Despite the fact that the conference organisers have ruled out of order 39 motions from Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) calling for the re-selection of "sitting" Labour MPs, the issue won't go unheard ar this year's conference. A reference back of the arenda is beine moved by a number of parties to allow this issue to be discussed Even if unsuccessful, the first set of resolutions calling for the election of the Labour leader by the Labour conference raises the same issue of workers democracy. The clearest call comes from Bristol South East CLP, which calls for the leader to be elected annually at the Party Conference commencing at the annual conference 1977.
No doubt reflecting the weight of the TUC's collaboration with the Government, few resolutions are openly critical of the social contract. Nevertheless an alternative to wage-cutting is posca in a motion irom Liverpool Walton CLP, which calls on the Government to implement a minimum living wage of at least £50 for a 35-hour week, to be linked to the cost of living and regularly increased to keep pace with price rises".
Unemployment and the cuts also figure largely, but few put the Party on the spot on the question. However. COICHCSICI CLp urges the Labour Party at all levels to conduct an acuve campaign against ing proposed cuts in public expenditure, the unemployment they will cause, and unemnowment in zeneral Better still, Battersea South CLP calls on COnICIC 10 SUDDOrE LaDOUT COUDCIS which have refused to implement the cuts, and calls on other Labour groups to follow suit*. Scarborough CLP clearly spells out the alternative if such a fight back isn't wazed — 'the Labour Government will be defeated at the next General Election'.
Encouraging is the number of CLPs supporting the repeal of the 1971 Immigration Act and other anti-immigration laws. Wallasey CLP goes on to call for a ban on he National Front, National Party, British Movement and other fascist organisations, while Norwood CLP also calls for "full support to the efforts of the black community to defend themselves against these Tasis provocations *** There are also many resolutions demand ing implementation of the Child Benefits Scheme by the Government, while Lambeth Central regards the Equal Pay and Ser nation Acts as 'empty gestures, so remain tied to the through lack of child care facilities every child has the right to the benefits of a nursery place' On the international scene, demand a complete arms embargo and action against South Africa, isolation of the Chilean Junta; and from the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation comes a call for action in support of democratic rights in Argentina... 'only the working people of Argentina are capable, through their own organisation, of solving the country's problems, and... they require the fullest possible посту до аспісус tis cno Finally the vexed question of Northern Ireland finds itself expressed in Militantsponsored resolutions supporting the diversionary Better Life for All campaign and utopian conceptions -of a trade union defence force in the North of Ireland. But Stockport South CLP demands 'clear opp osition to the sectarian stare of Northern Ircland and recognises Ine role or ine British army in maintaining the existence of this state... It is impossible to raise the call for working class unity in the Six Counties so long as the British Government supports the right of the "loyalist" working class to maintain their sectarian privileges at the expense of the nationalist population.
Along with Brent East, Hackney North and Stoke Newington CLPs, they call for woops our now and recognise Ine ngnt ol the whole of the Irish people to self-determination. National Party's 767 and the National Front's 363 owed much to groups like the Asian Youth Organisation, organised consistently against LABOUR regained the St. Jude's ward in Blackburn from the fascists in a local by-election last Thursday. The National Party had won the seat in May, but this time Labour topped the poll with 1,597 votes to the This victory owed little to the fickle attitude of the local Labour Party which pulled out of the anti-racist demonstration in Blackburn on 11 Septmber as soon as the National Front announced that it was holding a rival meeting. It owed much, however, to the 4,000 anti-racists who marched that day to show their determination to stop the fascists. It which have the racist offensive. AYO leader KHADIM QUARISHI told Red Weekly how they had built their campaign. were standing on the street talking the police came and searched us. When they found nothing they charged us with ob struction We are at the moment encouraging our members to join the Labour Party in order to fight for positive action from within around black self-defence. We are also taking steps for our members to become more areas involvee in ne race umons t support us in the struggle around black self-defence against the fascists. I myself