘Some of the greatest moments in British trade anion history ~ the 1911 “Triple Alliance’, the General Strike, the dockers’ release under the 1972 Industrial Relations Act, the miners’ victory at Salley Gate have all been examples ofthe effects of solidarity.

But, more often than not, they have ended with further potential being thrown away by the leadership.

One of the essential tasks of socialists within trade unions is to build and extend solidarity by all means possible. The Solidarity Network, set up two years ago 10 co-ordinate practical solidarity, has already made a start in that direc tion.

‘Trade union solidarity and defence of grass roots interests i tot amoral luxury, itis a necessity.

‘Another task of socialists within trade unions is to build on that impetus towards struggle in order to fry and make sure that, next time, ‘workers leam from their own ex: perience and Jend vital support to thei fellow trade unionistsinstrugale.

“That way, we can build @ united awareness based on the shared working class interests of all trade unionists ~ in whatever section of the workforce.

‘The main purpose of this cooference is to strengthen opposition tonew realism atevery level and t0 begin to ebuild the unions through successful struggle against the ‘employers and the goverment.

The key to this is the democratisation of the trade union ‘movement itself, particularly through the maximum involvement and participation of trade union members.

PHOTO: Martine Stead are! Jim Thain

Labour Briefing No. 91 October 25th November 7th Page 13

Trade Union Briefing

Anti-union laws New victimisation rights for bosses!

‘The Tories want to give Whybothertryingtodefine what But to poob-pooh the legislation employers new powers pack- is and what im't an “esscaia mt- (an docs toe Loodon Underground Ga with the full force af the vice” when all ons has todo isto “wildcat” tain diver qunacd in the i impell the union to repudiate une- Guardian) is ulire lef nonsense. : any official action —or As ove of the so-called co-or ssack individuals or groups quvorally any = whe take part le onctticieh, Hak sequcdration instore in those strikes, | want to Bvery strike since 1979 —with makeitknown that akey argument ween sack people from the the exception ofthe miners —has in motivating the unofficial sites right to appeal to an industriat S228 effective ation by members in the frst place a the carly mass curtailed and finally tymiedby the meetings and inthe depots was that

es a ee Cece an - ination: time officials to comply with the tion — that unofficial strikes

law. ‘weren’tillegal! ssholish the pre-eatry closed "(The unica fulltimers have thus ‘That's why both ASLEF and

shop. th : teen able to defend thei ight to NUR officals overlooked the a>

a ; :

ett toe Tepislation, lafge salaries, free private health tion. :

Semaitede Rates care. cheap mongugsr aod. Now. with the new found

forEiploymentsrfered loses _ B&D pension) sxrngth ofthe ke experience,

; ‘ in Se eee

2D dare ae 3

cate irate iiayen Ja eg

Pees vies Se Coe z cial action legal by holding 2 cy of the bulk of the members.

Seppe ene: retrospective ballot, that too Sill This legislation will be dressed soon be illegal. ‘pas acurb on the “mad militants” By an LT Worker ‘It could be argued that the mass and “left-wing officials”, bul

sackings of striking P&O woskers management will ose it to’ sack corprin' workersat Wapping makes _Gnybady who npeaks for his or her ‘Unofficial action, he said, cost moet ofthis legislation and the ar rights and the rights of fellow

joke and endcrmincd Briain's ioe gumentsabowitineioant. > werkere [coubyayanternece Tah al werd the sspenion, ios Gal es of fin . rf fi paienice ch geppasang iad ths Besies 1 aad a Bf ssvia will quite righly led to esc ny pet acento eich will bemade trace!” [A segue iy wore in Buiain by the latest pipe an Ey Stock Markt plunge the unions Becta job ede tis pope pares ers ag Dipetice conte wanes Far from being svashed, “the nmediate action sgninnt vcSect nil ive and ching, tinization teeta Wale for ‘had ts fight (ot mrpelsingly) Sa tall tates weeks andthe atc of (is tek ends Eo See Se ered etn besotted Legere pet res oot

for 40% of the days lost throo — ask Mick Gosling | ep halas aeeg re ihre al scion |

‘During and after the strikes this ‘Striking P&O workers dire degen es pass =e] sommerpressspecolation—andin After ail, the Tilbury sh sek Robinson, or fome quarters press hysteria — stcwardewereackedsfiertwobel- Alan Thoret.or Mickey Fees. | centered on calls to make strikes in lotsandsfterthehighestcourtinthe ___ Therefore, the campaign against | the essential services totally illegal land had declared their strike offi- 9€W anti-union legislation must tnd to force unions to discipline cial art now. | members taking part in unofficial Of course, it's tme that the out- The Solidarity Network is ation. come of all auglesis dependent PfOporing a. national inttiaive

The Tories have sde-stepped all in the end on unity of action and centered onthe victimised activists the complications this would entail solidarity with other workers. That of the Thatcher years. When it’s and have instead summoned up remains the best defence for launched it must be the centre of 3 theirmost trusted allics—thetrade strikers both individually and as « ®psign aimed at the total peal anion and abourPary leaders. whole ‘fall ant-anion legion.

Postal workers reject Sunday working

A special UCW delegate con- The UCW leadership isin anin-| ference has rejected a draft © By a UCW Briefing creasingly untenable position over agreement on bringing iD supporter new agreements. Workers have not Sunday postal collections. forgotten past scll-outs, and are

‘The Union Executive had growing in confidence in making recommended acceptance but employer. new demands after some successful delegates argued that ifthe Post Maybethe vote really reflectsthe | disputes.

Office wanted to improve Its lack of confidence postal workers Clerical saff in the Counters | image It should do something have in their union leaders! Business have rejected « 7% pay about implementing existing The Conference also votedonan offer, those in parcels and letters agreements which could help agreement to separate the Parcels have rejected = six month interim provide better weekday service. business from the rest of the Post pay deal designed to bring their set

General Secretary Alan Tuffin Office (undoubtedly the first step tlement dates in line with uniform later said that nocriticism had been _towardsprivatisation),rejectingthe staff. levelled at the Executive for reach- part conceming a new disciplinary _Itisnow very likely that Counter ing the agreement: the vote was, procedure staff will be balloted on industrial rather, a reflection of the lack of Now the agreement will have to action, while begin trust postal workers have in their be renegotiated. ‘over a 10% claim for other staff. .

Capitalist crisis:

AL wise pies aa

ONTO THE OFFENSIVE!

The current financial crises inthe US and Britain and the coming rececession pose a major challenge to the labour movement.

‘The Wall Street mini-crash of Friday October 13th and the subsequent instability are signs of the fundamental ‘weakness of both the US and the world capitalist economy 28 a whole.

‘The Wall Steet collapse was sparked off by concern about companies with high borrowings. Behind this concern lies fear of a recession in which ‘even more of these companies ‘would go under.

For the last two or three years. the strategy of all the major capitalist governments has been deflationary. This strategy has accelerated write-offs of capital, of which the stock

| market declines of 1987 and

1989 are just the most speotacular examples. But it has also contributed to

| a slowing down of the world

‘economy. Short of a major offensive by the world working class, deflation will continue and ead inevitably to a world recession.

In decrepit Britain, it is not a question of whether there willbe a recession next year, but how deep it will be. This recession will mean a new wave of attacks con working people.

But we have the capacity to fight back. There does not have to bea re-run of the trade union collapse in 1979-81.

Then we were faced with a newly elected and confident Tory administration, riding high fon the demoralisation created by the 1974.9 Labour government.

But now the yawning trade {deficit and the weakness of sterling show clearly that ten years

| of Thatcherism have done noth-

ing to resolve economic problems in Britain, any more than Reaganism has in the US.

Both internationally and. in Britain the ruling class is divided ‘on what to do next. The current disarray among the Tories is the ideal opportunity for a labour movement offensive.

The recent wave of industrial militancy shows that the will is there. This militancy has an economic base. Several years in which unemployment has not risen further, rapid wage rises for:some groups, and rising infiation have all encouraged workers to take action against wage erosion.

But this situation will not last for ever. If there is a major recession and no fightback has taken place, the economic effects of the recession are likely to once again undermine trade union militancy. We mustgrasp the moment!

By. Jamie Gough AUT, Holborn and St Pancras CLP

Labour Party and trade union leaders draw the opposite conclusion. For them, the worsenjing economic situation means that the labour movement must further subordinate itself to capital

Jordan, as usual, is the clearest. He says that the AEU's demand for a 35 hour week must be dropped, because it would harm firms ata time when they need help.

‘The Labour Party's economic policy is just an elaborate version of the same idea. Bryan Gould's reaction to the current crisis is to support deflation, but by using credit controls instead of the interest rate. Thanks, Bryan, see you on the dole queu

But the present mood among workers means these leaders need not have it all their own way. We should build for a United front of the labour move-

‘ment against austerity. | To do s0 we need to put for ward demands which meet the needs of allworkers, which help 10 unite the class found common objectives. The key issues ate:

Employment. A further tise in unemployment looms. A shorter working week is the im mediate answer. Solidarity with the engineers’ fight fora 35 hour ‘week is crucial, And this should be used to popularise the ides of acutinhoursfor all. Theavailable work offered by the capitalists needs to be shared ‘out between all those seeking it

-Wages and benefits. The already high inflation rate willincrease, due to a falling pound and the US government's bail ‘out of financial institutions,

Wage increases, even for stronger sections of workers, fare now running only slightly ahead of inflation.

The employers are now preparing for generalised wage austerity. We should demand thatall wages and alibenefits be increased monthly to compenSate for inflation.

The low wages and benefits which now impoverish a huge layer of the population must be ‘ended with a substantial guaranteed minimum income {or al. This would be a bedrock for preparing united demands for common tises. in real income.

“Intensification. We must not allow the employers to bargain wage rises and cuts in hours for further worsening of working conditions, as the engineering employers want todo.

For most workers, conditions are bad enough already; for many they are intolerable. improvement in the conditions of work must be an integral part of a united fightback.

‘The economic crisis nesd nat mean surrender to capitals demands. Itis the moment for = united labour movement cen sive.

Labout Briefing No, 81 Oetober.25%h-November 7th Page 14 |

International Briefing

EYEWITNES

socialists

Amidst much international | gemocratic pragmatism and sntifanfare and a good deal of | democratic Stalinism.

position groups which set in train the election process and the new

domestic scepticism, the Hun- | In factthe ideological battles at multi-party system did not provide garian Socialist Workers | theconfereace wereexiremelycon- for the dismantling ofthe Stalinist fused. sate apparatus.

Party has held its first

democratically organised and

cational canteresce, Stalinist ruling

It left in place the army of bareancrats, the huge assets the Stalinists have appropriated through their control of the state, and the “workplace cells” through ‘which the HSP exercises all kinds of undemocratic influence.

Because of this the more progressive block made up of the Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSD) and the Federation of Young Democrats (FIDESZ) refused to sign the roundtable agreements, though they also declined to exercise their vveto over them.

Agreements

In contrast, the other main opdominated by the Hungarian Democratic Forum, signed the agreements, which also include provision for a new style of powers, tobe elected on November 25th

| Most of them were little more than thinly disguised tactical manoeuvres by factions or i

gary | dividuals seeking to improve or Bo hg emnpbnee dl ‘after mach factional intrigue and | *t2in their positions within the apideological confusion, asa “new” | LS setnaaes

organisation, the Hungarian By a Briefing

Socialist Party. reporter in Budapest

Tinthe run uptothe country's first free elections in decades, the Stalinite are desperate to avoid Polish-style humiliation at the polls.

‘Bat the only thing the founders ofthe new party could agree on was that it would represent the traditions of “Buropean socialism”.

"This was a deliberately vague,

formulation designed to cover up| splits within the old HSWP, notab-| Iy berween the Reform Association (backed by Poszgay and Nemeth) and the People’s Democratic Patform (backed by Nyers) and the old Stalinist conservatives, who were easily outmanoeuvred by the! new" foaces atthe Conference.

For the Reform Association and. Poszgay and Nemeth thenew Hun arian Socialist Party is on its way to becoming a classical West

social democratic party.

Party chief Nyers, on the other hand, wants the new formation to distance itself from both social

Nonetheless, it should be remembered thal the conference ‘was a navel experience for party ‘members raised in a very different tradition.

‘Suddenly there were motions, amendments, debates, points of order, votes... and deals stitched up in smaoke-filled rooms: not, in fact, all that different from party conferences in the West, though slight-

bbatone with its roots in an old order ‘whose power base is battered bt stillintact. Thekey questions what happens to the Stalinist omenklatura after the elections? ‘The HSP is anchored in the state structures. Itwon'tjust goaway because it loses seats inthe new par Tiament.

"The roundtable agreements between the ruling party and the op-

‘The HDF not oaly went along wits tie, bor wil bo ting © fesk ood vateally weknown cor Gidate, allowing the HSP's ieee

For the HSP and Poszgay this is big break Poszgay's popularity ie vindling rapidly and the HSP

The resignation for “health reasons” of Erich Honecker, General Secretary since 1971 of East Germany's ruling Socialist Unity Party (SED), can be interpreted in several different ways.

initial reactions from the burgeoning East German opposition movement sugGested a manoeuvre purely designed to buy the SED

with the informal opposition groups and the Protestant church and his ever-increasing reliance on close links with West Germany.

There is, however, a third possible explanation for the Switch in leadership.

When Gorbachev was chosen to succeed Chernenko, the first reaction from many Western and Soviet observers was that litle could be expected from him, given his undistin-

mistrust by the opposition and the population at large, as well as the reformist currents in the Party, will ensure that the ‘emigration, the demonstrations, and the independent poitical activities will continue.

inclinations

What really matters is not the personal inclinations and the paychological make-up of one

leadership time, without any aie Egon Krenz, but the relationship ‘serious intent of reform. Cera mer of forces both inside and outside Others claimed that the ap- ss the Party. pointment of a successor,Egon By GUNTER Itis clear that the pressure for Krenz. who recently made the MINNERUP reform is now so strong that the

new leader could only resistit by resorting to the most vicious repression in the history of the GOR.

‘An East German Tienanmen Square, however, can be firmly ruled out. t would bring about the immediate collapse of the GDR's economic line to the Federal Republic, and completely isolate East Bertin from the rest of Eastern Europe.

The ensuing conflagration would probably destroy the Party and state apparatus.

A use of armed repression, in other words, would be tantamount to Krenz signing his own political death warrant.

headlines for his extravagant praise of the Chinese regime's Bloodbath in Tienanmen Square represented 2 victory for the hardline Stalinist faction in the SED.

Either view can be well ar goed. Krenz is a rather colourless figure who con hardly be considered as axyfing bt

Time and again leadership changes in Eastern Europe have shown that itis a mistake to attach too much importance to such biographies: the ‘new man” would never have been considered as successor had be conducted himself in any-

Grim scenario for

S HUNGARY

clearly hopes the presidential elections will in effect pre-empt the

results of the more open parliamentary elections, enabling them to maintain control of the state ap-

paratus. ‘The SZDSD is trying to head off this manoeuvre. It has collected over 140,000 signatures demanding a referendum on the presidential issue and the related questions of the maintenance of workplace cells and the People’s Militia, the paramilitary wing of the HSP. In effect, the petition is an at- ‘temptto rectify the shortcomings of the round-table agreement. The constitution requires only 100,000 signamures to force a referendum. I

Towards the social market?

of “the market”, though there oe eS ee Re "The HSP advocates what it calla

“the social market”. The HDF is ‘eager for wholesale privatisation

thas provision ishonoured,itcosld So) complacent about the likely

‘well pu paid to Poszgay’s plans. short-term effects on employmeat ‘Whatever happens with the Sndorices

Presidency, the HDF is likely to “The SZDSD is at least engaged

emerge 28 the langest party in the in a debate on economic policy and

parliamentary elections in the

ing, and will thea form a govern- ‘ment with the support of 2 number ‘of smaller patties.

‘The HDF is a heterogencous organisation containing classic Iiberal democrats and extreme right

It bas nothing that could be called a political or economic

‘wants a transition to the masketthat

huge chunks of the economy to foreign capital, which will in effect

the policy pursued by both the HIDE and Posrgay's wing of the BSP.

‘Ala, only the discredited rump Stalinists of the old HSWP (who enjoy n0 support whatsoever -sconomic crsin mong the general populace) svo-

sks riba cate any Kind of alternative to the he,

Furthermore, the Party apparatus appears to b dominated by those who would dearly love to introduce the sort ‘of reforms that would restore the GDR's international image and stop the flow of emigration.

‘The dilemma for the SED would-be reformers, however, is that any real step towards democratisation would threaten the survival of the East German state in a far more immediate way than any other country in Eastern Europe.

‘The East German Communist

represents only half the number of those who lefthe GDR for the West through legal channels so far this year.

Furthermore, both figures are completely overshadowed by the estimated number of 300,000 applicants for exit visas.

‘Any formal permission for independent political organisation would immediately bring the SPD, the traditional. majority party of the East German working class, on to the scene, instantly threatening the unity and cohesion of the ruling SED.

Pay ig tmated by te Arter Sita tion and social democracy. the reformist forces in the Party

repression nor radical reform appear very likely. It is important to recognise however, that the inability of jther grouping to take decisive measures is, in the final analysis, the price to be paid for the creation of the “first German workers’ and peasants'stato"as

Political pluralism and freedom to travel are the two most frequently voiced demands from below, but even the limited relaxation under Honecker has produced a massive wave of emigration and the reconstitution of an unofficial

‘As for Gorbachev, he will live with at-eaching economic change in Hangary as long as the country remains in the Warsaw Pact.

“This in accepted by both the HSP snd the HDF but not the SZDSD which questions the value of the Pact and mises the possibility of *non-alignment”.

‘What seems to be happening in ‘Hungary is a re-emengence of the ‘pre-war lines of political divide: between nationalist and traditionalist ‘currents based largely in the rural areas (and through the HDF) and the cosmopolitan, secular currents based inthe cities (represented largely by the SZDSD and FIDESZ).

‘As forthe HSP, itsnew name and even its new approach are unlikely to resolve what is now clearly = long-term crisis of identity

"Noone yet quite knows just what pon Stati pty al oon

an artificial creature of the Cold War and the division of Ger-

many. e

(Le. not endorsed by the West German SPD) Social Democratic Party.

It must not be forgotten that the well publicised exodus via the West German embassies in Prague, Budapest, and Warsaw

‘Demonstration: In Defence of tranian Political Retugees Saturday, October 28th, 2pm Hyde Park Corner, London Organised by CARWiranian Community Centre ‘Solidarity messages welcom BM Box CARI, London WC1N 3XX

‘Labour Briefing No. 21 October 26th-Novombor 7th Page 15

international Briefing

“The by-products of continued war...’

been moved from the sites in the recent past.

‘tall the places visited virtually all the Namibians had been repatriated by the UN High Commission for Refugees except for ‘small numbers who stayed behind to guard communal property. None of those that were interviewed were bbeing held against their will.

AUN mission to Angola and ‘Zambia to investigate allegations that SWAPO is contiouing to hold political prisoners has found no supporting evidence.

‘Although 315 people are yet to be accounted for there is no suggestion that SWAPO Is respon-

By David Clark Namibia Support Committee

tive to Namibia, organised mis sion to Angola and Zambia to investigate.

det Seer A substantial number of the a a fra step a database was When SWAPO released its cearedby syumnatcaly chocing 1100 teat could be sccomted polis! pisoncrsattbebogiming StsvajaicreconTievetea TOY eminSon: pt July, aa required under the UN jy included details of 1100 in- “gy ov ueutfed os IndependeneeplanforNanbis.the viduals, pl a lit of alleged y,uf04,vere, Met m= baving

cex-detainees told stories of torture, ‘ape, and ill-treatment ‘SWAPO leadershave stated that

places of detention. “71, including current SWAPO

officials, were reportedly never

members of the organisation Mission detained in the first place; responsible for such erimes will be Teeetpued and held accountable. _Themiscion then visited 30stes

However, South Africa's in the two countries between Sepproxies in Namibia sized upon the tember 2nd and 22nd. On October Fae een Nneane of dividing the 11th the mission's fit mepoct was. | In a comprehensive report clectorsicin whathadhithertobeen made public. bah phere tae 4 highly infegyated movement for The mission found no detainees | on the Lesa fee tational liberation. in any ofthe alleged detention | in ee HECUN

Cents or oder pcos vised in | Meter Namibia's Accusations ‘Angola and Zambia nor say isatibie:

evidence that people may have

‘The issue was kept alive by the

‘ight wing parties and media within Contact the Namibia

Nanibia by meant of ecumations © Support Committee: inate by SWArO. PO Box 16, London

‘Chaimingthefate of disappeared. = NWS 2LW, personsasaUNrespensibility. Ah- 1-267 1941/2. tisaasi, the UN Special Representa-

Colombia Thatcher’s “War on

drugs” fraud

‘The recent decision to send British warships to aid the Colombian government in its “war against the drag

In fact, the government of Colombia is not interested in destroying the drug trade, its biggest currency eamer ($1,000 mil-

the second biggest armed force in Latin Ametica in order to combat the increasing threat to the status ‘quo from the armed opposition and

barons” follows President lion in drug money tes iy re anaed wer the Bush's moveto pour $65 mil- SUO5% thapmvents ae country's pretextofthe war agus! thomafi) lion in military aid into the coaster ee are being used to control the country. ‘Despite the massive propaganda civilian population through cur- ‘This crusade against the drug canpeign, it is dodotil whether fews, aibitrary detentions, raids, Dbaronsbegaaaftertheassassina- Cognicies such as the US and and the outlawing of striker and tlon of the leading presidential Britain are really interested in put-_publicmeetings. candidate, Luis Carlos Galan. All this comes at atime when the

ting an end to drug trafficking.

‘Afier all, drug money laundered and deposited in North American, ‘Swiss, and British bankshelps keep these economies afloat.

‘The mafia has an estimated $24 ‘million ia North American banks alone. Did not Oliver North and his CIA and industrialist hackers trade ‘with the mafia in order to bay arms for the Contras?

IF the Colombian government and its friends here and in the US ‘are not serious about destroying the ‘mafia then what is going on?

Jn Colombia today. US and British money, military hardware, and military advisors are being “used to strengthen what is already

However, this crusade was undortaken against a background of close involvement between drug barons, govemment officials at al levels, high-ranking military personnel, and the traditional owners of the economy, all of whom benefit from the massive profits made in the drug business.

‘Since Galan’s death two months ‘agonotone single “drug baron” has bbeen detained, despite massive areats,

‘None ofthe government officials proven to have links with the mafia hhas been arrested. Not one of the zilitary personnel known to be in the mafia’s payroll has been questioned.

Colombian govemment was completely discredited both at home and abroad due to its “dirty war” against the left-wing opposition, the trade unions, and the popular ‘movements — s war that produced 5,915 political assassinations last yeas.

‘Now more than ever the people ‘of Colombia are calling for intema- ‘tional solidarity with their fight for a just and democratic society. The British public must therefore reject ‘Thatcher's movestoaid the ColomDian goverment.

Prom Colombia Solidarity Commitee press release.

“115 were reported or suspected as dead:

+52 could not be traced at all because of insufficient information.

Remaining

Abtisaari has sai that he will not disband the mission uatil the 315 remaining namesare accounted for, reminding the people of Namibis that they were dealing with the by- ‘products of continued war.

He compared the 315 missing ‘Namibians withthe 1,600 Cypriots tunaccounted for since the 1974

upheavals ia Cyprus and the 2,300 US citizens who went missing in action in South East Asia.

‘Armed Koovoet in Oshallati

De Cuellar criticises SWAPOL

of those Koevoet stil serving ‘The Secretary General also jin the custody of SWAPOL or in

‘with SWAPOL (estimated tobe criticises SWAPOL for ‘being present when statements

at Teast 1,800). obstructing the work of are taken from SWAPOL ‘According tode Cuellar, they UNTAG's police monitors ‘members accused of offences.

“donot appear to understand... Experionce has taight UNTAG Most problematical for

the role ofevilian police the importance of monitoring UNTAG itself has been

officers.” SWAPOL very closely but |SWAPOL's occasional refusal to [Leading members oftheDTA _SWAPOL has not reliably dine ifocnation cn tes wcully

(South Aftice’s preferred partyin ‘informed UNTAG accurately of situation with UNTAG.

the Namibian elections) have the schedules of its patrols; thix

begun a campaign toresist any ‘has particularly been a problem

farther attemptsby the UNto with Koevoet members within [prevent repetitions of events such

reduce the role of Kocvoct on the SWAPOL who categorically as the bombing of the UNTAG

basis that removing Koevoet from object to being monitored. office at Oxtjo andthe murder of

SWAPOL would be tantamount UNTAG has difficulty in Ive SWAPO official, Anton

to" victimisation”. siting the right to visit detainees __[Lubowsk

The world’s largest planned disaster...

Weekly of India he writes:

“The Harsud meeting ls exlpected to be a turning point ithe country's experience of |development. Participants in-

On September 28th a demonstration took place in the town of Harsud Madhya Pradesh in India

By MARTIN WICKS.

grants and special assistance to

against the plan to dam the ‘the diss sed. possessed. tend to serve notice on the planfiver Narmada, flooding “"fueBcte ams, a prominent nersthataushiarge destutve 300,000 acres of farmiand environmentalist, derides the _projects,,inhuman and anti and forest, and displacing plan and the promises. He says natural in their consequences, fat least 300,000 people. the project is technically and will no longer be permitted, financially unsound, environ- whether supported by the World.

Sadly, this issue is unlikely mentally destructive, and will Bank or not.”

10 other Indian towns there wore rallies in support of the Harsud protest and against ‘other development projects. ‘An action committee formed

to become a key one in th coming elections, which will focus more on labyrinthine manoeuvring within the tuling Congress apparatus

render hundreds of thousands homeless.

He points out that the dam ‘would submerge a quarter of a million acres of arable land and

land the opposition coalition. forest: “Thus we have the un- by several environmental Rajiv Gandhi's government believable situation of a state groups has made links with ‘and the Narmada planners — having to spend thousands of those facing displacement by

backed by the World Bank —insist the project will bring prosperity to a drought-ridden area, taking drinking and irrigation water deop into lerge areas ‘of Madhya Pradesh, Gujerat, Rejesthan, and Maharashtra. ‘They alsoclaim tohave set up ‘one of the best rehabilitation packages in the word” which, they say, will guarantee land

‘milions of rupees to submerge ‘as much territory asitis going to irrigate through the project. Environmentalist Claude AL ‘yares describes the project as “the world's largest planned disaster.” He believes it will be- ‘come the launching pad for the ‘growth of an Indian green move-

‘ment. Tina recent issue of iitustrated

the proposed national missile testing range in Orissa and by a nuclear power project in Karnatak

Thisis the firstattemptto build ‘@ common platform for campaigns against “giganticiem” in idevelopment, which is estimated te have foroed 20 milion Indians from their homes since \independence in 1947.

Labour Briefing No. 91 October 25%h-November 7th Page 16

Poll Tax Notes Panic measures!

more than £3/week more than they already pay in rates.

How any of these will work was not made clear. Ever since, civil servants and local government finance officers have been running round like headless chickens trying to figure out how to operate the system.

‘Attax that was already complicated and expensive to cot lect has now become even more confusing.

Even Local Authorities which have been going all out to implement the Poll Tax are now saying they can't be ready by April 1st next year.

Rebate forms, many of which had already been printed will require changing. More staff will be needed and, more crucially, computer systems will have to be prepared to compare Poli Tax Registers with existing rates.

What about _the beneficiaries of this new

Desperate to be seen to be doing something to hold the rising disquiet in Tory ranks over the Poll Tax, the Tories put the order out to civil servants: “come up with something fast — you can leave the details till later.”

twas then left to Minister of State David Hunt to make an announcement at Tory Party Conference of what was to come.

First, there was a grant of nearly £700 million spread over three years to offset the previous decision on salety nets.

Now the mainly Tory Authorities which gain from the Poll Tax won't have to help pay for the “losers” after the first year.

Second came the £100 million for extra rebates, so that in theory one and two person households won'thave to pay

All-Britain Anti-Poll Tax Organising Conference ve Mass Non-payment! vx Mass Non-impiementation! vx Mass Non-collection! 25th November 1989, 11am-5pm

FREE TRADE HALL, MANCHESTER Conference open to two delegates from every anti-Poll Tax Union, group, trade union, student union, Trades Council, ‘Shop Stewards Committee, Tenants Association, community ‘group, and youth organisation which is a bona fide group actively campaigning against the Poll Tax.

Send £10 delegation fee (cheques payable to All Britain Anti-Poll Tax Federation), name of organisation & secretary, delegates names & addresses, request for creche places to: ‘Tommy Sheridan, PO Box 764, London E59 SX by November

‘18th. Documents will be circulated nearer the date. ‘Phone 01-533 5551 for further details.

642 REASONS TO OPPOSE THE POLL TAX

RALLY

Hornsey Town Hall Tuesday November 7th, 7.30pm

Bus routes: 41, W7, W2. For other transport ring: 802 9804. Speakers:

* Tony Benn MP

* Bernie Grant MP

* Local Anti-Poll Tax Group

+ Speaker from Scotland

* Local Trade Union Speaker

Creche available: children welcome. Sponsors so far: Haringey NALGO, Hornsey Vale LP, High Cross LP, Finsbury Park NUR, NCU

SUBSCRIBE TO BRIEFING

Make sure of your copy of the fortnightly Labour Briefing. Annual subscriptions are £12 individuals), £24 (institutions). Write to PO Box '1235, London N4 2UY (cheques, atc., payable to Labour Briefing).

Name. Address.

rebate? Just like the existing income related rebate, most people will gain littie benefit.

government considers would be reasonable.

So households will be directly penalised for living in areas where Councils disagree with the government. To put It another way: people will be offered bribes to vote

By Cllr Greg Tucker

In fact, both changes announced serve the same function. Far from being measures designed to “cushion the blow” of implementation and lesson the problems caused by “irTesponsibie” high spending Authorities, they merely hide the reality behind the Poll Tax — that eventual levels of Poll ‘Tax have more to do with ‘government policy than any- ‘thing else.

Precise formulations on how the government will draw up this year's grant to Local Authorities have yet to be snnounced. However, one set of

more than their existing rates bill will have little effect, as their Poll Tax was unlikely to be over £3 more than their rates bill. But £3/week more is more than enough to pay anyway — it still means unmanageable increases for many.

Asignificant number of two

calculations in one typical inner London Borough has ‘shown that — isi

rmulae to government subsidy — Poll Tax could be anywh from £250'to £650.

“Battle of the Poll Tax” in A question of morality

immoral,” and that this is why Labour opposes it.

But even then, the government keeps a trick up its sieeve. The rebate will be based not on the actus! Poll Tax level but on what the

even more central gover ment control over local Council spending.

irling

the whole of Scotland could not cope with collecting debts from hundreds of thousands of nonpayers.

‘Tommy Sheridan, Chair of the

‘and the South West and had found that people there were well aware of the unjust nature of the Tax, not least because of the struggle put up against it in Scotland.

Perhaps it was the presence on the platform of the Reverend Eleanor M Minister at Fallin Parish ‘Church, which gave questions

By Rowland Sheret

of individual and mass Scottish Labour pean reso ois

morality — and the right to Briefing British Federation, has been

defy unjust taxes — ‘vinictoouted ea oh tes Loker

prominence ata‘Battle ofthe “What kind of misuse of lan- Party Speating a the Rally he

Poll Tax” rally held in Stirling guage is this which describes the claimed there were over one mil- _ Denis Canavan MP, opening

on Saturday October 14th. Poll Tax as immoral In one lion non-payersin Scotland. the Faly, sald civil disobedience “charity, given not to the Dreathand then tellsustoimple- "He polnted ont that Labour- was justified People had to stand

needy, but to the greedy,” was ment It In the next?” asked controlled Local Authorities are up and be counted. In Scotland,

how Mair described the £1biltion Douglas. laundering the figures to exclude nt sales were being

“If something is immoral it should be opposed all the way

threatened ai tobe stopped by all means neces-

from the published lists of non- these would have

‘government subsidy on the Poll payers those they have lost track

‘Tax, designed to ease the pres-

| Seeney cam ast Teele oe ee Seagiiecgatcte’ woken ecas once aoe ae er Soe Ss Sees ee es ee

community as well as individual tivemember and.candidatein the from the register from the start Federation of Aati- Poll Tax

battles. Euro-clections.iiednodoubtthat and those who have made only Unions, Stirling University SinDick Douglas MP, 2 Labour this was what Labour was ad- one payment and then stopped. dents Association, and Stirling Party member of 41 years, who Yocating. “Oppositiontothenon- They too are excluded from of and District Trades Council

payment campaign is coming not from Downing Street but from COSLA” (Confederation of Scottish Local Authorities, dominated by Labour). “Scotland suffers from 2 poverty of aspiration,” MeAskill

lal totals for non-payers. Steve Kinsella explained how

‘The broad nature of the platform, and the way questions of Stirling University stndents were moraty came tothe fore shows refusing to pay despite the the depth of opposition tothe ‘University authorities co- operat- Tw? oar es {ng with the Community Charge The failure ofthe leadership of Registration Officer. the Labour Party, both in Scotargued. “Non-payment of the — Danny Burns, Secretary of the land and in Britain, to give a lead Poll Tax gives everybody 2 Avon Federation of Anti-Poll to this opposition makes ts posi ‘chance to participate in 2 mass Tax Unions, explained how the tion in the opinion polls look

’ fight against the Poll Tax was about as fragile as the Stock Ex-

‘As a lawyer he knew for cer-

now being organised in England. change boom before October ‘tain that 219 Sheriff Officers in His Federation covers Bristol 1987.

during his long parliamentary career has always been seen as firmly on the right of the Party, now advocates noa-payment of the Poll Tax.

‘He cannot understand the attitude of his fellow Labour MPs and Labour Councillors who ‘wish to implement the Tax while saying they are against it.

Dick quoted NEC member ‘David Blunkett as saying that the Poll Tax “was not just unfair, but