The question of devolution was high on the agendas of both the TUC and Labour Party conferences. debate, both conferences decided by large majorities to support the Government's proposals to set up an elected Assembly in Scotland. However, despite the hopes of Callaghan and Foot, the issue will not be 'settled" so Casily. Scotland the Government has so far lost the Labour Party ten local government seats to the Scottish National Party in the last two vears. The lastest austerity measures are almost calculated to drive more workers into the camp of the Devolution — a "socialist' issue?
The "Labour Against Assemblies in Scotland and Wales' campaign has raised a lot of dust. The support of Tribune MPs like Eric Heffer and Denis Skinner has made it look as if a stand against devolution is a socialist" stand. But it isn't.
Red Weekly says that this is fake socialIsIn. The views of Heffer and Skinner must be flung out and the Assembly should be supported. land's right to an Assembly must be part JOHN STURROCK (Re OL any SocaustDatOEH.
The Assembly - a question of democracy The anti-devolutionists claim that devolution gives in to nationalism and is anti-socialist. Tne opposite is true. soc ialists have always stood up for democratic rights and the right of any nation to self-determination is a fundamental democranc rignt. 1 ocols workers demand an Assembly or even independence, no matter how mistaken, then this is their right ana engusn workers nave to support i.
Has comrade Skinner forgotten Clay Cross? Should the same conference castigate the councillors for backing Clay Cross voters and their democratic right to the housing policy they voted for? Should it cut off the support which came from the twenty Scottish councils who took a similar stance by denying them their democratic rights? Clearly not.
Does devolution divide the labour movement?
The left leaders will argue that the Assembly will split the working class.
Again the opposite is true. If the English workers back the Scots over the Assembly they will not lack support for their own struggles - as the Scottish miners" stand for the seamen has shown.
The democratic bodies in Scotland are no barrier to united action. The STUC SNP.
After disastrous record of ScotDoes devolution play into the hands of the SNP?
Anyone who thinks that the growth of the SNP is a result of devolutionist policies is living in a fantasy world. Labour's atrocious anti-working polcies, tne scandal or unempioyment urban deprivation, and local government on a Mafia-like scale have driven workers into the fold of the SNP. A 'left' fight against devolution is a cover up lor tne trioune uroup s uue and miserable failure to organise any fight against these policies.
The Scottish Labour Party gives the lie to the left Transport House and many TUC leadThis makes it even more important to combat the bureaucratic dictates of the anti-devolutionists, argue that 'internationalism' means imposing any form aovernment on the Scottish themselves think suitable. As part of the ongoing debate inside the labour movement, which is obviously going to continue after Blackpool, we reprint part of the leaflet distributed by Red Weekly supporters at the Labour Party Conference.
ReP Blantyre Rolls Royce workers now in their twelth week of struggle against redundancies have looked in vain for fighting support from the 'lefts".
and unemployment. And it has set an example which no-one in Westminster cares to follow by voting against them.
Natives the SLP leaders have put forward. class Bul tnei sand on tne most importan issues facing workers today is a constant corruption in reminder to the Labour 'lefts" pathetic and cowardly record, inside the voting lobby and out. The growth of the against the Government's policies can win back working class support from the action with them in Scotland. And we say in all seriousness to Labour Party memhere in centiand who people they