THATCHER'S RESHUFFLE provoked such agitation in the statements of the left MPs that one would think the prison camps were just around the corner.
For the 'lefts', of course, the introduction of the hang 'em and flog 'em' brigade into the Tory front benches provides an excellent cover. The slogan 'Fall in behind Callaghan to keep the Tories out will increasingly be used to justify their capitulations to the Government on the unemployment and incomes CUlo. policy.
This is not to say that the occupation of junior posts inside Shadow Cabinet by Messrs. Biffen, Boyson, Taylor and Churchill does not represent a danger to the working class. It does.
Biffen spelled it out clearly on television. The Tories won the WorKington by-electon largery on une question of scroungers and unemployment. Biffen sees his role politically as being to split the upper layers of the working class skilled, more conservative workers - from the rest of the class.
CUTBACKS To this end he peddles the economic strategy of Powell - massive cut-backs in social expenditure and money supply, and an end to incomes policy and the effect it has had on flattening differentials.
Because of the tact inat inese workers have in the past benefited from the exploitation of the colonial countries, it is all the easier to play plank of these populist' Tory leadership recruits.
But the Tory conference in October, while giving rapturous applause to these sentiments from the platform, adopted Heath's policies in favour of incomes policy, growth ane conculaton. last week warning against renance red-baiting and scroungers was a warning not to retreat from that programme.
VOTE But Heath still lacks an answer on how to win a decisive victory in the next General Election. For that the Tories need to win a substantial vote the English Thatcher's purpose in leaving the top posts in ine nands or moderate Tories and recruiting the right wing of the party into junior positions is to maintain gramme, weld together the middle class base of the Tory Party, and get the votes from Labour.
Thatcher's reshuffle is only part of a shift to the right in all the major parliamentary parties. Tory demands for an end to immigration are upstaged by one of Roy Jenkins' last proposals in the Home Ortice - a register of dependants. The Tories' outcry on scroungers is upstaged by Ennals' suggestion of cutting unemployment benefit by taxation, and 'eft Stan Orme's promise of more snooping on claimants.
Labour's right-wing policies not only prepare their own downfall - Heath's speech Over 15,000 people witch-hunting march was made uo or black peopie our on une slattorn class.