Egan a "left turn" which although it was opportunist was designed to win it a stronger electoral base in the working class. On coming into office im February 1974, this turn was halted, even though temporarily. This has meant that Labour finds it more and more difficult to win the enthmissm of the working class for its policies. Workers are less keen to Pote for policies which offer them so little as Labour's thinly disguised wage testraint.
UNINSPIRED
Even allowing for the fact that the dectoral register is out of date, the 6 per cent downturn in people voting was concentrated most heavily in working class areas. In strong working class districts there were frequent Sals of eight to nine per cent. In other abras there was an alarming op of 12 to 15 per cent. In the peak hours for Labour's vote -be ween 8 o'clock and 10 o'clock in the mening-there was a massive drop in the vote There was no decisive victory for Labour because the working class were not inspired to go out in great numers to vote for them. The three per ent national swing to Labour was sly kept down to one per cent in be marginal seats where the wellaled Tory machine trundied out the middle class vote.
The close result has been produced By the disarray inside the main politpal party of the ruling class and the act that Labour's "'left turn" has been Hocked.
What will take place after the clebon will flow ouf of the situation which produced the clection results. The ruling class grouping will be locked in internal squabbles and disputes * Weekly 17 October 1974 Page 6 But the big difference to. 1929 is that the working class in not merely undefeated but is increasing in miliLancy and is better orpenised than ever. There is not the slightest chance of the working class passively accepting the attacks Wikon will make.
The Labour and trade union burericrats ane caught in a vice between the dictates of the capitalist economic crats and the upsurge of the wor king clas There are a whole series of issu I to seintroduce keep the buteaucrats then for protection in tm, even they will not be mp toerther on a long term hey feel either the incessant demands of the ruling class for still more right wing policies or the danger of the collapse of their electoral or trade union base.
One thing we can be absolutely sure of is that this Labour government is going to usher in a period of most tremendous crisis within the Labour Party.
Economic crisis, ruling class political decay, the emergence of ultra rightist forces, working class upsurge and huge tensions within the Labour Party. These are going to he the main objective characleristics of the period before un.