Conference Briefing Thursday

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THE choice facing delegates in this afternoon's debate on COMPOSITE 32 is simple. Do you support equality - or

discrimination and oppression?

The majority of the NEC has opted for the latter. Equality cannot be qualified: you either have it or you don't. Despite the smooth platitudes from the platform, there will be no real equality for lesbians and gay men as long as a discrimina tory age of consent for gay men remains on the statute book.

Only last year 84% of Conference voted (with unanimous backing by the NEC) in favour of reaffirming and extending the Party's comprehensive lesbian and gay rights policy.

We know that “a year is a long time in politics", -but just what has changed between Blackpool, 1988 and Brighton 19897 Lesbians and gay men still get. beaten up in the’ streets; have our children taken away; lose our jobs because of our sexuality. If anything the climate is getting more violent and repressive.

What has changed is the Party leadership's increasing willingness .to embrace Tory ideas - and prejudices. This has been coupled with a reckless electoralism

LABOUR— TAKE THE POWER!

FULL EQUALITY !

FOR LESBIANS AND GAY MEN? 2.

GHTON 1989

LABOUR MUST

DELIVER

which assumes that the number of. votes you win is inversely ‘proportional to’ your level of commitment and ‘adherence to political principles! It's :the policies you adopt and argue for, not the policies you drop and cover up, that count.

This afternoon's debate -is not just about denouncing the léadership (though their prejudice, cowardice, and ‘deceit should not be forgotten), nor is it simply about raising your. hand at the right. time (important as that is!) Lesbian and gay rights need to be .taken up and carried forward at every level of, the labour movement. We don't want any victories we score on ‘the policy front to -be left as mere paper commitments. We want to see a :lesbian and gay equality policy effectively implemented for the first time.

SUPPORT COMPOSITE 32!

Today’s Debates

POLL TAX: Labour": s finger on the br Ba or THE NEC Statement ‘offers no _- serious strategy. for opposing the Tories' most sweeping attack yet on the working: class. What the NEC calls the “success in Scotland" has been in spite of Labour's opposition to’ .a campaign of defiance. Labour ‘Councillors should not become Tory agents, attempting only. to. “minimise” the Tax's impact, not least because of the innumerable Labour supporters who will lose their right to vote as a result.

The NEC claims that tens of thousands

have joined Labour's Poll Tax protest. One |} million in. Scotland are refusing to. pay .

and: countless numbers in England and Wales have’ yet. to register. Labour should

support not undermine this genuine mass |

action. : It's not enough to “identify with those who cannot pay"; we have to give them

practical support and real solidarity by

building a mass non-payment campaign. Council and DHSS workers who. refuse to collect or help enforce the Poll Tax. must be supported not victimsed.

Waiting for the return of a Labour government is not a sufficient response to the Poll Tax. Millions will suffer while the Labour leadership sit. back, counting the votes the Tax will bring them. People in. dire poverty will not be satisfied by Labour handing out “guidelines on implementing the Poll Tax". It's like firing a shotgun at your best friend but trying to “minimise the impact" by telling her/him that it's someone else's fault and anyway you're doing it as compassionately and fairly as possible.

SUPPORT COMPOSITE 27!

OPPOSE COMPOSITE 25!

CHILD ABUSE

COMPOSITE 35 on Child Abuse tackles the myth that gay men are the main perpetrators of sexual abuse and challenges the belief that teaching children to “say no" is the key to dealing with the problem. The motion correctly situates abuse in the context of male power, but fails to suggest remedies to children's powerlessness. Family courts are already Party policy; the key is to ensure their introduction is prioritised by a Labour government. "Cleveland" showed that Labour MPs are all too willing to line up on the wrong side of this power struggle.

| ween unaccountable politicians,

' “representatives”.

“TWO VIEWS ON PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION “AGAINST

PR gives power to the smallest parties, leads to deals. in smoke-filled rooms betand. ditchéed manifesto commitments. It's less not

more democratic. In the Labour Party PR

+ will. mean centralised. Kinhock/Mandelson-

controlled candidates lists. “er will be numbers 700 & 701! PR destroys ‘constituency

Benn & Skinn-

level accountability: no wonder the LCC & 100 Labour MPs support it. PR will lead to the break-up of the coalition which is the Labour Party, & different groups seeking their own élected Embracing. PR now will

give SLD/SDP .a reason to exist (they're second in double’ the. seats Labour is)

just as they're disintegrating. John Wilton, Birmingham Edgbaston

FOR

| FULL democracy can't .be achieved outside a

socialist system, but any advance ‘in democratic rights benefits. the working class. The current indefensible electoral

system in no way reflects votes cast. Some forms of PR would give much more accurate representation and are thus more. democratic. Left opponents of PR-invoke the dangers of pacts and coalitions. But it's pos-

‘sible & necessary to support - »PR..and oppose ‘coalitionisn.

Whether or not -Labour. backs “electoral reform’ there'll still be the usual pressure to accommodate to the centre before the next election. Supporting the present system plays into the hands of the ruling class) who. always work - to curtail working class rights.

Patrick Baker, Hackney NW CLP

CHARTER 88/CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

IN comparison with other capitalist countries, Britain is riddled with archaic and arbitrary institutions, Its "subjects" are more vulnerable to human rights abuses. Charter 88 claims the answer is a “written constitution". But history ‘shows that serious constitutional reform only comes from wars or. revolutions. It also shows that a written constitution full of democratic promises can accompany brutal repression (USA, USSR). Finally, the key question is who will gain/lose from any new constitution; and that depends on the balance of forces established in the class struggle.

POLICY REVIEW: DEMOCRACY, THE INDIVIDUAL, & THE COMMUNITY

A Party leadership which blocks Conference debate on the Guildford 4 and is silent on deportations, police attacks on Broadwater Farm, & censorship of Sinn Fein loses credibility for-its proposdis. on "democracy"

If you want a "Second Chamber" (reformed House of Lords) with a veto over Commons legislation, state funding of political parties (cash straight to Walworth Rd), more bipartisanship on Ireland, security services retained as. at present (subject only to a Commons Select Committee), then this bit. of Policy Review is for you.

If, -however, you want real democratic control of the ‘cops, ‘accountability of judges, disestablishment of’ the CofE, abolition of the blasphemy laws, popular control of .public services, and an’ équal "age of consent", (not to mention abolition of the monarchy), then vote it down.

IRELAND IN contrast to Kevin McNamara‘s ludicrous and reactionary policy of Irish “unity by consent", C36 offers a clear practical and progressive alternative. It rightly: notes the repression perpetrated by Britain in the North of Ireland to perpetuate its rule there and calls for the withdrawal of British troops within the life of one Parliament. Tragically, the resolution on the Guildford, 4 has not even been timetabled.

VOTING GUIDE MORNING SESSION

P REVIEW: ( THE. COMMUNITY: OPPOSE. Long on-waffle about “excellence"; short on commitments to improve/extend basic services.

COMPOSITE 19: SUPPORT. Laudable sentiments but what about’ restoring cuts, building hospitals, backing striking nurses? COMPOSITE. 20: SUPPORT.. Democratic “NHS! NEC say remit; NUPE/COHSE say oppose because of calls to sack NHS managers. Pressure on Kingston to remit because’ NUPE/COHSE don't want. to be seen voting against a-health resolution.

COMPOSITE 21: SUPPORT. _ Wishy-washy put

useful,

COMPOSITE 25: OPPOSE. “Step up" fight against Poll Tax’but “a non-payment campaign is not the answer!" Then what is? COMPOSITE 26: SUPPORT. Reasonable guide to what Labour's alternative to Poll Tax ought to be; plus much needed.call to restore cuts in local services. | COMPOSITE 27: SUPPORT: For a mass nonpayment campaign.

COMPOSITE 28: SUPPORT. NEC is opposed because it wants Councils to be able to break private contracts. Support direct labour! RESOLUTION 198:. SUPPORT. Despite all the fancy talk NEC opposes this real commitment to democratising public services.

NEC STATEMENT ON POLL TAX: OPPOSE. Recipe for destroying any mass opposition: and license for Labour Councils to hammer their own supporters.

AP TERNOON SESSION

POLICY REVIEW: DEMOCRACY FOR INDIVIDUAL & COMMUNITY: OPPOSE, See article. COMPOSITE 29: All Briefing supporters

reject pacts & coalitions, but views on PR itself vary. See-articles.

COMPOSITE 30: SUPPORT. A Bill of Rights might provide useful lever for struggle, but watch any NEC consultation like hawks. RESOLUTION 235: OPPOSE, Labour should’ mo-

tivate its voters, ‘not rely on the state.

RESOLUTION. 256: SUPPORT. Self-determina: tion for Scotland & the Scottish. Party.

RESOLUTION 257: SUPPORT.. Bring back elec-

ted authorities.for London’& Met Counties.

COMPOSITE "31: SUPPORT. Freedom of

information & democratic media.

COMPOSITE 32: SUPPORT. Equality means equality!

COMPOSITE 33: OPPOSE. The Charter 88 menu; note point (a) would enshrine property rights, See article.

COMPOSITE 34: SUPPORT. Fight "Widdicombe" restrictions on local government workers’ rights.

RESOLUTION 288: SUPPORT. Improves Policy Review commitments to people with disabilities,

COMPOSITE 35: SUPPORT. Strong statement on

child abuse; Stuart Bell please note. RESOLUTION: 298: SUPPORT. Prison reform urgently needed: Britain has highest prison population (proportionately) in Europe.

COMPOSITE 36: SUPPORT. “British Labour can

never be free as long as Ireland is in chains."

Page 4

Yesterday's Debates

MORNING SESSION ENVIRONMENT

CUNNINGHAM's opening statement condemned water privatisation and damage to the en-

vironment (pollution, bad. housing, public transport). But NEC & Policy Review Statements only offer “regulation. Water metering will continue with “rebates

(creating another means-tested benefit). An NUM delegate was the only speaker to oppose any of the proposals, arguing that C38 & C39 to end sea dumping of waste would cost miners' jobs. This clashes with Scargill's statement that he'd sacrifice all the pits for the sake of the environment. Sadly, C39 was narrowly lost after an NEC request for remittance was refused. On Tuesday, Kinnock said making the economy “competitive" will. take priority. Labour will “intervene to persuade" private industry to be “responsible” towards the environment. But will Labour Ministers receiving fat consultancy fees from

polluters "intervene" strongly enough? ; : Julie Larner, MSF delegate

PERGAMON STRIKERS PERK UP CONFERENCE YESTERDAY 300 delegates and visitors joined the Pergamon strikers’ Maxwell's Labour Conference beano.

This followed a dramatic challenge to Maxwell by an NUM delegate at ‘the beginning of afternoon Conference session. Cap'n Bob's presence ‘in the hall was then objected to by several speakers. Brenda Dean reported that in addition to the Pergamon 23, Maxwell now had- 100 SOGAT members sacked from Nuffield Press on his conscience (what there is of it).

At the early evening picket Tony Benn & Tony Banks gave support and then tried to lobby Maxwell inside the Grand Hotel. The lively demo was entertained by musicians. Later, Mad Max appeared on the hotel balcony and was greeted by. roars of "Jump!" and "Scab!" :

The strikers have been buoyed by their reception at Conference (despite CAC) and are determined to fight till victory.

LEADER'S LETTER: NO SHOCK

ONE delegate received a leter from Kinnock congratulating him/her on a good Conference speech. The delegate in question is a former member of the Tory Party.

picket of

AFTERNOON SESSTON HAMMOND'S LAW

ONLY Scargill mentioned In Place of Strife, Wilson's doomed 1969: attack on unions. The Policy Review and successful composites put the next Labour government on course to impose In Place of Strife and Heath's Industrial Relations Court on its supporters in, the unions.

Meacher, moving the Policy Review, talked of limited redress: of Tory law: take away the right of minorities to defy majority votes, end sequestrations, extend powers of Industrial Tribunals, restore union rights at GCHQ, establish a legal right to recognition.

This still leaves unions without key rights. They could still be fined and ‘subject. to contempt of court (and prison?). Compulsory postal ballots would be retained; but the right to picket would not be restored. ;

Despite Meacher!s effective’ presentation the real meaning of the debate was made clear by Eric Hammond who said that this was “the happiest week of my life" and that he wholeheartedly supported this part of the Policy Review. Alan Thornett

COMMUNITY CARE; EDUCATION ON Community Care, Anne Davies stunned Conference with the information’ that

Social Services Directors described the elderly in their care as having a certain “shelf life". Brilliant ‘speech by Liz Williams (Wallasey) helped by visual aids from the balcony described how riot police | were used to break up a demonstration of

elderly people opposed to privatisation of residential homes.

ON Education, strong support from the floor for ‘the delegate who said there should be ‘no private schools but high

|.standards in all schools wasn't reflected

in resolutions. Pauline Purnel]

“GENUINE INTEREST 7

LABOUR will allow secondary action when workers can show (to the satisfaction of a special court) that they have "a genuine interest: in the outcome of a dispute." To make: the point clear, Meacher ‘replying to Scargill on Newsnight) said, “Miners do not have a genuine interest in a nurses' dispute." We have news for you, Michael. All workers have a genuine interest in a nurses' dispute: indeed, in all disputes.

Yesterday’s Fringe

‘VOICES FOR RUSHDIE AT one of the week's most powerful meetings 70 people heard Narendra Makanji (Black Sections), Gita Saghal (Southall Black Sisters), Maryan (CARI) and Mike Marqusee (Briefing) discuss fundamentalism ‘and responses to it within the black community and the labour movement. Some people attacked Voices for ignoring racism, but were sharply repudiated from floor and platform. Keith Vaz, after his outrageous attack on Rushdie the previous night, felt compelled to attend and challenged the speakers to come to Leicester. This debate would be welcomed by Voices _ and hopefully can be organised soon. The meeting had a clear message for the labour movement: it is racist to pretend that divisions don't exist within the black communities and that the left must take sides. The struggle against racism and fundamentalism must go hand in hand.

TRIBUNE: LIVINGSTONE'S DOG LICENSE THIS year's Tribune rally lacked last year's controversy. Both Todd and Livingstone came dangerously close to accepting Kinnockite dog licenses.

Ken operated on a particularly short leash. Like a scolded child, he wimpered, “We've emerged from Conference with a

large degree of agreement... we have to accept all decisions that have been made this week and unite behind them."

Robin Cook, however, is a full licensed poodle!

Witty contributions from Jo Richardson

and Tony Banks made the event more bearable. Narendra Makanji «Black Sections) and Anna Wagstaff (Pergamon)

injected much needed radicalism.

With only 2 women out of 7 speakers, Tribune ought to have a 50% quota for women next year to redress the imbalance!

Bryn Griffiths, Tottenham CLP

JUSTICE FOR THE MINERS!

100 people at the National Justice for Mineworkers Campaign meeting were treated to a bracing blast of class struggle politics from Scargill and Skinner. Scargill pledged full support for the remaining 125 sacked miners and called on a Labour government to reinstate them along with all other workers victimised since 1979 with full back-pay: and sack the coal bosses who sacked the workers!

CHARTER 88: TALKING SHOP

80 people heard an all-woman platform on electoral reform, Bill of Rights, written constitution. Contributions from the floor livened up the debate. Even the word "class" was heard (from Bob Cryer). Everyone wanted Freedom of Information and a Right of Reply (‘except The Guardian's editor, in attendance). But no one could say quite how these good things were to be won. Reform the Lords? Well, yes, some time ‘(Jane Ewart-Biggs, Labour Peer). Charter 88 seems to think the struggle for democracy can be conducted through ads in The Guardian, History suggests otherwise.

CLPs CONFERENCE

THE organisers rightly said. socialists in the CLPs need to exchange ideas & information. Few realise the extent of the witchhunt. Eric Heffer said that whilst the leadership had changed the policies, they had left the constitution intact (for the moment), But the Edmunds proposals are a major attack on Party democracy.

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NEILZZZ

DEREK Gladwin (CAC) assured Conference that those individuals pictured in the Sun sleeping through the leader's speech were not delegates. However, they were asleep. They couldn't possibly be MPs, could they?

GWYNNETH Dunwoody will be in the Chair for today's lesbian & gay rights debate. David Blunkett presided over the women's organisation debate. What's next? Eric Hammond calling the shots in the debate on union solidarity? Stuart Bell on child abuse? Keith Vaz on blasphemy laws?

SPEAKING TOO SOON

Bill Jordan: “The armies of mass picketers have been demobilised and the next Labour government must not call them up again... Today's Party is a party of lawmakers not law-breakers."

Brenda Dean: “Workers are not queuing up to take industrial action."

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SOCIALIST CAMPAIGN GROUP. Conference Round-up. Lunchtime. Albion Hotel. SOCIALISTS IN THE LABOUR PARTY: FIGHTING BACK! Socialist Movement, 6pm, Brighthelm. Delegates' assess Conference & the future. COMMITTEE AGAINST REPRESSION & FOR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS IN IRAQ. Lunchtime, Brighthelm Centre.

WOMEN FOR SOCIALISM

THURSDAY promises more media-managed politics. Except for a likely dramatic NEC defeat on lesbian & gay rights (C.32) the Labour leadership will continue with welfare rhetoric aimed at presenting a human face of capitalism to yuppie voters (not to mention reasserting the City). Lesbian & gay success will be all the sweeter for being one of the extremely few left victories - and on an issue not traditionally seen as important for socialism.

W4S also supports C.35 on child abuse and has prioritised developing a socialist feminist position on the family, male power and abuse of women and children.

None of the health motions make any reference to women's health or to the fact that it is women who do almost all the socalled community caring.

W4S will be raising these and other socialist-feminist issues at the Socialist Movement's open discussion this evening after Conference. W4S members and supporters will also be getting together at the end of the meeting.

Women for Socialisa

—————————————

ALMA MATER

THE cursus honorum for budding Labour apparatchiks seems to be shortening and narrowing. The secret seems to be to get on the NUS Exec as a NOLS candidate or at least to have been on the NOLS NC. Best vintage is 1986-7: only 2 out of the 8 Nolsies of that year are not here at Brighton. The corridors of power run

directly from the upper echelons of NUS to the nether regions of Walworth Road.

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

NEIL & Glynis were seen yesterday following their buddy & banker Robert Maxwell out of the Grand Hotel. The Kinnocks got in to a new Rover and were driven to the back of the Conference Centre 20 yards away, with a police escort. This ritual takes place every morning and afternoon of Conference week. So much for conservation & green consciousness... 5

LABOU tAKME THE POW?

If you were watching Channel 4 News last night you will have seen the Briefing presses rolling into action. But don't be deceived by the glamorous veneer. This bulletin is written, produced and distributed by rank-and-file Labour Party members, without remuneration, and with a great deal of time, toil, and trouble.

This year we were plagued by technical gremlins and organisational disasters. If you thought this year's Conference was a depressing experience, try standing in a Brighton street at midnight with a printing press hired at 12 hours notice because previous arrangements had fallen through while sweating comrades unhinge the office door to get the press in!

What began as "Carry on 8riefing" rapidly descended to the level of Marx Bros. farce when we were gazumped out of our accommodation; undertook two late night runs to London for printing supplies missing from the printing package; and the sub-editor got a parking ticket...

Still, we do it all because we believe we have a serious (but not solemn) socialist message for our fellow Party members. Our quick reference Voting Guides help many delegates keep up with Conference business; and we know many delegates take home a full set of bulletins to use in preparing their report-backs (a small number of back

copies are on sale from 32 Waterloo St!). So please help defray the considerable costs of our noble enterprise... by throwing something in our distributors' buckets before Conference is over. Thanks.

— EE

ECONOMY: CAT'S OUT OF THE BAG! “THE election of a Labour government which will probably be combined with a substantial balance of trade deficit, is likely to place heavy pressure on sterling. A successful industrial policy would eventually help by a growth of exports and reduction of imports. But in the interim some reduction of the value of sterling will probably be required. There is a danger that the reductions in living standards and rising inflation consequent upon a declining exchange rate will threaten the Labour government's programme at the start." Henry Neuberger, Economic advisor to Brian Gould Henry's admission certainly puts paid to the Policy Review, which has. no measures to deal with the situation he describes.