Conference Briefing Monday

Don’t Rearm —Disarm!

BY Eee ey UNILATERAL nuclear disarmament is a just and necessary policy. It is right because:

eIt lays to rest the ghost of the Cold War. «It gives Labour the political authority to call for peace and cuts in military spending both at home and abroad.

eIt rids us of all US nuclear bases - the dangers they pose f+ cur democratic rights.

CORBYN MP

and safety and our

«Tt allows us to Slack, ab lash, the urgent process of arms conversion, eIt is a concrete, unequivocal step towards lasting peace for Britain and the world. Those who believe that in abandoning unilateralism Labour is merely embarking on a “tactical retreat" should think hard about the implications of the proposed new policy.

Trident:

soaring on its way to bring in all those Labour votes from the “middle ground”.

LABOUR

First, it will not allow us a seat at the Negotiating table (no British government has had a seat at any significant negotiating table since Potsdam).

Secondly, it will mean that a Labour government holds not only Polaris but also a number of half~-completed Trident submarines. Since Labour will be committed to “negotiating™ these away it will first have to complete them.

Thus the immediate consequence of this policy change will not be “multilateral disarmament" but a Labour government rearming - at a time when millions in every country are demanding arms cuts and a transfer of resources to basic human needs. Continued on page 2

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LABOUR CAMPAIGN FOR LESBIAN & GAY RIGHTS LOBBY & DEMONSTRATION of Party Conference

Monday, 12 noon, outside Conference ‘At a time when lesbians & gay men are under increasing attack Labour must have a clear commitment to equal rights.

eLabour should reinstate the policies of full equality for lesbians & gay men democratically adopted in 85, 86 & 88 with overwhelming majorities.

eLabour must ACT on its policy commitments and mount a vigorous campaign to promote lesbian & gay equality at every level of the par ty.

TODAY’S DEBATES

NUCL POWER NO THANKS ANY party which hopes to “meet the challenge" of the new green agenda must come to grips with nuclear power and get rid of it once and for all.

The Policy Review rules this out hy prolonging cur use of nuclear power to at

least 2037 the date actually named in the NEC debate on this subject.

COMPOSITE 13, calling for all nuclear reactors tu be phased out within 15 years,

will be moved by ARTHUR SCARGILL. It's a serious challenge to the anti-democratic nuclear industry & to an unstable, undis

posable, uneconomic technology which

inevitably threatens major disaster.

Many nuclear reactors also produce plutonium for military use, which may be why many goverments subsidise nuclear power so heavily. Even the Tories admit to having problem, privatising such a risky business.

Ony the backstage influence of he iret oppo nuclear induntey keeps Labour Prom rational, informed opir weooGh Wuclear power as fast a. n PTE

The NEC thinks 15 years is “unrealistic"

but experts disagree. You should too.

CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE & We are committed to rebuilding our health

service and ending the scandal of cardboard

box cities, credit sharks, and teacherless children.

But we must choose. Otherwise we will end up telling our own supporters: sorry, but

new Tridents mean no new schools.

fhe Euro-elections were a success for Labour, but there were two clear notes of warning. First, we won on a turn-out of less than 40%. Second, two million people voted for a party committed to removal of all nuclear bases from this country.

There is a substantial body of opinion that will not vote for any party committed to nuclear weapons. We cannot take these people for granted.

Those seem concerned about Labour appearing “serious" on defence should bear two things in mind.

First, of the six Tridents far three failed to go off, landed in the wrong place, and Greenpeace stopped the rest (and saved the US more embarrassment) with a £500 state-of-the-art rubber dinghy.

Second, if Labour is holding nuclear weapons as part of NATO it must mean being prepared to use them.

THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE VOTING ON TODAY.

who

testfired so three more

dissent! the only check on the

Labour needs voices of iN the last year, complete domination of Labour's national structures by Kinnock and Hattersley has been the small, determined left-wing minority on the NEC: Benn, Livingstone, Skinner, and the YS representative.

A classic example, whet the NEC considered the Policy Review section on trade union law, Benn proposed = an amendment to repeal all the Tory trade un ion laws “current Party and TUC policy!).

All but the 4 left NEC members voted against Benn's amendment. Even a call far

a recorded vote was blocked.

On unilateral nuclear disarmament, nuclear power, women's rights, abortion, anti-racism, black people's rights, lesbian and gay rights, Ireland, the left NEC members have spoken out for thousands

inside the Party - and millions outside it - whose voices Kinnock and Hattersley would ignore and suppress.

As for LCC favourite sons Blunkett, Cook and Gould, their “independence” from the leadership is non existent. All 3 voted

against Conference being able to amend the

Policy Review, against local choice Martha

Osamor's addition to Vauxhall's byelection shortlist, against supporting industrial action by rail, docks and Town

Hall workers. On Wednesday, Cook and Blunkett refused to vote for the forming of a Black Secial-

bs t—Soctety ensur Ly ULC for Hattersley's racist sabotage of Ais aE Lions’ slroggie Wil) Ged iy a sae Piha he tN eee nye Vestpese: ori te ae a hee {i way and Bean, Living Paste iad Ckisner are thrown off the NEC

there'll be no dissent left on the Party's highest democratically elected body.

If the Soviet Central Committee can now permit dissent and a plurality of views, should our NEC do less?

SUPPORT: CONSTITUENCY SECTION:

Abbott, Benn, Livingstone, Mahon, Skinner, Wise.

TREASURER: Strang.

Wo es mn: Pettifor, Marjoram.

CONFERENCE ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE, CLPs' SECTION: Willsman.

NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL COMMITTE: Slater.

TODAY’S DEBATES

ECONOMIC POLICY REVIEW: AARGH!

THE next Labour government will inherit a severe economic crisis, for which this key section of the Policy Review leaves us totally ill-equipped.

“Competing (against whom?) for Prosperity" is a recipe for a re-run of the 70s‘ disasters. Not identifying how & where we'd get the resources for our social programmes, it threatens wage controls

and/or high taxes on ordinary workers.

Tt embraces market forces & has no time for public ownership, planning, and workers' control, without which the manufacturing base can't be rebuilt.

The trade gap now plaguing the Tories could quickly become Labour's albatross. Bland promises (more money on R&D, better conditions for investment) are no substitute for a comprehensive strategy starting with takeover of banks and financial institutions controlling the flow of capital.

Inflation would once again be controlled

at workers' expense. Public sector cash limits are threatened. Promised improvements in infrastructure

are welcome, but who pays and how will new investment be guided? The Review sees no new role for private or public sector workers, except as passive shareholders. Kinnock, Gould etc. think we can persuade capitalists not to behave as capitalists! Britain's economy won't grow fast enough for Labour to keep its promises. With Tory union law intact the consequences are terrifying. SCRAP THE POLICY REVIEW!

SE GUTDE TOM VOTING MORNING SESSION

COMPOSITE 9: SUPPORT. We need an integrated nationalised telecommunications network. COMPOSITE 10: OPPOSE. Fine words on training, arms conversion worthless in context of Policy Review, which this Comp.

endorses. Also: co-ops within a capitalist economy cannot be “central" to socialist strategy.

COMPOSITES 11, (12: SUPPORT. Public

ownership is a central plank of socialist strategy. Neither Comp is sufficient in itself, or addresses real workers' control, but both point in the right direction. COMPOSITE 13: SUPPORT. See article.

PRODUCTIVE & COMPETITIVE ECONOMY (Policy Review): OPPOSE. See article.

AFTERNOON SESSION

COMPOSITE 46: OPPOSE. “Total worldwide

nuclear disarmament" - some day after the day after tomorrow. Cant.

COMPOSITE 47: SUPPORT. Reduce weapons spending, transfer to social needs. Mover: Bruce Kent. Sensible, essential.

COMPOSITE 48: SUPPORT. The unilateralist

motion.

COMPOSITE 49: SUPPORT. Despite reservations on “two state" solution, condemns Israel & supports “just revolt" of Palestinians. RESOLUTION 501: OPPOSE. Simon Peres! they kidding?

COMPOSITE 51: ? (Misprinted in CAC Report). COMPOSITE 52: SUPPORT. Commitment to impose sanctions on South Africa.

BRITAIN & THE WORLD (Policy Review): OPPOSE. Chauvinist, crypto-militarist drivel.

Are

Yesterday’s Debates

NO surprise in the heavy defeat of COMPOSTTES 1 & 2 on amending the Policy Review. Speaker after speaker from the CLPs defended Party democracy and attacked Kinn~ ock's scheme for making policy on the hoof.

Only one speaker opposed the COMPOSITE (Birmingham Erdington) and not one trade union delegate joined the debate - though it was the union block vote which killed off the Party rank-and-file's last chance to influence the top-down Review.

BILL JORDAN wasn't keen on any debate ~ he called for a card vote and down came the axe. WHITTY said NEC statements had always been unamendable. The implication is that only the NEC is capable of resolving policy conflicts; Conference is an irrelevance.

Sidelight: when TOM SAWYWER pushed NUPE Conference into backing the bomb he insisted that NUPE's policy would not be

the same as the Policy Review — because NUPE wanted transfer of spending from arms to public services.

The logic of his position: amend the Policy Review accordingly. The reality: vote with Kinnock to block all amendments.

Reference back on PERGAMON was lost on a third show of hands. Union delegates who thus assured this dispute would not be raised in Conference should be made to explain this to their members.

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Reevoeccoreocoocecesoocopecccece:

Labour Farty Black Section Briefing for Delegates Monday October 2nd, 8.30pm

Royal Albion Hotel, 35 Old Steine

Chair; Narendra Makanji, National Chair LEBS Epeawers; NEC Mambers, Qirane Abbott MP (NEC Candidate), Bernie Grant MF, G11] Morris (invited),

Fringe Reports

i3a< 7 fe TF Nes ke RT INGE

AY the Briefing fringe meeting an all women platform discussed a naw political for the Labour left

REBECCA FLEMMING CLCLGR? argued Lhat the New Real had no understanding of the reality of ordinary peopie'ts lives: what it is like to be beaten up because of your sexuality or harassed by police because you're black.

MARTHA OSAMOR denounced black representation as White Minstral Show", be depressed by Conference hail. What more important.

MANDY MOORE argued that Conference will the destruction of the Labour Women's Organisation. Constitutional changes with major ramifications for the whole Party are slipping through (ey Party membership for trade unionists in Northern Ireland).

MANDY MUDD argued that we can only rebuild the Labour left by linking up with struggles outside the Party.

Pergamon striker ANNA WAGSTAFF asked for support from the whole movement; and ALICE MAHON focused on the horrors of being an MP in the anti-working class, anti- woman atmosphere of the House of Commons.

Terry Conway, Islington N. CLP

agenda

ists

NEC plans for “the Black and reminding us riot to defeat inside the happens outside is

see

SON?

LAST LIAIS iittle analysis of

LABOUR'S FINE speeches; needs to be done,

LIVINGSTONE encouraged people to join the “dynamic strands" in LLL, stressing LLL is not “vague or amorphous" and would help make the Party a socialist Party.

what

ANN MARJORAM stressed that constitutional changes were needed to support women's organisation so that

“millions of women are given the confidence to vote Labour ©

Pew speakers mentioned the relationship of the class struggle on the Labour Party: as if the jieft will win if it spends long enough arguing for constitutional change.

it wa left toa MARTHA OSAMOR to stress that the Folicy Reviews might not help but

not stop the working class in taeir

WISE attacked the LCC for their

Jack of support for socialist women being on the NEC.

Cilr Steve French, Lambeth

MPALGN

iN a witty, £

GROUP RALLY (Saturday) iling polemic KEN LIVINGSTONE audience of 150 against voting for “nice people” for the NEC; pointing: out Blunkett, and Gould sold out on Black Sections and Lesbian and Gay Rights. Anna Wagstaff, one of 23 Pergamon workers by Maxwell, spoke of the support dispute bad received from Britain and fespectally France and Solidarneso). ABBOTT,

warned an

that Cook

ached

DTANE proposals on Black teadership was moving towards us on issues

after denouncing NEC Sections, said that the

of race and gender, even if only for “jimage" reasons. he audience seemed unconvinced - as they

did when AUDREY W argued that the Policy Review was positive on the environment.

Jn the final contribution TONY BENN arpued that neither electoral pacts, PR, nor Jacques Delors will bring soclalism; there is no alternative to fighting for our

Terry Conway, Islington N. CLP LEADER'S: PARTY GR LABOUR PARTY? AT a well attended rally CLPD gave a useful briefing for delegates on Conference issues.

LIVINGSTONE attacked COOK and BLUNKETT for leading the assault on Conference's right to amend the Policy Review.

BENN warned against the Americanisation of the Labour Party. PETE WILLSMAN explained that they want to do it through a GMB resulution (Friday) to neutralise

Conference and remove MPs from the CLP

Section of the NEC. Bryn Griffiths,

Tottenham CLP

Sunday's Conference failed (narrowly) to

support reference back of CAC, but the fight to defeat Maxweli must go on. Earlier this week the sacked °3 were offered a

pittance in pay-off money: unanimously rejected ‘by the Chapel, but showing the pressure is telling. Keep up the support!

LABOUR RIFTS? Canag. > THE appearance of a new Conference Bulletin

had delegates wondering “why another bulletin?". A quick flick through reveals why, even if the authors aren't keen to

tell us who they are: even the LCC wouldn't put GWYNNETH DUNWOODY on its NEC slate.

Further evidence is given by the adver~ tisement for “Camden 1990", the public caucus ("party within a party"?) of the rump right on Camden Council who favour even greater capitulation to the Tories than the current leadership.

The statements from NEC and NCC candidates printed under the heading “Women First" play on the fact that SANDRA

WASHBROOK is the only non-MP standing for the NEC; but fail to admit she & MAUREEN ROONEY are known as rabid right wingers. Rounded off with an advertisement for the removal of all nuclear bases by the year 2000 (!3, various witch-hunting snippets and glorification of the Policy Review, it is clearly the bulletin of the far right. The only thing missing is their nomination of DAVID OWEN for PARTY LEADER. Pete Firmin, Brent East CLP

BILL, JORDAN: NOT-SO-HIDDEN AGENDA

AEU President Jordan says he won't give up his block vote until the Party has carried through his idea of reforms: an end to the possibility of annual leadership elections the doesn't like their "potential for instability"), TUC and Party Congresses held only in alternate years, and ending the unseemly spectacle of “mobs around the

rostrum when you are debating law and order."

HE WHO PAYS THE PIPER...

SKY TV, British Nuclear Fuels, British Airways, Falklands Islands government, Nirex, Merck, Kingfisher (ie, Woolies), the Water “businesses", BSB (Maxwell) - all are paying for stands at in the Conference

Centre and some (Sky, Merck, BSB) have full page ads in the Conference Guide.

Does it matter? YES!

Labour criticises Tory broadcasting plans because of the power they give to commercial sponsors. Muney buys influence.

Drug muitinational Merck or Murdoch~owned Sky don't fork out at Party Conference as an act of charity. They do so because they believe (with good reason) it'll help them influence a future Labour government.

Besides, if money can be tainted, Rupert Murdoch's lucre qualifies. shouidn't touch it.

then Labour

Page 5

WOMEN FOR SOCIALISM

WOMEN FOR SOCIALISM is a broad, nonsectarlan, autonomous women's organisation affiliated to the SOCIALIST MOVEMENT. WOMEN FOR SOCIALISM aims to:

FIGHT for a socialist-feminist future - free from exploitation at work, from racism, and from male power. We want a future where we can have the right to work, to health, to education, to a home, to childcare, where lesbian mothers are not denied custody of their children, and where all women have control over their own bodies.

DEVELOP an active anti-racist, antiimperialist feminism that is inseparable from the struggle for socialism.

CONTRIBUTE to practical and supportive alliances amongst women, including between

women inside and outside the labour movement. BUILD support for socialist-feminist

ideas and actions especially in the labour movement (the trade unions and the Labour Party).

Women for Socialism is organising many activities and helping to provide space for socialist-feminists to discuss their ideas on a wide range of issues. All members receive the W4S Newsletter free.

If you would like more information about WOMEN FOR SOCIALISM or a membership form

please write to: W4S, c/o 7c Cumberland Park, London W3 6SY.

ON Tuesday afternoon, Conference debates women's representation in the Party.

Unfortunately the question of giving real power to Labour Women has reduced to the issue of "quotas".

W4S isn't opposed to quotas as such but Opposes “quotas" without power. We're angry at how they are counterposed to Labour Women electing the 5 NEC Women's places.

COME to our FRINGE MEETING on Monday evening, 7.30, Brighthelm Centre, North Rd, after which we will be getting together and socialising.

We will also briefly discuss the way forward after the Socialist Movement

meeting (Thursday 6pm, Brighthelm Centre).

Delegates who want to make contact with us should find Sarah Roelofs on the press desk at the front of Conference.

2H HUNTS? jlay's NEC decided, to against he Local Committee in Lambeth, South London. committed the "crime" of refusing y to endorse 5 sitting Councillors selection for . next year's elections on the grounds of competence.

The NEC has sent Joyce Gould off to sort the LGC. Tf they don't reach agreement, Joyce has the NEC's permission to suspend the LGC forthwith.

The NEC seem to have tailed to notice that all retiring Councillors automatically go onto the panel of candidates and do not need to be endorsed by the LGC.

These Councillors voluntarily submitted themseives to the vetting process and are on the panel regardless of the fact that the }GC did not endorse them.

Suspensions have previously been for long

iit wil

initiate Government

accion

por

tor Coune dt

out

periods and often ted to witch hunts and expulsions of Party members. Is this latest NEC action w prelude to this in Lambeth —

as if local government did not already have enough problems with the Tories?

this have anything to do with a leading Party figures to after

Could all declared aim of out Lambeth"

selection fiasco?

the Vauxhall

"sort

BROADWATER FARM

Friday 460 police wielding axes and swamped Tottenham's Broadwater Farm Retate in a sham “drugs" raid staged for the benefit of the media,

$i arrests were made but onty a small amount of cannabis found. Self-styled “community Jeader" DOLLY KIFFIN had to be escorted from the Estate under police protection ~— angry residents accused her of being an informer.

The police attack came days after the announcement that DET. ERINTENDENT MELVIN will face disciplinary charges over his brutal conduct of PC Blakelock's murder inquiry.

The

ON sledgehammers

only

Farm Defence doubt that for one

Br oadwater “There Ome

Campaign SAYS: the poiice nave purpose: to terrorise and criminalise the community."

is no

here

PUTTING LABOUR OUT OF WORK The Alternative Welcome to Brighton

BRIGHTON Council Leader STEVE BASSAM is proud of Labour's local achievements" (Conference Guide).

Unfortunately, the Campaign::for- a~

Cieaner-Greener Brighton has been somewhat marred by the loss of one third of the Refuse Collection Workforce, resulting from the tendering precess. The “dented shield" now resembles a crumpled dustbin lid.

And on the crucial issue of Poll Tax - yes, in column 6, Steve informs us that it "...will make most Brighton people poorer."

Well, Steve, Brighton people are well aware of this what they need is a lead in fighting the Tax.

Alas, the rules of New Realism dictate

that even a few words of opposition to the Tax might worry our rulers. Welcome to “socialism by- the-sea". Brighton Labour Briefing

FREE GPEECH ON T[TRELAND!

JEREMY CORBYN is under attack for appearing with GERRY ADAMS at the Free Speech on dreland rally tonight (7.30, Corn Exchange).

KENNETH BAKER has called for Corbyn to be expelled from the Labour Party. Rumours are that Kinnock's office sees this as yet another Tory idea that Labour should embrace,

As we near the first anniversary of the Sion Fein media ban, socialists must take this opportunity to hear the arguments for British withdrawal and take a stand for free speech in Jreland and the Labour Party.

FING in BRIGHTON BRIEFING 1s your bulletin use it!

We want news and views from delegates. Keep your articles short and sharp - and if possible funny!

We have an office at 32 Waterloo Street which will be open from ilam every day. Piease get your articles to us by 6pm at the latest.

Tu help organise a left

intervention

on the Conference floor and outside it

we are organising meelings at 2pm every doy ol the back of Hewison Hall (ist flear, conference centre) for about 20

minutes,

These are Open to anyone interested. They will give us a chance to assess what is going oon, and plan out what is

happening over the next 24 hours! a TO IE IT TESTE)