Socialist Challenge No. 280, 9 February 1983
The scan: sc-no280.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
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Challenge NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT FOOT SAYS NO!
No. 280 11 February 1983 The Labour leaders are going to try and sell out Conference decisions over unilateralism.
Last week Michael Foot moved an amendment to the disarmament section of the party's general election manifesto, which would make the of nuclear bases 'negotiable' and dependent on discussions with other socialist parties in Europe.
25p Unemployed and strikers 10p
Socialist
Knowing the position of the leaders of a number of the European socialist parties
this issue, particularly Mitterand's Foot reckons he will be able to hang on to use ses for alone time yet, this adopted.
These should come as no surprise. Healey has been strutting around stressing Labour's commitment to NATO and saying he
would not serve in a Labour cabinet which has a unilateralist policy. Most Labour Party members would reply Healey by asking: 'Is that a threat or a promise.'
But Foot is determined to appease both Labour's right wing and the NATO alliance. And if this means defying the decisions of Conference so be it.
These policies will
take us further along the road of nuclear suicide. What is more they will disillusion great numbers of potential Labour vot-
who intend vote Labour at the next election beca. use of its Conference decision on unilateralism.
Obviously this is the season for abotage by Labour right. Vot onl are they sabotaging the anti-nuclear vote, but
by their frenetic desire to witch hunt Militant they are doing their damndest to lose Bermondse for Peter Tatchell
The and shredding 25,000 broadsheets the cancellation of Tatchell's first by-election press conference, all because his broadsheets were printed on Militant's press gave every anti _abour rag and news broadcaster the cha-
Barbie
- butcher
for
capitalism 0 e
nce to paint Labour's candidate in Bermondsey as an outsider not wanted by his own national party.
When you have friends like that who needs enemies? The only people who can be root Labour's agents are the media and all those who do not want Labour to win either in Bermondsey or nationally.
KLAUS BARBIE the Butcher of Lyons committed against Jewish peo
resistance on a scale that can voke disbelief and revulsion. The fortress of Montluc in Lyons bears a plague that testifies to his sards 10,000 with the words were interned 7,000 perished.'
• But our revulsion should not be reserved simply for Barbie. should also focus on his MastCls and the sick system that they serve When the Nazi regime came toppling down in 1945 Barbie was soon back working again.
This time he served new bosses - the US Counter Intelligence Corps who paid him £425 a month for information he had about Russians. Professor Erhard Dabringhaus who worked for CIC and was Barbie's controller, lamely excuses his employment on the grounds that he was an evil necessity'. The professor therefore lied to the French when they asked about Barbie.
Through his contacts in the agency he managed to get Bolivia where under the name of Altmann he later worked for the Banzer government. His job there with the approval the American CIA, was to organise cocaine traffiking for the government. Barbie was well suited to this task which involved using bands Para military physically out rival drug peddling gangs.
Of course the press
vould like to presen Barbie as an individua psychopath and creature of Nazism. But the Butcher of Lyon was also the butcher of the CIA who had no scruples about putting him on their pay role and protecting him from the French. Afte all if the CIA can employ the Mafia to do its dirty work then WHATS wrong with Barbie?
In Bolivia a decadent drug dealing military dictatorshipbacked by US imperialism and its intelligence agency soon found good use for his bloody talents.
What Barbie shows is that capitalism will go to any lengths, including murder and systematic torture and is more than prepared to hire mass murderers to do its work. As long as that then it wil produce its
produce its Barbies and find good use for them.
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WATERWORKERS SPEAK OUT
Organising the
strike in Kent
By Les Hartop FIFTY shop stewards attended a joint union coordinating meeting in Chatham last week. This is the first time that such a meeting had taken place and was a useful organisational ad-
Report-backs 02 Ve valuable morale boosters that she as kes in their in
perky They also heard how Ayelsham industrial estate had shut off. more ng and the strategic COCLYUH of Grain was thought to be a he sautang on or the isie matter of days.
decided to send out a flying picket to get out a smal group or worses whe were mougar to De me ones ones still working in the divi-
Several delegates registered their concern at the
Icoresculatives
-SOBUS OI DOCUMEVIL schemes and abandoning the am crits of the meeting,
Municipal Union finished off by Dointing the finger at industry as
Police wade in
By lan MacDonald A massive police assault broke the picket line at the Hampton works around 180 police backed up by the Special Patrol Group escorted 12 scab lorries of coal from Proctors and Days through the picket line. two-thirds of London with water.
nie Eldridge, the local branch chair Understandably the pickets were a bit pissed off, but if anything this strengthened their resolve to win.
fat bonuses for scabbing, proving this dispute isn't about money' Ernie said, 'it's political for them and us*. Looking to the future Ernie was very clear what should be done when they eventually go back. time, none at all. We'll say to management "You employ some more people"
Ernie Roberts, MP, Convenor MB Clapton.
Socialist Challenge 11 February 1983
the Kent workers' main target BE government as *We get the people with DIOLES because thes
trade union movement has ever had.'
Before leaving, the a visitor W..U TinanCi solidarity and publicity' were encouraeed CLPS prospective MPS and ask them tor their help. Labour Party members should make collections in their meetings AS the dispute 102 V a social issue, MPs Manc Inemseives userul oy issuing countering propaganda that govern ment puts out. When asked HOW HEal in the room took
over a laner one stewares raised their hands!
West London lasi Saturday At 6.30am
Hampton works supplies over
"They wouldn't even let us speak to the drivers" said Er-
joint management and police action has
White collar workers are doing our jobs and getting
'We don't want any overPlatform of meeting in support of jobs fight at Metal Box Stanley Clinton-Davies MP, Peter Kahn (chair), Convenor MB Palmers Green,
page 2
On Merseyside the strike is solid with pickets out at all of the depots. Tom Ryder, branch secretary at Green Lane Depot spoke to Socialist Challenge. *4,000 of us are out in the North West. In spite of the media attacks on us the strike is 100 percent solid and we expect it to stay that way. We recognise that this fight is against the whole pay policy of the Tory government which waterworkers refuse to accept. ty. means you do ten hours were •First, bonus scheme in eight hours in order to get
bonus. On OU! Dresent scheme you get a maximum 3:
money what's the of
66 achieve bonus you can never
Cal 3 De Cent WOrKS study comes along and says they've
La bonus scheme means cutting corners DULICE CULLINE and Third, sanen they
"Third, Wher -in troduced a bonus scheme in Sheffield on the clean water side, 164 jobs were lost.
'There's 2-2,500 dOOLL South Yorkshire, the money saved was passed on neither to
payer. oo many people out-
298 REDUNDANCIES
AT METAL BOX
SAVE JOBS!
(left to right)
'Labour Party must support us'
Tories.
No productivity strings
IAN. DRAYTON is a General and Municipal shop steward at Blackburn Meadows sewerage works in Sheffield. We asked him what he felt about any offer which gave money in return for increased productivilan Drayton
agreements.
Everyone should have a de-
the unions operaTE or hospit and ole have decided that
they
-nomes what fect did lan think this might
doing this, WALLI SLOT dEC YELY SEECECHCE Of
COLESC LEC possibility of the army being tooting around a credit used there's a lot
around things out.
By Brian Grogan
paign to save jobs at Metal Box in meeting was jointly North, Central Hackney Trades Council.
Over half of the audience were Clapton Metal Box factory. A whole contingent still dressed
ne nightsit to be erecent at the meeting and hear the two local L and Stanis MPs.
Roberts and Clinton LavIcs. Hackney counciantony senedi d well as the engineers convenor at Clapton and the T&G con-
Green factory in North LonLUH
This meeting was the first time that workers from the don factoretiad been e Cle po get together. The Metal Box managemen navO Terusca rachines ior a mass meeting on the site to discuss the 170
redundancies. 108
uriner jobs Palmers Green and 20 at Bermonascy
The
was for the workers themselves to exchange infor-
suggestions how the fight could be con aucter wel as take acc vice and solidarity from the representatives of the labour
I don't expect troops to be a threat to this strike as long as we have the support of other trade unions. For example the AUEW are not crossing our picket lines and NALGO have assured us that they won't cooperate with troops.
•We'd certainly like to see the Labour Party coming out in support of us but some of them seem to be too busy attacking people in their own ranks instead of taking on the
At the moment NALGO members inside the gates seem to be doing whatever manas ment MW CILS seen a letter trom NAbOU saying anyone disciplined for
CUTES a large percentage of their wage i strike pay How many will stand b shall sCc We have heard that the po wer workers around retuse cooperate with troops, should they bring in water to cool the power stations That's why our branch decided that a strike commit-
and WIL SUDDOR
Wing. itially took away the impetu or the strike hopefully as the strike goes on officials Stewares trom orner orance
The more the involvement of
the sange it in the kee
stronger HayC HIVOLVO outlying -areas. reservoirs and get people ou
Metal Box stays in Hackney - O.K.?
NEARLY 200 people braved the bitter cold last Friday to attend a public meeting called as part of a cam-
London. The sponsored by the Hackney
and South Labour Parties and
movement bodies on the plat-
Fortunately representatives of LIC Workers Part and other sectarian groupings didn't seem to appreciate this and effectively Metal Box
Nonetheless, many useful pieces SUELeSTIOnS mauc Leader of Hackney Council Tony Kendall filled in the background the firms redundancy plan. He pointed out that their £17.5m profit in
overseas profit showed the company was not as bad off
SLAND SUDDOSCO an Irish company call Bordens specialising in cans for milk products. more profitable to
duce Britain sel whilst allowing it to take over to Irelan The fact that MB had an Herest mus company ane that two ex MB directors are
f865 a week to
scab
By Brian Grogan
told us.
into the Thames or into the fields at Deepend'.
i ne tact tnat iney nave te pay management such a hig sum shows what a "desirable job got here added ounDs breakdown - Which they do every other day then we've e got to fish about inside to them.
liquid but the •SOnOs reman
and the smell is something
else of round the propeller
which is difficult to release
CalL YOU aDOl productivity in such a situation? Its ridiculous.
'Stop
nothing'
Roy Sinfield, Leabridge Rd Stores Depot
would be clear to the public what is going on
this, it's the government. should be a pay limit and that's it.
way to settle things.
structed the other unions to come out.
strike more effective. now on Bordens board shows thaL Clans LOLLICICE consennon as me reason lo! the job cuts was not true. clearly operated cartel resulting it
The Palmers Green convenor suggestco that the com pany nad a ve ycar plan toi job cuts and was moving production from 'high wage countries low ones
London into new towns that have little trade union and ow rates orgas all with the aim of boosting profits.
Jobs
He pointed out that jobs weren't workers to sold. Anyone taking Cancy Day was SCHne LaCOD. of their children and grandchildren
Ernie Roberts developed
this the vas one on the a
2CSI companies in une waol WOre WIIn asscIs ercalerta that many govern ments. It was their resources to keep open
Clapton Palmers Green Dians
He wanted to know how much transfer
was going on. He tought that une workers should have the right to consult MB's books.
'MANAGEMENT is being paid £865 a week to keep the pumping stations going here' R Todd, a maintainence engineering at Beckton sewerage works
This is the biggest sewerage works in Europe. It caters for the whole of London. If the pumps collapse, they'll push the whole thing straight
shouldn't be talking to management about that
London weighting The only
site money. And that's that -
cluding crait: the building UCATT
CisErace ficially declare our union's support for the water workers pay us. But we'll stay out
negotiating over
THE LATEST offer is rubbish. If they came out and openly said they want redundancies, at least it
It's not just the Water Council that's behind
They've said there
I didn't really want a strike but that's the only
The union leadership is as much to blame as the government. They should get their finger out. Instead of wasting their time negotiating over nothing they should have in-
There's too much talking and not enough action. We want an all out strike which involves the white collar workers too. This would make the
of MB sales were in Britian net ting f17m profit whilst the 46 brought in e5am seasi CCIl overscas sales He read from MB's chair 1982 boasted *smoothly previous -Hac gone. workers present whether they would be happy to appear the 1983 'having SIDOLLE the
the MB workers couldn't be defeated Moor though that their best cas to demand that me ME Contouton to Be When des are for strike actiond. workers present there majority the meeting however, was bes
and a member Hackne North Labour Party. She also explained that industrial but that the best wav to achieve thi was or a ne aDour move ment bodies and activists in
IVID WOrKCIS OCCUCE UDOn. particular she called for sup port for a demonstration to mobilise the labour move SHICHI OCTIC CLIC WOrKers
Page 3 scan of this page
The fall of Berlin
PFLP position on the Fez agreement
US advisors' in Honduras -the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. US manoeuvres threaten
Nicaragua
1600 US troops are currently engaged in manoeuvres with the Honduras army only seven miles from the border with Nicaragua. A total of 7,000 troops are engaged in 'operation Big Pine'
warships are simultaneously being deployed along the coast of Nicaragua. 'Big Pine' is the largest military exercise ever held in Central America. The 'enemy' for the Honduran and US troops is subtlely code-named The Red Army'.
in the context of the continually worsening situation for imperialism in El Salvador, the presence of large numbers of US troops in Honduras constitutes a threat of imminent intervention in the region.
Since the beginning of January more than 60 counter-revolutionaries and 25 Sandinista soldiers have been killed in rebel incursions across the border trom Honduras
putting the Sandinista Defence Committees on alert. Guards at potential sabotage points were strengthened. Socialist Society rallies against NATO UNILATERAL disarmament get out of NATO - that was the message of the rally called by the Socialist Society last Friday night in London.
Pat Arrowsmith, long and executive member of Labour CND pointed out that NATO was responsible for escalating the cold war at every stage. She regretted that some in CND seemed to think that unilateral disarmament could De acnieved witnout leaving Nato, and pointed out that being in NATO American nuclear umbrella.
theme, insisting on the prime responsibility of 'what used to be called US imperialism' for the nuclear arms race.
denounced the peace talks in Geneva as a fraud and a farce carried on between 'two bands of Brigands', and argued that the peace movement should not support this exercise which had no intention of reducing nuclear weaponry. ger pointing to the heart of the state. He eloquently praised the role of movements like the German Greens and the Greenham Common women in fighting the warmongers. CP moving right? - you ain't seen nothing yet THATCHERISM is akin to 'creeping fascism'. What we need is an anti-Thatcher alliance including... member Bob Rowthorn at last weekend's AGM of the Socialist Society.
In a debate to start off the weekend, Rowthorn astounded even those who already knew of the CPs rightward drift and the inEurocommunists coalition including the SDP. Rowthorn denounc-
'ultra-left alliances' in proposing his Dimitrov mark Il popular tront.
He received a stinging rebuff from Tariq Ali, who called the recent arguments for an alliance with the SDP, especially
hoping to overthrow In addition to the land exercises, United States Last week the FSL government responded by
means Britain should
campaigner
meant remaining under the
Author and journalist Fred Halliday took up this
Guardian European correspondent John Palmer
The nuclear armaments issue he said was a dac
the Tory wets! Thus Communist Party
Dy Enic Moosoawm as disgrace Marxism Today, said Tariq Ali, besmirched the name Marxism. Socialists shoald understand capitalist crisis would lead to a radicalisation of the working class which socialists would be able to link Heath, UD said with. Tariq, Edward had
tried to do what Thatcher doing now but was rebuffed by the working class. It was betrayal to suggest we should form an alliance with him now.
EL SALVADOR
By Paul Lawson was a stunning psychological blow the ment of Alvaro Magana.
The capture of Berlin, the CitatiOn military offensive whose main centre was Morazan province 40 miles to the HOTLE A crisis in both the army and coincided with
right wing coalition which rules the country
The FMLN offensive started in mid-January with the capture number Morazan, which put them in a poston to take tne provincial capital of San-
Gotera. The regime rushed 6,000 of its crack troops to the pro vince in an attempt to shift the guerrillas, but in one of the biggest pitched battles of the war they were driven back, whith 260 ment soldiers killed and
LIC FMLN.
Just as the government troops regrouped another assault the FMLN
Liberation of Palestine
PFLP statement.
outstanding resolution
ment over its precursor, points include UN control, not establishment of a Jerusalem as its capital.
BAD
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE GOVERNMENT'S
PLAN TO SPEND ONE
MS HOUNDS OP
TAXPAYERS MONEY TO
COMBAT
(OF CND?
Internationa),
LAST WEEK the guerrillas of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front won their big. gest military victory since the January 1981 of. fensive - the capture of the industrial town of Berlin in Usulatan province. Although Berlin, was rapidly retaken by government forces, its; sudden capture by the FMLN revolutionaries;
and political increasingly crisis-racked govern-
struck their blow 40 miles the south, CAULULLL.
Berlin, a town of 30,000 people.
The successive defeats being suffered by the Salvadorean government troops putting swathes of the countryside outside the effective COLLEOL the Magana regime.
The military -ICYCISC have also caused growing dissension inside the army At the bonening gif the of the year Colonel Ochoa led a revolt Yabanas province north east of the capital San Salvador, demanding the resignation O1 Detense Minister general Jose Garcia.
Involved in the dispute was not only the military tactics being carried out by the army, but the fact that Garcia is well known as the
After the recent Fez Arab summit which
produced a 'peace plan' providing for a West
Bank Arab state in exchange for recognition
of Israel, a group of delegates to the meeting
• including a minority of Arafat's Fateh
organisation and the Popular Front for the
denounced the
agreement as a capitulation to imperialism.
Here we publish an edited version of the
THE 12th Arab Summit at Fez produced one
- the Arab peace plan.
Looked at out of its political context, the plan is quite acceptable and is certainly an improve-
the Fahd plan. Its following demands: withdrawal of Israeli forces from all lands occupied in 1967; removal of all settlements built since 1967; freedom of worship for all; affirmation of Palestinian national rights, including self-determination, under the leadership of the PLO, and compensation to those who do not desire to return; the West Bank and Gaza Strip will be subject to a transitional period under
exceeding a few months; Palestinian state with
TASTE
TOVERNMENT THE LAN MONEY TO PROPAGANDIZE FOR SOME VIEWS AND TO
Salvadorean soliders on patrol leader of the most extreme pro-American faction in
Ochoa's rebellion was only put down when 28 other army commanders eventually signed a loyalty oath to the present army leadership
The dispute inside the army parallels that between President Magana
Assembly Roberto D' Aubuisson, well known as organiser of the rightwing deaths squads and
Taken on their face value, only one of these points is in contracieon with the political nothin
which guaranteeing al states in mie regions an inare recoennon or israe
proposal cannot be truly evaluated with
out examining the nature o
Its initiators. their motivatior
ana une one
The Fez Summit was con vened on ny peat it It i
that Was 0
response to the Zionist invasion of Lebanon,
or even in July August, as
in rage. No as usual on A rad
COLLUCU
Summit was convened atter a major enemy attack
The reason for this is very The summit is not vehicle for confrontation Arab worid. HODHIS HE venicie tor the reactionar
Arab
With all its patriotic rhetoric, there was a glaring omission among the summit's
HOW WRACLES DINI HEART LIBERAL UTTERED (THAT DRIVEL?I
ECTARIS
the semi-fascist ARENA party. Since the sweeping
ARENA SUCCeSS March in fake elections, the United States has beer attempting to dislodge the politically D' Aubuisson. As the FMLN has gone from military success to military success, the divisions inside the regime and the army have worsened.
failure of the FMLN to hold Berlin for more than a couple of days
resolutions. This is the lack of
condemnation Zionism's main supporter US
eactionar regimes were the ligntest bit sincere in wantir
SUDDONE Palestinian struggle, they could have clos ed their bank accounts in the US. cut oil suplies or broker diplomatic relations.
The reason nothing like this was done is because or une suoservience Arab_region, and thus the
Arab League, to imperialis
of the countries in th Arab League are directly tied to US imperialism and are acung in is interests
they are Balane on th
power ps hands Zionism and reaction. This is the current reality of the Arab world, and it is against this
Arab proposal must be judged
A closer look at the actual BrODOsas reveas ana seven -OUT of its eight points are simply demands; patriotic demands, totally unob tainable current
more than rhetoric. - MILTON FRIEDMAN
PORON
is of no consequence in the context of a guerrilla war What it signifies is that the FLN can strike virtually anywhere at its own choosing, and that the military well the political struggle is being won For the United. States this poses acute problems. Vietnam showed that demoralised army can,collapse rapidly, The danger of direct United States in tervention in the region is more acute than ever.
King Fahd knows full well neitner us imperialisn hese reques in ear gran will ever the real reason for this theatre of support to the PLO played out at Fez? the Fez Summit was at tended by all the Arab League members, with the exception and Yemen. All voted unanimous
was to achieve mIs unIty En reactionary regimes such as Saudi Arabia points COHEDAL ISUE Fahd plan. We in the PFLP orıgina
recreat me Po saw Lt endorse this
have The Pro our rese in
the forefront of denouncing
term effects of the Fez plai will not be in the interests of the Palestinian Arab as it lays the groun 101 The basis for retreat and
legitimising sre aton. WIt *Israel' has now been laid with while befor he path was only through th US-sponsored Camp David accords.
BO• CORMAC
NEVER HEARD OF HIM! BUT THANK GOD OUR GREAT LEADER WOULD NEVER BE INFLUENCED BY ONE CAPABLE TOF SUCH CLAP TRAP!! Socialist Challenge - 11 February 1983 page 9
Page 4 scan of this page
Labour after the war
BOB PENNiNGTONicle on social democracy
PENNINGTON traces from the end of World War I to the first Labour government of 1923, the general strike of 1926 and up to the debacle of 1931.
Some historical
landmarks in
Labour's history
1917 Russian Revolution 1918 Labour adopts new constitution. No longer a
Tederation. tionally organised. with individual membership ainterch Enectonne eld. s oupta. Election chauvinism promoted by National Liberal Tory Labour gets 2.5 million total ol ll milon. Labour now the largest op position party witn ou wirs 1921 Formation of Communist Party of Great Britain.
Black Friday. Coal bosses insist wages are paid on district not national level. Miners Federation call on Triple Alliance partners in transport and rail support their strike. Miners' allies fail to act aa rie AuHance is sunk.
1922 General Election won by Tories, Labour gets 142
and polls 4.2 million votes, geting seats than National Liberals and Asquith Liberals combined. JT Communist MP at Westminster. 1923 - For the first time ever.
General Election Labour takes office dependent on Liberal votes. Labour has 191 seats. the Tories have 259 and the Liberals 159. 1924 Labour government defeated by combined votes
of Tories and Liberals, MacDonald resigns. Lones win General Election geting 415 seats. Labour lose 40 seats but increasc overall vote by Over olle ion.
1925 Red Friday. Miners refuse to accept wage cut.
TUC places embargo on all movement of coal. Tories backdown but prepared for showdown. TUC does not prepare. 1926 General Strike. Big defeat for trade union move-
mene
1929 veneral clection
5.437,000 to 8,360,000 winning 287 seats, Tories nave 200 seats and Liberals 3y. MacDonald forms government.
May Committee set up bv House of Commoncto recommend ways cuts could be made in national expenditure. C saei uitproymen benem, drong wit cuts in teachers salaries, grants in aid, inservice police pay and public expenditure Cabinet agrees on cuts totalling E56,250,000. TUC opposes all cuts.
MacDonald proposes new list of cuts to cabinet, including 10 dissent. MacDonald tells King he has 'resignation of cabinet in his pocket'.
MacDonald that must Minister to form National Government. MacDonald heads National Government supported LORC Thomas and Lord Sankey join him.
Government imposes including cuts of 10 percent in unemployment
Henderson becomes new leader of Labour Party. MacDonald expelled from Labour Party. General Election. Labour contests 519 seats. Natonal Labour contests 21, these Labour MPs Labour loses 237 seats and has now only 52 MPs. National Labour has 13 MPs and Tories 471 and Liberals 33.
Socialist Challenge 11 February 1983
Labour's history wut Decone asach?.
DESDEC wave
voles out of
TT CILDIENCWUOIUOCCOBCSBS
following December Labour vote goes from
ommittee recommends 20 percent percent cut in dole. Eight Ministers
King George stresses to stay on as Prime
Snowdon, National cuts totalling t70 million.
who had gone with MacDonald
page 10
THE 'WAR TO END WARS' came to its bloody end in 1918 unleashing a wave of radicalism across Europe.
TUC and Labour's vote was steadily increasing.
Two choices faced Labour. Should it place itself at the head of this growing radicalism and
lead movement for
significant social change and begin class war? Or. should it become a party separate and existing in its own right, but firmly wedded to parliament and constitutional change.
Without hesitation
chose the latter course. Arthur Henderson said the
Dy means op parliamel
'means of parliamentary democracy
So despite its new pro gramme Labour and thi New Social Order, and its adoption tion of Clause Four which committed Labour to the common ownership of the means of production
and control of each industry and service', it still played the game according to the rules of capitalism.
Both s vee" Webb the author of Labour's IICY prugrammc, Philip Snowden had argued for gradua ism and bringing socialism about with as 'little hardship to exis inc interests possible.
Very few people gol round to asking either Webb or Snowden what was so radical about a prodHC dL LooK overre powers and destroyed the privileges of the ruling class, but at the same time got their consent? Maybe the theorists of gradualism thought was done SOWY and witnout violence' to quote Sydney Webb, the
CaDaNSES might never notice it had nappened to them!
Secret
By December 1923, when Labour took oftice it was certainly a responsible government. At a private and secret meeting even before they took over the government, MacDonald Snowden, Thoma and Webb agreed according to Snowden that: •We must show the country we were not under the domination of wild men.
On that score nobody would have the slightest need to worry. Certainly not the big companies. his first Budget Snowden got rid of a special tax on Corporation profits, which he admitted was fairly C C ave was not a 'popular tax'. In this he was right. The Corportions thought anything that CureE dividends to be very popular, especially with their sharcholders.
Unrest
Strikes and unrest were certainly not popular with the - anolIr government. MacDonald wrote 'public coles, r oplarism, strikes, limitations of output are HOLONOE CC CHEO!
maly misee sohe rie and
policy Labour was not exactly innovatorv on the domestic front, it was certainly conservative on the overseas front.
J.H. Thomas the Colonial Secretary exemplified this when he toasted the CHESTE and said the government were broud and realous or. and were prepared to maintain
By 1919 there were over four million members in the
This the Empire'. no 4010 1 reassured the establishment but did little to cheer Britan's colonial slaves, but then after all
they were only foreigners.
When Labour fell as a result of losing a vote of confidence it left behind a record that
Was HICHTC radical nor progressive
But office had made the
leaders even more conservative. MacDonald moan-
ed that * ... the Party (not
the cabinet) was not fit to
The new Tory governdid not find -HICHE
Avey on i Soly 192 vay.
day henceforth known as
ne exe nocewarov
King's Story wrote
how MacDonald and his cas ner maco mner aeou at Court colourfully clad in the uniforms of Ministers or tue browi, now lovery they must have looked in their 'blue, gold braided tall coats and white knee breeches with sword.' Edward said that this and mel countesy went Tar to reassure my father. Webe her Diaries, Beatrice
notee tidy UNCIE Arthur (Arthur Henderson) bursting with childish jos
over his Home Office Seal:
TeO Beatne. box which he handed round the company
Red Friday as a result of
miners strike threat, backed by the TUC, it was forced to give a subsidy to ine coal industry TaLLICI than the miners take a wage cut.
But this victory did not please everybody. J.H.
Thomas was *far from happy and thought *dangerous for the future
the country' that meent syeuld be compered 'employers governto concede through force what they refused to concede through reason
For the Tories Red Friday was a temporary setback and they started immediate preparations for a showdown with the
Meanwhile the
UC and the Labour Par ty carried on more or less as if it was business as usual. Differ
J.H. Thomas explained it was impossible to
"deliberately and prepare calculatedly for a general strike'. Unfortunately the ruling class begged to dif Ter deliberately 21 G calculatedly prepared for a general strike. So the workers led by men like Thomas got lobbered, whist the government that had prepared won.
But then the strike had frightened Labour Front Bench much more
serree ne Tories MacDonald told the House of Commons, *with discussions general strikes and Bolshevism and all that kind of thing have nothing to do at all. respect the constitution
" Hardly a speech to en-
the miners and their allies, but it did make Mr Baldwin feel more conident.
The defeat of the general strike the workers dearly. LOSL Miners
The Webbs with 'Uncle' Arthur Henderson in 1923
wages went down. triumphant Tory
EOVCUT ment was able to cut the Labour Party's finances by making it law that people had to contract-in to pay the political levy
The trade union rank and file smarting under the defeat of 1926 doubted the idea that militancy paid off.
From 1919 to 1921 the average number workers involved in strikes and lock outs worked out
From 1927 until 1939 they at 2,108,000 each Y COL only came to 308,100.
History
Neither the Labour
Part leaders, nor the
TUC were dismayed by the defeat the genera strike. After all it had taught those
ACTEECHSS and 'militants' that dustrial action for political ends was just not on. The defeat strengthened their arguments for class col
aDoration. As Beatrice Webb wrote, it would lead
rehabilitation of political methods...
Whist militancy and industrial action had taken a blow as solutions to the problems of the working class, the hope that Labour government might
The Labour MP Stephen waisn was apponted to the War Office in 1923. He then told
-td altay know my place. You have commanded armies in the Teld when was notie but a private in the ranks' He started his first meeting at the War Office by say InO 'Gentlemen, remember we must all be loyal to the King.
defend them against wage CULS unemployment still persisted amongst workers.
This was reflected the 1929 general election when Labour with its 287 seats became the largest Commons. Baldwin then Tes enCel athe next day MacDonald saw the King and formed a government.
When Labour took over unemployment totalled 1,164,000. In Ius LYCI 13 months it had passed the 2 million mark.
Proposals to raise pen sions, give cash to workers to induce early retirement and to boost purchasing power, along with controls of imports and for more public control of industry Tell on stony ground.
Treasury orthodoxy calling wage cuts, reductions in social services, and CUEDCeKS unemployment benefits won out
MacDonald was determined to save Britain. His
How Labour's
'wild man' got
tamed
Labour MPs. five so-called 'wild men' from Red Clydeside
book,
of Parliaments
Lordly Ones except that they.
misery, despair and death.
wrote that he 'found the House full of wonder how he 'had to shake himself" when he found himself talking 'with men whose names were household words'. How nice for Kirkwood that he found them 'all so simple unaffected and friendly
'Uriah Heep' by Kirkwood, simply gently reproached him, and this 'pierced a link in my armour that had never been
to Kirkwood's speech denuncing the poverty of the
t5 note.
The kind-hearted Tory vote for you, but I should like to help these men if I may.
Tories like that around just so much nonsense.
saint, Keir Hardie who earlier had written: "The propagan-
got it dead right about the parliamentary Labour Party but he was, unfortunately for Labour, wrong about th
class war. As long as they are waging it!
cabinet accepted cuts, although a minority were against any cuts in dole MacDonald, his sense of résponsibility and patriotism outraged by his cabinet's refusal to get on with the cuts, got shot of them. He went off did a private deal with the Tories which led to the formation 'National Government"
Then in alliance with the Tories and the Nationa Liberals he went to the COUL slogan: 'Save the Pound, Save the Country'. Labour's vote dived by two million anc the National Coalition romped home.
THE 1923 General Election, which led to the return of the first ever Labour Government, took to Westminster quite a number of new
Included among these were the
David Kirkwood, one of these 'wild men' later wrote a
erroneously called My Life of Revolt, in which he described his first experiences when he entered the Mother
He told his readers that before he entered the House, he knew little of "The Great Ones, the Powerful Ones, the
and the world they represented, were crushing my fellows down into poverty,
But our 'wild red' soon lost his vindictive approach. He
.. and tells
He records how Baldwin, after being denonced as a
pierced before'. He then told of how one Tory responding crofters in the Hebrides went up to him and slipped him a
By told Kirkwood: 'I could not Kirkwood was beginning to understand that when you have
Rail this talk about class war is
But then he was only agreeing with Labour's patron
da of class war can never take root in this country. Hardie
Tory Party, who did, and still do, believe fervently in the
Page 5 scan of this page
...Bennites, infantile leftists and infantile feminists'
LAST WEEK Socialist Challenge carried an article by Alan Freeman on the Annual General Meeting Democracy, where the campaign decided to register and where, divide over the issue of registration, the supporters of registration secured a two to one majority on the incoming executive body.
cut the campaign off from the party rank and file, and that CLPD now risked being unable to provide alternative Labour's right wing
VLADIMIR and leading register, replies.
ALAN FREEMAN accuses CLPD's Executive Committee's majority of running 'a scurrilous campaign'.
In fact this would be a more apt description of his article (Socialist Challenge 279) which abounds with unsubstantiated allegations and factual inaccuracies.
Alan states that backing by the wing" the Manchester
tantamount to support for
under democratic raould be very dif- control." tact it ficult to put the reforms BLOUUSCU ine Withington amendment to any such purpose.
Ironically pressure groups were given official recognition for the first time the Militant Tendency Report. Groups
was always unrealistic to assume that once such groups became influential the Party would continue to tolerate their activities without making them subject regulation kind.
The SUBport for the Register from the trade union delegates at the last conference con-
this. ine leil s failure to opt for a positive alternative to the Register (the Withington proposals) merely ensured the massive vote Tor the Register.
YOUR EDITORIAL (SC 279) contains conclusions that are dangerous for our work in CND. Obviously members of Labour CND have made choice about what we think the movement can win. We argue this at every opportunity inside CND. But when you conclude that This needs to. be rammed home' and that our fight in the Labour Par"Yor winning the anti- creates conditions nuclear movement to support for its natural and most powerful ally
of the Campaign for Labour Party
after a bitter left-right
Alan Freeman argued that this result would
to the policies of
DERER, a campaign founder advocate of it's decision to
What tacan does acknowledge that outright rejection of the Register necessarily appears to most trade unionists as carte blanche to groups to campaign for whatever they please. To
other Party members this
creation of damaging , divi-
within SLURS LIC Such -YICWS may be irrational. It is equally irra tional however to ignore them. Choice
The choice is between the NEC having completely arbitrary powers and a method of control by conterence. Alan's charge that CLPD has opted for the
arbiter between irreconcilable forces
The BUTCHOUS upholders of the Register
oi conservative status quo are the unholy alliance of Bennites, infantile leftists and infantile feminists, which continues
campaign Withington proposals.
The Register is not particularly popular with anvbody. But the scenes at Conference which followed Jim Mortimer's speech - at least half of those present gave it a standing ovation - it makes it difficult to share Alan's view Brave the sister is that the decision to от me most unpopular ones the Labour Party has ever Nevertheless the Register is unpopular
CLPs because was designed as an instru-
Labour and CND
the labour
movement', you are on
a very slippery slope.
We should fight for CND to give priority decided at its November conference to trade union and Labour CND. But the last thing we need in '83 is
and bitter around winning CND to SUDDOLL Labour in the election a battle that would divide the peace movement from top to bottom.
We should moves of CND to endorse any candidate in the election. Our campaign then should be modelled what we did here
ment to witch-hunt the Militant Tendenev n fact its provisions have proved
pose.
The NEC was in too great a nurry to go ancad with expulsions. This is the reason why Clause II(3) of the constitution is being used instead. The Register, however, is not dead, as
comrades like SOLIC believe. It may still be used against any grOuD which fails to register. To rely on the will the sent assumption that refusal to register evoke sympathy among the trade LIONS. SECSOCCEO celle knee decisions is te
•known require elaboration.
To return to CLPD's position. A pressure group can only be effective while its members are in substantial agreement on its
prucipal objectives, and if its demands are acceptable to The mater •OT people it seeks to win over.
continued presence of those deter-
on a radically difSUNCO ferent line can only be resolved either by the subordination minority or by a split. have advanced this argument before the decision on the Register was taken, and to have named those
hold ditterent Dosttions hardly amounts to a CLPD conference in London.
Hillhead -and Queens Park
CND lays out its policy and calls on voters to test
against candidate's pledges
our founding meeting in January, Gavin Strang secretarY abour Parliamentary CND stressed the peace movement would need to
be more active if a Labour Government is elected on our programme. I agree.
Even it we doge unilateralism the manifesto and even if we do win the election, we have got a third and ever more taxing battle: to torce the Labour leader ship to carry it out. For that we need a strong and
Labour Party
scurrilous campaign.
CLPD supporters were entitled to know before voting which EC members supported proposals which would exclude delegates from affiliated organisations as well as other CLPD supporters from attending meetings. They were also entitled know WHO wanted to deprive CLPD
London ouEsee and the South East (the only ones able to be touch with HQ) from representation on the EC, as well as who wanted to prevent cull internal discussion within CLPD under the pretext that controversial contributions were 'personal attacks' Overall proposals amounted to the introduction of a Stalinist regime. Claim
claim that those voted off the
ing is ludicrous. The work recorded by those listed on the Secretary's statement (which passed itself. Harris speaks for tself. 1½ hours Race none). The participa tion of those voted off innumerable ultra-lett jamborees cannot be
quated with hard work in CLPD. independent CND whose
mobilisations are above all the mood in the Labour Party that has got us this far.
Tony Southall, secretary Scottish Labour CND.
Ed - comments: We agree with Tony on HIS We 7LQRИ
• inal mass modusa creates the best condikeeping a Labour overnment to its PrOMISE HOTICE ve should oDDos CND officially endorsing any particular party
Clearly CND to en dorse as Tony points our, other party would, split the movement. But that
Alan also talks
CLPD's 'new leaders With the exception Harris, Bloxham, Jones, Gaebler and Race, and those who retired voluntarily, all those elected to the 40 strong Executive Committee at the last AGM have been reelected. Contrar LPD has Alan's assertion aurned its back on LAW
What we refused to do is
change the nature of CLPD by turning ourselves into a propagan da organisation to be used by LAW and the breakaway MPs. ČLPD still support group OT Tribune
prefer to fight expulsion and the Register are those which CLPD proved to be effective in the past. No Dren changed by acts fin- system has dividual violence against the warders.
Alan Freeman's conclusions that our actions nave left us in a camp which is universally actested -THe Labour Party' is insulting, but actually we conced because who can object to a few fraternal or sister-
insults among comrades? We leave it to ultra-left critics to add the petty-bourgeois norms of hypocritical politeness to their depleted "theoretical' armoury. doesn't stop us, as socialists
the movement for its activists t
lory, ane agains are sianolm of independent nuclear disar mament candidates.
The point is that there are some in the nuclear disarmament movement who think that it is basically irrelevan
election. should say no. only a govern ment car sena BECA missiles and realistically it is only conceivable that Labour government will do it.
The point of our editorial and re apologise if this was not clear was that now is the time for Labour CND to take the offensive to get Labour firmly committed
ficially endorse Labour can-
of
Vladimir Derer, a founder of the CLPD below Name.
Address the
Age
Union/CLP (if any).
50. London N1 2XP
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
Revolution/Socialist Challenge Celebration Rally
Come to the rally and hear speakers invited from
Greenham Common Youth CND Ireland Nicaragua El Salvador Women Against Apartheid Palestine
and celebrate and help build all the campaigns fighting a music also avalaDle
Friday, 4 March 1983, 7.00pm County Hall, London SE1 (Waterloo Tube
JOIN THE FIGHT FOR
SOCIALISM If you would like to be put in touch with Socialist Challenge supporters in your area or would like more information fill in the form Send to: Socialist Challenge, PO Box
Socialist Challenge 11 February 1983 page E
Page 6 scan of this page
FIGHTING THE M HOW WILL THE LABOI
A MAJORITY of Labour voters think it is justified to break the law to stop the siting of missiles in Britain.
What is the best way to stop the missiles, and to commit the Labour Party to unilateral disarmament in practice?
HELEN JOHN from the Greenham Common Socialist Challenge 11 February 1983
Peace Camp Valerie
cruise
on the general election.
Next rowsmith views on against cruise unilateralism. page 6
spoke to Coultas about their plans to stand candidates Women For Life
Earth candidates in
week Pat Arexplains her the fight and for Party
Why are you standing as a candidate in the general election against the Labour Party?
I'm not standing as a candidate against the Labour Party. standing against right Comes within it. That's not standing against the Labour Party. It's standing for the Labour Party.
This is the most important general election since the war and the prospect of Labour losing means the possibility of implementing unilateral disarmament is put further back.
If the peace movement and the women in the peace camps are standing against the Labour Party, or the right wing of the Labour Party, they will be accused of be. ing opposed to the return of a Labour Government
Well, we've been misunderstood from the beginning. Nevertheless, the confusion will settle.
I see no advantage in returning a Labour Government that have the will to bring into effect the policies that have been put before it. I watched what happened at the conference, our policies getting more than a two-thirds majority.
There's our friend Hattersley say. ing "well, it doesn't automatically mean it will go into the manifesto' And our friend Denis Healey saying
depends what you mean by unilateralism'
There isn't any confusion in my mind at all. The Conference made the decision that the Labour Party should pursue unilateral nuclear ment. The right wing elements in the leadership have got to be challenged and brought into line with the Party.
Absolutely. but it's a question of how you do it. There are large numbers of people in the Labour
who want unilateralism in the Manifesto. Will those people support you standing against the right wing? Well I hope so. We would effectively be supporting Labour Party policy. The right wing are actively fighting against it. Anybody who votes for Denis Healey or Jim Callaghan is not going to get them working for the policies of the Party. They're going to be working 24 hours a day to defeat those policies.
'I'm asking for a whole
lot of things from a
whole of people'
But the point is there's a way of taking these people up within the Party. You're in the Labour Party and there's been a process of attempting to make these people more accountable.
There are ways of fighting both in the unions and the Party to demand that policies are implemented.
Given the massive impact of Greenham Common women on the missiles movement, if you're seen as going with the people that are standing against the Labour Party you'll set back this process of democratisation, not take it forward.
I'm wing doesn't disarmasee aga the our Party. ore against standing challenging Labour Party policy and we're saying to them if you change your policy, if you pursue unilateral
withdraw from standing'.
But you're asking the leopard to change its spots dividuals will not change position unless they're forced to.
I'm asking for a whole lot of things from a lot of people. Perhaps they can be, Labour Party pursuing Party policy.
Do you think your standing against them is going to aid the people that want to fight in the Labour Party or hinder them?
Look, all I can say to you is -I'm a member of the Labour Party -do we want to see a Labour Government returned in its oresent form where there is no control over the leadership at all?
trade unions as well. Sid Weighell was a wonderful example of it - he was
INTERVIEW WIT
No cruise
HERE ARE BETTER
AYS TO PROVE YOUR VIRILI
WAT INCLUDES YOU MACCH Party. against people who are
then we will
Those intheir
shall we say, expelled from the
because they're not
choose seats,
didates.
The
Shore, - and
actually do.
And we see the same thing in the
HELEN JOHN
(left) is one of
the many
women active in
the Greenham
Common Peace
Camp.
Women have
been in the
front line of the
fight against
nuclear
weapons.
PLEASE
mandated to behave in one fashion he chose to ignore that and there' nothing you can do about it.
'Women have an impor-
tant role to play
Well, there is something you can do Fine, but it takes a long time. Now they're probably going to put cruis missiles here in April. If you can con vince me that you can change the Labour Party in time I won't stand But until you can do that, I will.
We'll be very careful about which seats we choose We're not going to
for instance, where there are unilateralist Labour can
main characters we're challenging are Healey, Callaghan
Hattersley and all these people who say the right things and do all the wrong things
I think we'll just put a sharper focus on what they say and what they
Did you consider campaigning fo Labour on the basis of unilateralism
Page 7 scan of this page
ISSILES IN 1983 R PARTY SHAPE UP?
HELEN JOHN
TAKE THE
TOYS AWAY
FROM THE
parate campaign?
an individual - by joining the Party. That was my contribuhe Party - I gave it all that l laving not got very far within our Party I then fortunately involved in Greenham Comthink this campaign has got a sonable chance of putting a ressure in the right places. nk that to stand as we intend a title of Women for Life on nakes that point very clearly. nk there are a hell of lot of who really feel now that have an important role to dI agree wholeheartedly with oliticians have had their way ig, long while - they haven't › and delivered the goods. It yok as if even at this late hour still looking for other avenues re before they get down to the we are identified very strongsmen at this time and that is first objective. To get a lot of to state very clearly that opposed to these policies. nk large numbers of women or Margaret Thatcher for no eason than that she was a That proves that there's an ater demand for women to be be active in this field to enothers to vote and take part ebate.
Boys!
There's a swing now among women in the opinion polls from Tory to Labour, so what you'll be doing by standing against Labour is... We're NOT standing against Labour! We'll be challenging all sorts of right wing candidates in the Conservative Party and the SDP. We are going right across the political spectrum with this, and challenging people who think that nuclear weapons have a place in our lives. We're saying to them 'you're wrong'
'The present leaders are no good to the Party or to humanity in general'
In Britain, there's always been traditionally a two-party system and now there's a massive economic and political crisis.
All the political commentators are beginning to say what about the SDP, what about a third what about a Green party?'
The Communist Party for instance is advocating proportional representation and campaigning for a kind of 'popular front' government. It's beginning to campaign in CND to support the possibility of the SDP and the Liberals being won over to opposition to the missiles.
- hererore mere is a polical con
pletely different from the usual two-party situation.
In other words, what you're saying is it's going to be even harder for the ordinary individual on the street who has to put their cross somewhere to understand what the hell they're be ing asked to do.
Well, if some women from the peace camp stand against certain right wing Labour Party MPs, that will be interpreted by a lot of ordinary people as an anti-working class stand
Not by the time we have presented our position to them been able to do this yet. All the other parties are lining themselves up and saying what they're doing.
I guarantee that when we do way who were standing against and why, it will not add to the confusion the electorate have to face the position for them very much.
What I'm trying to say is that | think the ruling class want to crush the Labour Party and I think it would be tragic if the women from Greenham Common were seen to be part of process of trying to electorally annihilate the Labour Party. We have not got the slightest desire to injure the Labour Party, the section that wants to implement unilateral nuclear disarmament want to assist it. That is very definite.
We are not out to injure the Party but what we are very clear about is that we Labour Party injure us with its right wing extreme element that has a hell of a lot of power leaders.
I don't see that they are of any benefit to me, to the Labour Party or to humanity in general.
'It's ironic, to have to
leave the Labour Party
to pursue Party policy
Yes, I think what we disagree on is the effect of you standing.
Well, all I can say is that after the election you'll probably have to back and say I'm sorry, I understand your point very well.'
Will you support people in the Labour Party who campaign for unilateralism even in the you're standing in?
• Of course! We will be aiding and abetung them in every way we possibly can. We want to encourage them, but we want to make it easier for them to win over the right wing element that's trying to damage the cause.
But you're going to have to leave the Labour Party to do that? Yes. It's ironic isn't it? To leave the Labour Party to pursue Labour Party Party. policy. But I'm sure at a later date I can always rejoin the Party maybe the Labour Party will join Women for Life on Earth!
A full-length version of this interview with with Helen John appears in the next issue of International magazine.
giving
Nuclear
publication.
but we haven't — it will clarify
(nearly £16 billion!). 1983-4,
estimated
and actively
case the cost will go up..
are not about to let the
revealed last week
its present
Meanwhile, profit of 591
of military business...
Hardly
didn't
tional superiority.
areas or
CND DIARY
visit.
CND Diary will be a regular column in Socialist Challenge,
La round up of useful facts, news and dates of forthcoming events in the Anti- YOPs.
movement. The listing of events is free and the details should reach us by the Wednesday, one week before
MORE is to be spent by the Tory government on defenge next year than on anything else, except social security! The figures contained in the latest government white paper on public spending make the Tories' priorities
dent abundantly clear. The defence budget jumps by a massive 10.9 per cent from last year, to a total of £15,987,000,000
3429.
THE GOVERNMENT is still trying to fudge the issue of how much money the Falklands War and garrison is costing but it does reveal that Oxford it is planning to spend £624 million in
£684 million in 1984-5, and E522 million in 1985-6. This will bring
total LOSE Falklands to £2.52 billion by 1985-6. All this, of course, assumes that there will be no further fighting - in which
SOMEBODY has to be making mine, and two companies accounts
and two companies accounts whose pockets were being inea. Aner ycars or losses and near collapse the Lockheed Corporation in the United States turned Peace. in a handsome $207 million profit Last year the U.S. government accounted for,81 percent of its sales.
Boeing reported a million for the last quarter of 1982. Mr T.A Wilson Boeing's Chairperson, said that 1982 was highlighted by the increased levels
wCI.
BACK in Europe, General Bernard Rogers, NATO's supreme com- the mander in Europe, condemned the Soviet proposal for a 500-600 km nuclear free zone in central Europe.
surprising really, since NATO's nuclear weapons are supposed to offset Warsaw Pact conven-
Wily people these Russians...
Wed 9 Feb Picket of George Bush
4.30pm at the Guildhall, nr. King Street, London EC2.
Until 13 Feb YCND week of action against Trident and unemployment. Local actions around job centres and Sat 12 Feb Student CND national demonstratior and human chain from M.o.D. to the D.E.S. Starts Jubilee Gardens, County Hall. Tues 15 Feb Picket of Newbury Crown Court, where women arrested at Greenham Common are on trial. Sat 19 Feb Labour CND Annual General Meeting. Delegates must be full national members of the LP and national CND. Credentials from 11 Goodwin St. , London N4.
Tues 22 Feb National lobby of Parliament Against Cruise and Tri-
Council/Hounslow Nuclear Week. Details from (01)-577
Sat/Sun 26-27 Feb Conference Against Sizewell 'B', Blackfriars Settlement, Nelson Square Waterloo London. Details from 37 Cowley Rd,
Thur 31 Mar 12 hour blockade of Greenham Common (women oniy) and Burfield Royal Ordinance Factory (mixed)
Fri 1 April 14 mile human chain from Greenham Common to Burted vir Aldermaston. Starts 1.30pm, followea Dy a testival at Aldermaston Sat 2 April Scottish CND demonstration in Glasgow.
Sat 30 April East London Labour Movement Conference Against Cruise and Trident, to be held in Queen Mary College.
Sat 7 May. Youth CND Festival for
starts at llan with demonstration from Embankment marching to Brockwell Park. Bands, speakers and a festival village Thur 12 May Day of Action against Arms producuon at baorn-brymar s Brimsdown site in Enfield. Organised
London Region CND's Trade Union sub-committee. Details from LRCND, 6 Endsleigh Street, London 31 May-3 June Four day blockade of
US base at Upper Heyford. Details from 43 Peacock Street, London SE17. 6 Aug Hiroshima Day. Labour Party/TUC Day of Action against the missiles. Also marches from all over Britain to Greenham Common. 22 October Projected date for CND national demonstration in London. Socialist Challenge 11 February 1983 page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
00,000 PEOPLE of all ages and political opiions poured into Bonn in October last year for rally against the stationing of US missiles in iermany. aused international astonishment.
In the first of two articles ANGELA KLEIN soks at the growing peace movement in West lermany.
N GERMANY the peace lovement has flowered. It
broad-based, politically -BIUSIYC and in some rays even more powerful novements in Europe. 1Cll other similar
It is out of all proporon to the level of class truggle in West Germany,
relatively FREC! clans
Why is this?
The rise of the peace novements In Western
jumobe was spurred berat
lumber general levelopments. These lude byt USA alacks led by the 1988S the colonial evolution, especially entra America
This offensive has been :losely linked with a policy )f threatening the Soviet
4500 revolutionary
candidates in French
elections
WHEN Francois Mitterand was elected President of France in July 1981, it was greeted as a triumph by the left throughout Europe. His win was followed by socialist electoral victories in Greece, Sweden, and the revival of the electoral fortunes of the SPD in Germany. disillusionment with the performance of the Mitterand Socialist-Communist widespread and the right wing is gaining strength. Meanwhile, in the forthcoming local elections the revolutionaries of the Ligue Communiste Revolutionnaire and Lutte Ouvriere are standing more than 4500 candidates. JOHN ROSS looks at the recent developments in French polities.
The first two years of the Mitterand government have dashed the hopes of LIC huropean left. Mitterand imposed wage
creeze in the summer of 1982; abandoned his promise to reduce military service to six months; ploughed ahead with building up French nuclear wcaoHs.
savagely attacked SUIKCS result ine popularity of the government has fallen rapidly.
Every political commentator, including the government's MOTIB supporters, expect- the right wing parties to make big gains in the March local elections.
Emboldened by the Socialist Challenge 11 February 1983 page 8
German peace
movement
challenges
the missies
This massive explosion of anger
Union, and with severe
economic attacks on the
working. class in Europe
and the US.
In West Germany there
are two factors to take in
aCCOUHL. Firstv. It 1s
crystal clear to everyone
that a third world war
Europe would mean the
physical annihilation of
the German people. This is
because
geographical location and
cause a war gainst the
Soviet could ony
be won with atomic
WCaDOTS
Only the United States
could wage such a war and
it would use the European
theatre do
Regardless of who won
the German people would
be wiped out. Germany
Spain and
But only two years later
government is
government's waning
popularity the right wing
have launched a campaigr
for the early dissolution of
parament.
Chirac
The Gaullist leader
Chirac has annonced a
60-point plan for 'saving
the economy', In practice
the plan amounts to the
destruction of many of the
most important -OCa
gains of the French work-
Ing Crass including the
abolition of the fifth week
yearly paid holidays,
one of the few really
popular measures of the Mitterand government.
would be uninhabitable for a long, long time.
This fact is destroying the illusion among working people that the country can be defended by
SNCCES. So the peace movement has
debate on how war can be prevented in the long-term from ever happening.
Proof
The decision of NATO to move the US military command in Europe from Stuttgart SOCOT proof beyond doubt that those who claim to be the
protectors' of the West
German people don't even believe their SWIL propaganda.
The same goes for the
NATO plans that call fo
withdrawing NATO troops to the west of the river knine in une cvent ot a Soviet attack.
For these cynical politi-
cians Germany between the Rhine and the Elbe,
Alain Krivine (LCR)
Despite the un-
popularity ot the vit-
erand government, there
substantial
112S OCCI
International
contains 80 per WAIGE
of German HESCH population), is already a nuclear no-man's-land
Any rejection NATO's blueprin means two fingers to US 218Tperialism. The decision to wage war would be made
Washington. West Germany is CHOI allowed have nuclear weapons, or anv control ove OCCUPA tion troops and atomic weapons stationed on its soil
The NATO plans go hand in hand with a new
strong-arm policy towards the Soviet Union, which has big implications for Leading spokespeople for the revolutionary list: Arlette Laguilles (LO),
downturn in working class
strugge. sirong resistance
the government's
austerity measures has oc-
relations WItn East Germany. Trade and credit IAI-THOOP NOAA ed. Gains made under the
the CICHLC pone. 1970s such as the opening
Colem doss between East and west. and the lessening of antiCommunist hysteria
beine peut in danger:
Owes working class is apprehenWVC C ocLu uIof detente. It sees detente d atea vev alde gressive stance toward the Soviet Union which would make it "possible' to fight a war in Europe.
Detente was seen
curred.
There has been a spec-
LaCHERSSC OLECSUEULUC
immigrant workers,
very different ways by the ruling cas. and LITC workers. For the bosses it was a way or Wantan!g the utopian objective of a status quo between the different social systems
The workers saw is as a road to stopping war through an understanding with the East.
The appearance of peace movement in East Germany is very important for developing alternative to the US and NATO war drive, and to the limita-
the 'detente'
SELOU policy.
especially in the ETTOCI
motor company. Citroen has been a centre of old
style company unionism
linked to the fascist right.
A long fight, culminating
in the occupation of the
Citroen-Levallois plant
earlier this year, has suc-
ceeded in winning union
rights and other gains for
the workers.
Typically, Socialist
Party general SCCICLAL
Lionel Jospin has accused
the immigrant workers of
being manipulated i political
and
CHaOUS
minorities".
Combat
In addition, 1983
started with a series of bit-
strikes Renault-
Billancourt and Renault-
Flins traditionally
among the most
factories in France
What is signiticant on
the electoral front is that
bv-election victories by the
right wing have occurred
of the right
HOE OCcduNC
substantially increasing its
but because of
OW'L YUL.
working class abstentions
The danger is that the Mit-
terand government will
succeed in severely
class, allowing .sweeping
ngat wins victories
The new political situa-
tion the
CLOLLPODI
French left. Com-
munist Party is losing sup-
port still further, both in
The peace movement has spread like wildfire to thousands oI towns and cities. Half a million people demonstrated agaınst Reagan in June last year.
Christian Democrats (Germany' s YELSUI the Tories) showed that 49 per cent of the voters are worred about the missiles because they increase the risk of an atomic wal German soil"
Some 58 per cent of people are opposed to the siting of the medium-range missiles if the Americans sabotage the Geneva arms negotiations.
the unions and local elec-
The largest abstentions in by-elections have been the old CP strongholds.
The old 'far left' outside the organised workers movement, which came into existence after May '68, now hardly exists.
opposiIDOLLCL tional currents exist inside the trade unions, winning up to 30 per cent of the vote against austerity in mne Socialist-dominatec CFDT, but no real opposition currents nave emerge( inside the mass parties themselves
The one significan split from the CP, , led by
former Paris secretary Fiz-
bin, has moved rapidly to the right. Fizbin is presenting himself as a candidate
in une election, supported
by the SP but viciously op
posed by the CP
For the first time in
several years, the two
Trotskyist organisations,
Lutte Ouvriere and the
Ligue Communiste
Revolutionaire
joint list in the
TeSCHE d
With 4500 can
didates this will be one of
the biggest revolutionary
CICCIU! campaigns in
Europe since the second
World War
SwaTer will therefore
see vital elections
Europe; -storiance and
West Germany Between
them they will begin to re-
shape the course of Euro-
pean politics
Page 9 scan of this page
Greenham Common women gave Defence minister Michael Heseltine a rough reception when he visited Newbury last Monday. Challenge Foot.
SORCHESIEY
LABOUR CND have launched a campaign to ensure that the Labour Party's general election manifesto includes a clear and full commitment to unilateral nuclear disarmament,
Already 144 Labour's prospective Darlaalcular candidates for the coming election nave added their name ro the statement printed here Joy Hurcombe national secretary of Labour CND told Socialist Challenge:
will now be campaigning for every single Labour candidate in the country to add their name to this statement. We are asking CND branches to
Can CHedEe
their area standine they
will standing Labour's conference decisions.'
A copy of the statement has been sent Michael Foot accompanied by letter from Labour CND asking for a meeting with the Labour leader before une coolment that will form the basis for Labour's election manifesto, is completed.
In part this letter states:
...this represents the genuine concern felt by prospecave canelcates Lat d clear commitment to unilateral nuclear disarmament should feature prominently the general election manifesto. Many candidates were selected as unilateralists by Labour Parties who supported both Composite 51 and the disarmament policies set out in the party's programme
that the Labour Party stands for abandoning all nuclear weapons, both British and American, British soil or in British WaLCIS.
*A commitment that only relates to Cruise and Tri-
PETERBRAN
COTENAS
Unilateralists
dent cancellation only relates to new generation nuclear weapons and can-
nuclear defence policy. Many Deodle in the peace movement, both in and out of the Labour Party have no faith the Labour Party's ability to keep ine conterence com mitment on unilateral
we in Labour CND belive
alternative if we really want to achieve disarmament than through the Labour Party.
We have to show that we can keep to our conference commitment. Anything less will damage the credibility of the Labour Party to its own supporters and to the electorate.
I Will be inhaeli to
how Michael responds to this invitation. He is quite happy to hold meetings behind closed doors to horse trade Labour's conference decisions with right wing MPs and trade union leaders. Will he prepared to meet openly with those Who represent the wishes of the overwhelming majority of trade union and Labour Party activists on the nuclear weapons ques tion?
The threat of a sell-out to the right on Labour's election manifesto is a real one. Along with the con
of the witchunt LIHUALION this would dear a tremen dous blow to Labour's chances in a general election.
It would also open the door to those who argue that Labour must do a deal with the SDP/Liberal Alliance.
Stop the missiles
Michael Foot - an imposter at a CND rally
Labour CND has vital role to play in 1983 in uniting a borad coalition \to force through the carrying out of the letter of conICICHICC aCCISIOnS
Socialist Challenge encourages all Labour Party Laiour CND AGM on 19 activists make February a priority.
We the prospective candidates BERe declare our support for Party Con ference Composite 51 which was carried by a majority of over 4,900,000 to just over 1,900,000.
We declare that it is our intention to fight the general election on clear
-Make bombs
The government is giv-
ing British arms in-
austries free han-
dout of £75m because
inflation has fallen.
On 31 January Detenti
spokespeople told the Com-
mons Public Accounts
contracts
signed in the late 1970s gave
guaranteed profit rate of
20 per cent because in Mation
was so high.
They still get the same
WE SAY
NO
TO
Labour CND AGM Saturday 19 February, County Hall, London SE1.
Agenda includes: Officers' reports, parliamen-
tary report, position
paper on activity in 1983, workshops and discussion
On registration of Labour
Statement by Labour Parliamentary candidates. parliamentary unilateralist Labour Party with Composite 51
therefore
contained manifesto.
- make a profit!
rate on all so-called non-
competitive
which account for nearly
defence equipment bill. In
other while
nurses it couldn't afford to
give them E700m. it was givbomb MIANETS
£600bn absolutely free.
A 20 per cent profit rate
can't even he
commercial grounds. The Committee
CRUISE
MISSILE
Delegates from Labour Paties affiliated to CND and as individuals who are members of both the LP and national CND
Credentials from:
Secretary, Labour CND, 11 Goodwin Street, Lon-
policies in accordance
on the shadow clear and unambiguous commitment to unilateral nuclear disarmament is
in the general election heard that current profits in non-defence industries
'Ministers decided against reducing the 20 per cent rate DECAUSE THIS could have undermined industrial confidence We sccu to rememoe. that when Ken Livingstone tried something similar with public SUTVICCS ne was Tore it was illegal. council suing Maggie Thatcher? We doubt it.
Trade Union
CND
Conference
the 'Year of the missiles'. have been established.
While CND's influence is growing in the unions, a great deal needs to be done to win them to a perspective of mass action to stop the missiles and for unilateralism.
As the report on the
year noted, the TUC has done very little to implement Congress deciSIOLIS 1982 Congress didn't get the comprehensive plan for disarmament and redirection resources to socially useful products that the 1981
Congress had instructed the TUC to prepare Neither has the TUC prepared for a European Day of Action on 6 August 1983 which it was told to do at the 1982 Congress. Instead une roc rerusco permission for CND bookstall at the 1982 Congress. It is clear that action is needed to Dersuade the union leaders to turn paper policies into a real campaign.
this point, however, TUND had no clear direction This was particularly evident on the question of the Europea Day of Action. Not only is this scheduled during the maustrial nonday perio for most of Wester EuroDe particularly France - but it's also a Saturday!
Much more usetul was the suggestion for a five
peace strike around that time. Such an action would be a major North West YS conference fails to lead
By John Wilcock (Oldham YS) and Linda Wongsam (Openshaw YS
regional conference weekend. Revolution
paign against cruise and porters aim to get the behind building the CND festival in May.
Revolution Youth and Socialist Organiser sup-
also fought together around resolutions on Ireland, , Palestine and the witch hunt feel we made some telling
UR G politica debate, but when it came to the vote we were amaz ed at what happened.
The chairperson announced the National Committee recommendations on resolutions, then took votes for or against
recommendations rather than on the resolutions themselves.
When we objected were told that the LPYS is *the most democratic organisation in the labour movement'
from resolutions delegates were treated to a weekend ol Militant rhetoric. We were shocked by the absence of politics in their contribu-
On Saturday 29 January, 130 Trade Union CN delegates met at County Hall. PAT HICKE reports on the tasks confronting supporters i
An increased turn-out for 1983 Conference o trade union CND reflects the growing suppor for CND in the unions. Over the past year trad union affiliations have increased by 58 pe cent. Twenty-two national unions are now al filiated, and about 25 workplace CND group
boost to the movement
more effective mass ac tion. Untortunately, nc plan of capaign emerged to build this A number of delegates stressed the importance of unnateralism the Labour Party manifesto right wa: determined to exclude it and there was no doub that many trade unior leaders were ignoring their own conference decisions and collaborating with Labour's right wing to ex clude the committment.
A big weakness was the meeting's failure to discuss tactics in the general elec tion. The question wnetner or not TUCNE should call for a vote for almost ignored, whilst one delegate wanted to build a move ment so all-embracing that i doesnt mauer who get in'. The CP, in line with its
for CND to be above part politics. The SWP, whe turned out in some force thought the question relevant they saw the main thing as CND getting on the picket lines Both these approache to the vital task of organis ing Trade CNI ignore the real questio facing trade unionists i the coming year: how elect a Labour governmen committed to stopping missiles.
OVER 700 branches of the Labour Party Youn Socialists were represented at its North Wes
Morcambe las Youth and Socialis Organiser supporters fought together on: resolution from Oldham YS on CND which wa passed. Having committed the NW YS to cam
Trident, our sup regional LPYS righ
tions. Every speaker had a tale to tell how thei neighbour died in poverty lost their job. committer suicide sniffed glue, go an industrial disease or blown up by the IRA! Bu
of course everything wil be alright once na tionalise the 200 leading monopolies!
And in the meantime
an impossible dream and there's no poin in fighting for Britain ot of NATO Ireland, self determinatior for the Palestinians or jus about anything else.
We came away feeling that in this year when mas: action on nuclear disarma ment will be vital Militant's propagandistic and abstentionist proach will be far fron Cocolate in giving a leac to the LPYS
Socialist Challenge 11 February 1983 page
Page 10 scan of this page
On Monday 7 February, the Bermondsey by-election campaign officially opened. Already the Bermondsey Labour Party has been hard at work preparing for this crucial dry-run to the general election. Mass canvasses have been called for on Sunday mornings at the party rooms. Last Sunday our Socialist Challenge reporter CAROL TURNER spent a morning out and about with candidate Peter Tatchel.
TEN THIRTY am at Lower Road, Rotherhithe. Shivering in the wind, and already wet through ay the sleet, workers are arriving for the Sunlay morning canvass.
'Hello. Have you signed in? Canvassing on eft, leafletting on the ight." Sermondsey Labour Party is geared up
Peter Tatchell's bylection. The Party rooms ire spilling over with eaflets, posters, badges.
The first two workers I neet are packaging leatlets o advertise Monday evenng's public meeting. One
Jeremey Hawthorne, ecretary of the nearby Peckham Labour Party.
The other is Alan, who els us he doesn't have a onstituency he's just ack from Africa!
By lam, activities are
workers eporting from all over ondon are assigned their satch to leaflet or canvass.
Already they've signed in rom as far afield as Horn-
Islington, Woolwich ind Wimbledon. Later, a roup arrives from Eastbourne CLP. Labour Party activists recognise council tenants on the Heygate Estate leave their sunday dinner to meet candidate Peter Tatchell.
iocialist Challenge 11 February 1983
ROUND
AND
IN BERMONDSEY
that this by-election will be
for the proaching general elec-
Soon after !l o'clock, Peter leaves with a small entourage to cover his Sunday pitch. First, down Walworth, where we hand East Street market in out leaflets while Peter shouts through his loud
The reception is mixed.
Many shoppers greet Peter by name and wish him luck. Others Go back to Australia, you bloody draft dodger.
Peter takes advantage of the situation to explain his views. Im proud not to have fought in the Vietnam war, ne regard all those who did as
The media hate-
taken toll, and Peter feels obliged to counter the lies of the press. *When get to parliament, he explains,
ABOUT
"I won't be like all those
won't move to a house in Surrey.
Live in a loca tat and know what it's like to be a council tenant. I will continue to share the blems of the local people.
As we move down the
the fascists. Local thugs are on the corner, peddling Their papers.
We're urged by Peter to stick close together: You never know who'll pull a клпе on you. reter nas already had many threats on his life and his home.
More harassment COLC from DOLLEWCER Council market officials who apologetically explain why he can't loud-hail inside the market. We move to ine perimeter or ine market. And finally go towards the local estates.
i ne small team workers with Peter knock on doors: Would you like
meet Peter Tatchell didate?' while Peter shouts
TUITOUS hailer, •What we need is more Labou rebels in parliament. When Labour is returned, we'll freeze rents for a year, we'll bring Britain out of the Common Market, and we'll get rid of unemployment.
After two-and-a-half hours in the cold and rain, we make our way back to the party rooms. Everyone
Bermondsey
sabotage
By Jeff King
John O Grady must really think 'that some
one up there likes him'.
certainly
Labour Headquarters has a soft spot for Ber-
mondsey's alleged real Labour candidate.
cancel Peter Thatchell's first election press
conference and impound 25,000 broadsheets
except as either bureaucratic incompetence,
or deliberate sabotage.
Labour-hating press a scandal on a plate and
they are certainly taking full advantage of
their present from Transport House.
leaflets printed by the Militant supporters at
Cambridge Heath Press. After all this Press is
run by members and supporters of the Labour
Party and surely instead of showing such a
pro-Labour bias, the Bermondsey Labour Par-
ty could have found some local printshop
with a Tory gaffer!
hunting Militant has dealt a blow at Tatchell's
election campaign.
leadership and its full-time organisers is to
get on with winning the seat for Labour and
routing O'Grady and his supporters.
should send people into Bermondsey who
MATCHELL
LABOUR
is down stairs reviving with discusing. pint. Canvassers are
the
response. There's a 50 per
cent Labour vote among
those so far contacted
but will it be for Peter?
A small group are stan-
ding in the corner. They're
pointed out as O'Grady
supporters. At first they
don't want to tell me why toty te very hostile to you
Why will they vote
O'Grady when he's no
longer a member of the
Labour Party? They don't
know, saying that
tradition
Mellish'. They will sup-
port anyone who stands
*the old Labour Par-
ty'. But why? No reason
inat can be determined
Simply they believe that
the press campaign around
Peter's private life *has
brought us all down hill'
Peter downs his pint
stoically. He thinks the
morning's response has
been good overall. He's
especially encouraged that
the response of older peo-
pie nas been a good one
Finally, the Labour
Club closes, and
everyone's off to the
meeting upstairs to discuss
the morning's results and
to plan for the forthcom-
ing weeks of the cam-
paign.
Well if God doesn't
the bureaucracy
How else can we describe the decision to
This action really handed O'Grady and the
Obviously it was a sinister act to have the The obsession of the right wing in witchThe job of the Party
Bermondsey? Well,
36 years.
then whose perfect?
tuents.
goes: 'By their friends, ye shall know them.'
Is it true that Bob Mellish has always fought for the dockers in this area?
Oh yes. When he was first an up and coming MP under Amee bob Melist was very worried about the TCUS TrOS WO were trying to subvert the portworkers even joined with three othe MPs to work with M15 he knew that the intelligence service was devoted to the cause of the dockers - to defeat the 1949 dock strike. In 1951 he supported the Labour seven dockers on trial for government when striking for higher wages, Bob knew the strike was led by reds.
INC AI DOU CARAD 00g port of the dockers didn't
Well most important he had the support of Ar thur Deakin who was the boss of the TGWU and Arthur's right hand man TGWU organiser Bert Fry. They promoted Bob from being an office boy into a full-time official for the TGWU docks section, where some unkind people
Deakin's office Because Arthur and Bert
for is dou wakers they
did not bother holding an election for Mellish, they simply appointed him.
In 1946 when the parliamentary seat of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe
Vadill his two mates made sure he got the TOWU
VOLO assured him of a seat at Westminster.
Surely Mr Mellish was not just interested in South London, he was very in terested in internationa affairs
Dead right. He liked Franco and Salazer. These two men had got rid of all those people who wanted to mess around with Christian values. That is why he was for a time the deputy chairman of the Anglo Spanish group, to make Spanish fascism 1i01C acceptable to the British public.
Labour Victory
By Redmond O'Neill
tory based on socialist policies in 1983 was the main conclusion
don last weekend.
Briefings from Lon-
ann, Strathilyder veere
Strathclyde represented the conference. It was agreed to work to extend the Briefing network around the
Mr O'Grady's friend
IS JOHN O'GRADY really the people's friend in
The does have the qualified backing of the other people's friend, Bob Mellish who served the constituency for
Of course there are a few malcontents who claim Mr Mellish could have done a better job than he did and that at times he got his priorties wrong - but
Last summer, Socialist Challenge staff writer BOB PENNINGTON took up the cudgels against the defamers and attackers of Mr Mellish, when he interviewed one of his consti-
We are reprinting Bob's article, because we want to show that John O'Grady is the best candidate to carry on in the path of his sponsor. As the old saying
In 1954 he even left his cloved bermonasey to go to Angola where he was Portugese fascism was doing a good 100 of keepine natives in order, as Mellish said he 'saw no signs of repression'.
For his honest and candid defence of catholic standards the Roman church made him a Knight of St Gregory.
He has done a lot for local people hasn't hel
Too right. He gave his support to a call for the release of Charlie Richardson who is a home-grown south Londoner who made torture a profitable profession. In the fifties he lavoured the release of onc SCULLECC "scarface' was a hoodlum knew he was a local lac which is more than can say for all these im migrants.
Mellish is not like those dogmatic socialists of the Surely he believes in ECONONE not all inat nationalisation?
Quite right. Bob has been prepared to befriend any person trying to the was a big mate of Olive CLUHUHL Cutts who made a fortune by developing property it Bermondsey DeptCutts used to trea Bob to a meal twice a week at the Savoy. He even put up £4,000 of the the Mellist family needed to buy their pad in Deptford When Bob's eldest son was 21. Cutts spent €280 on his birthday party, bu Cutts did not like the cake SO he destroyed the caterer's car - that's what I call having a loyal friend!
Eventually Mellish got Cutts an MBE. However the courts convicted Cutts of malicious damage, perjury and conspiracy pervert the course of justice, so a lovely friend. ship came to an end.
But surely Bob Mellish kept on trying to make the mixed economy worki Oh, he was not easily
Briefing to campaign for
THE LABOUR Left needs to pull together its forces for a major campaign for a Labour vic.
This the National Labour Briefings conference meeting in Lon-
country and that the coming general election would provide a focus for work of Briefing supporters.
A resolution was pass ed calling for a national
discouraged. "He was friend of T Dan Smith, the architect JOnn Poulson, and the Mie
Eric tunately Mr Smith and Mr Poulson given tree board and lodgings by th Queen and Sir Eric ble his brains out before he too was taken to a state hotel. You see poor Bob was let down by his friends again.
Unlike those Heresson Mellish is not a sectarian, he will work with anyone Or me ComMon 0000 en
Most definitely. In January 1962 he started a company with Sunderland Tory MP called Paul Williams. For fee this company was willing to act a industrial peacemakers. Again Bob's motives misunderstood, and WCIC the suspicious members of the ounacriana Labour Fart kicked up a fuss about him working • a die-hard Tory who later became chairman of the Monday Club, so Bob had to pull out.
Well you have admit that Bob Mellish had done a lot to house Londoners, that's something you can't deny. When here s pariamen. are right there.
secretary of housing he worked really hard to pro-
the industrial building of tower blocks. But went wrong. Within 14 years a lot of these estates were being pulled down. However Bob is an honest man and he admitted that building these blocks was an appalling blunder'.
Who else would own up to the
of millions of pounds of public money and to sticking people in homes that started to fall down around inhabitant's ears
Well see the record of readers, can of Bob Mellish speaks for itself. Would you buy a second-hand Labour candidate from this man? meeting of campaigning and left groupings within the Labour Party to discuss How we fight for a Labour Victory This was in une context of a discussion about the need for the left to organise to reach out to both the unions and the hundreds of thousands campaigning 2L0S the missiles through CND and Greenham Common.
Page 11 scan of this page
By Martin Collins Conor Cruise O' Brien once indicated that even clinical death would not convince him that Charlie Haughey could not stage a come-back.
Newspaper headlines are dominated by the Nixonesque struggle of a man who refuses -tO go. Surrounded by political intrigue and open conspiracy
tricks than Houdini. ponucal success over rivals can be put down to one
This ability claim to the workers he is a Nationalist and the bankers that he wants to sort out the economy.
In the recent elections. his ratings shot up by 10 Der cent in a week arter denouncing his rival Garret HitzGerald as a Dawn of the British, and then dissipated this as he tried to hold back the support this Meanwhile the LOL. real
business of looking after the shareholders goes on.
Garret FitzGerald revives
STee Anglo-Irish collaboration with new proposals on the Constitution.
Two things concern the southern government.
The first is to step up the austerty orrensive -unemployment, attacks on
power
this would please both the Americans who are the
MEXICO: A coming revolution TIM WRIGHT is available to address meetings concerning the growing struggle of the Mexican masses for organisational autonomy and against state repression, the dynamics and regional significance of that process, and the role of the PRT (Mexican
section of the FI) in the leadership of the
struggle. (With slides).
PHONE: 01-359 8371.
Bristol campaigns
against
deportations
continues
BRISTOL social worker Mohammed Idrish has lost his appeal against deportation. The Bristol and Birmingham based campaign is now stepping up its activity.
hundred January
munities Bristol, local
Parties migration law as a hole, ex- Idrish attacks plaining war. iney explain the law the way they like and proceed
Posed how Ho Office officials, although cepting his marriage had been "genuine', repeated y asked his wife: didn't she think strange for a Christian to be married to a Muslim? Indeed the break-up of nis marriage Hau occh mauc morc Hkciy Dy
Southern
collaboration
back on course
largest investors in the
maintain the largest financial Staken SUIC economy.
The second Is to eliminate the permanent
of instability created by the partition of Ireland. Not that they
reunify reland with an all Ireland government, •SCI
kind of *conwith British government openly running affairs.
The first steps in that are various forms of cross-border cooperation combat military and
Donnea resistance tot
British presence. The Americans are also hanoi
Si thatris s de by spreches
Patrick's day speeches of the Kennedy's lie a deep
feeling that Ireland should really fully involved
with the NATO
Right now both the austerity drive and the threat to. Ireland's self-determination are fesisted strongly by the workers and small farmers of the South.
Although DrICes are spiralling - Guinness now being well over ti a pint, Home wusee marassment
meeting agreed campaign
public lea aflets and petinons in bristol Broadmead at
and a rally from the centre of KrIstOl 12pm 19 February called for
and black organisations and TOI the Dutcina of the 2 March CARL demonstration.
For information and donations c/o Parade Bristol 3 or c/o Rad-
Rd Handsworth Rirm. ingham.
and unemployment rocketing, the
SOULLICLE government lacks the ally of a strong trade union bureaucracy able to keep the workers check.
SOLL Gerald government in-
çent VAT surcharge, immediate TCSDORSO strike action and the national demonstration shoe makers and leather workers was enough to exempt that industry. Occupations and other mili1a11 acton check government plans happen every week.
FitzGerald knows that
workers' resistance, attempting at the same time to avoid the complete collapse of the needs outside help. The British government are of-
not without strings.
On the military front Coaooranon is aso wer advanced. Already strings
slatols outside of Ireland's military requirements have
American guidancea This
American guidance is part of the job of shoring up NATO's Western European TanK from possible Soviet air attack.
But the irish workers jealously guard what limited neutrality they have left. The government was forced to stot
ublic talks with the British at the time of th H-block struggle. and again over the Malvinas War where pressure the Verment break up European 'unity' behind Britain's war.
The southern govern-
By Ronan Brady
But how have tenants
spokesperson for
a Cold War.
*Tonight I went to visit
mother of a three-yearold child, says Christine, water was into the flat. The walls of the bedroom were covered in a black mould.
Conditions in many of the counciis estates are ap palling. Yet have risen Dv. IS( three years. •We've had
weren't kept. We're just
to take anymore!'
Caught in a Cold Warpaints a picture of increasing deprivation for the
WeRT nine percent of tenants are in arrears in Brent and this
News
ment is working hard to
future con-
rontation. Anxious to win LEIC backing of Catholic hierarchy, the anti-abortion laws threaten to be permanently embodied
Run the con stitutuion. Despite the fact that abortion is already illegal in the South, this move is being promoted to guarantee the alliance with the church
savs to the church that liaison with the British will not involve tion around these sorts of LUCSLEUTES The role of the church will become more important in Irish politics
the betrayal of sovereignty threatens to bring thousands of Irish youths onto the streets to fight imperialism
Women have played leading role in struggle, and the abortion attack is just
one of number measures necessary to boost the role of the family in maintaining "law and order'.
What the Irish need is a workers' - barey able to plan for the future A party that would be prepared to form government to take on the multinationals resist the British government that had the confidence to link with the workers m une vorEn to gel rid of the British presence once and for all.
For all their recent suc-
which we warmly congratulate the nationalists in Ireland have yet to work out such
If the plan. were to do that, the kinds of successes seen in the Northern Assembly elections could be repeated all over Ireland
Caught in a Cold War
COUNCILS throughout the country face enormous cuts while tenants face further hardship.
of Labour Councils fared? CHRISTINE WINTER (Brent East CLP), a Brent Tenants talks to Socialist Challenge about the report; Caught in
years. While housing costs
or a tamiv-sized counci
house have increased 15
house will have become 3.4 percent cheaper to run since September '81!
As the rent/rates bill increases in geometic progression, tenants are torc-
Hence the repert titte. in
Hence the report's title. Brent however this crisis is greater because as tenants
Gott the neaung their homes begin to rot.
In 1974 the incoming Labour Council were mei with an agreement to build a new estate at Church End by William Old
Colin Roach
By Tim Wright
truth.
vans waited on street
pected second Police Station to demand
Intimidation the police strategy; mass arrest ana une unrear or mass ar rest, their tactic: Every
-Hacknev black community has protested
Lasst since Colin's death, the police have swooped: their justification, lawlessness and looting.
of those arrested Telated to tnert or looung but to typical demonstra-
and provocative behavJOUI of black demonstrators appears to be provocative behaviour Task
At a Hackney Black People's Alliance meeting
Friday, 4 February. Darcus Howe of the 'Race Today' collective spoke of the history of the black movement in Britain. He talked of the early days in the fifties when the black community was too frightened in alien society to do sobiby councilors ane thes more
to voice its deep anxieties about police LaCISHI and corruption.
He spoke of the development of Black Power in the sixties and seventies, and the birth of black consciousness and pride. Only minority were active, he said, and most blacks, though discontented, would claim that 'you can't fight and win in this country.
All this has now changed, he stressed, and since
aNew Cross Black People's Day of Action, when 15,000 marched, the black movement has come of age. Now blacks all over Britain are saying we are not going to take any
The Church End development built by William Old, depends o constant heating in all rooms. Its Resiform structure actually rots heating turned off nese wood-and-plaster board hovels were
Conssiones by a Tory Council in very
However Labour has been in power in Brent for eight years.
*The balance-sheet isn't very promising Labour just tinkered wil it savs Christine . The end result is the black mould and an unusualv high in cidence of respiratory disease on the estate In fact the right-wing dominated council about to cut a further €1000 from maintenance as well as to raise the rates
Clearly we in the
In a tactful display of brute strength the police have once more shown their concern for the
Stoke Newington High Street was occupied territory last Saturday with every few yards police standing in pairs while full police
corners and others patrolled the back streets. The occasion: an ex-
picket of Stoke Newington an independent public enquiry into the death of Colin Roach.
more!" The anger of the youth on the streets in the cities -or bram and ung growing number of black campaigns bear witness.
Resistance
No police intimidation will stop the growth of a movement.
The enemy's response he said, has been to demand more power to the police: *our primary slogan has to be "more power to us and less power to them"!'
ASSEMBLE: 1 PM
HACKNEY TOWN HALL
MARE STREET
LONDON E8
CAUGHT IN A COLD WAR council tenants and the fuel costs crisis tenants rights information research unit
Labour Party need to junk the attitude of 'tinkering with local authority hous This report spells ou the limitations of the ap proach of Labour's right and large sections of the left as well. Rates increases will just End. raunil service and Council services and officers have already been
The Colin Roach campaign, Howe claimed, can only be understood as part oi a wider movement anc as part of the black Nen.
Cross March sciousness: . Contributions at the meeting from people involved in the Newham 8 campaign emphasised this claim • ana undertned tne importance of solidarity of all in the struggle against a racist police force.
Control
The march planned by the Roach Family Support Committee for Saturday 12 February must be clear statement of opposition to police intimidation, and asserton or une goais of the Colin Roach cam Darcus Howe ended on Friday night by saying: I'm not fighting for civil rights anymore: I'm fighting for complete and total rights'.
Roach Family Support Committee
MARCHAND RALLY
For an independent
enquiry into the
death
of
Colin
Roach
SATURDAY 12th FEBRUARY
"Tenants aren't stupid.
We know what's going on. It's now time Labour Councils found out as well!
Caught in a Cold War cost
renant's involta won and nesearch unse London NWi0. Make sur Willesden library/organisation has a copy!
Socialist Challenge 11 February 1983 page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
KILLED
KILLED
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KILLED
tions friends.
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Socialist
Challenge
BANPLASTIC
BULLETS!
Support for the Labour Movement Conference on Plastic Bullets has come from a cross section of the Labour Left.
From the enthusiastic known campaigners like Livingstone, and Ma card gher like hesitant proce Benn and the Broad Unions; there is a concern ference decisions should be implemented and misery caused by weapons should be ended.
At the other end of the the official spokesperson on Ireland Concannon now decisions maintaining relawith ILIS Агту
As the General Election approaches, we need Lefts if ine commitment of the Labour Left is ploy? serious. Have they thought through the consequences removing Plastic Bullets? The first, and very obvious barrier will be the opposition of the Army. that the Ian is the bes weapon available to 'deal with the Nationalist Comdeepen pressing the youth on sending packing.
They are not too bothered declared about a few deaths, or too «DOU some 'overzealous' use. with a Labour Government settin ban the plastic bullet they
will do two things: firstly campaign campaign for an upgraded variety of riot gun but even issue more effective, secondly to escalate the present shoot This policy which has already accounted for the will claim more lives under 'instant death Policy.
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endorsement of
Left currents in the
that Party con-
these appalling
sentence', which will then be blamed on the Labour Government. all this they will act in liaison with the loyalist paramilitaries who may even earmark the victims to be picked off.
How do the Labour
propose government should deal with this
The Army has already shown that it is prepared to defy parliament. It has already shown that it is prepared to work alongside loyalist HOOS whipped up by the likes of
Paisley. The only answer that will avoid the withdrawal Plastic get Bullets being
used to the 'extra parliamentary to deflect a left Labour government from
aims, to simultaneously withdraw the troops.
The debate taking place at the Plastic Bullets Conference on the Dolitical context of the
will have answer this question. The
humanitarian concern tor needless lives lost, but one that goes to the heart of
fact that the Alternative Economic Strategy
yet STO answer the outstanding questions on
Foreign the ALAN FREEMAN
THE BENN
HERESY
THE BREAKDOWN of the latest talks on the water workers dispute puts the ball firmly in the union's court. The response now should be to massively step up the action.
The employers offer is nothing short
rocation. After last week'
anot rises between E5-E10 a week, the reality
ery different. The impro ed offer amounted to only 50p a week on average and more than half the
employers wanted increas ed productivity
Trade union leaders' readiness to talk about productivity, rather than standing firm on the full claim, is an indication of their eagerness to settle the dispute at any price. Water workers demand NO RETREAT ON THI FULL CLAIM and the action should be stepped up.
The employers strategy is to keep making offers, apparently generous, which turn out to be pie in the sky. This keeps the unions talking, and leads the members to hope that a settlement is just around the corner'. It distracts attention from the main CUESTON facing strikers: how to make the dispute bite
Time on managements side. They are continuing to pay huge sums to staff scabbing or
dispute. Using scab lorry drivers and police to
supplies through picket lines, gives them the room to wear down the
By Hilary Driver BRITISH SOLDIERS arrived in Beirut last week to join the international peacekeeping' force in the Lebanon.
The DUPERS Brigion Garden be policing southeast Beirut
with 1,200 US are renowned for keeping
peace the woric UNCE
Des Stevens, Challenge, had this to say when he sent us a welcome donation of £10 this week. *This is one of my small contributions for the complete abolition of the capitalist system, which is infested with bribery, corruption. murder mass poverty through exploitation and war'
We couldn't agree more! But while money may be the root of all evil as cerned, for us it is our life-blood. workers, for the FMIN in El Salvador and for the Suppor campaign against the missiles. Send in your donations now to Socialist Challenge Fund Drive, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP.
Islington
Britstol
MB,RTD Exeter York
Sheffield
Des Stevens
Total
Total so far
NOW STEP UP
THE ACTION!
strikers.
The union leaders are backwards busy running
and forwaro
to ACAS, they are neglec
ting the rea battletie d
This dispute will not be won the negotaun.
the depots.
Because the
tance, the strike is havin
only a fraction of the e fect it could have
There can be no question that the water workers are capable of winning this fight But hitting against the lones industry is
essential to success. The whole question of emergency cover should be reconsidered to this end Most industry needs steady supply of water. Waterworkers Picket line
Brits Out of Lebanon
This is the first time that Brits have been involved in the antics of the US and the Israelis in Lebanon.
When these 'peacekeepers' really get down to the results can be dramatic
hundreds of Palestinian refugees were September with the direct involvement Of Israel
British troops should
Socialist Challenge FUND DRIVE 83
a supporter of Socialist
lies, theft
far capitalism is con-
20.00
30.00
23.00 110.00 10.00 284.00 £2637.25
Power stations are paracularly vulnerable Determined action rapidly raise the stakes for the Tories But this initiative will have to come from the rank and file water WOrKerS
The Tories are determined to win. They see this as an important preparation for the Echcacles tion. The labour move ment cannot afford way of the and health workers disputes.
over Party union and Labour branch should now be sending messages of support and donations to the water workers. Delegations must visit the picket lines The Labour Party should pu all its weight behind the dispute. Consituency parties, together with their affiliated trade union branfit in rather well with these butchers They nEVe world-wide history as "peacekeepers' especially in Northern Ireland where they have brilliantly 'kept the peace' for the last 13 years.
They went to Northern Ireland 'protect' the Catholics, and quickly sparked off a prolonged war against them, murdering hun-
LIES!
JINGOISM!!
WHY DON'T YOU (a) CANCEL YOUR ORDER
FOR THAT RAG
AND (E) SEND A
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE
FUND DRIVE!!
By Pat Hickey
ches, should build public meetings and organise tours for the strikers
Labour's leaders must
forced come not the water workers. They must demand that the Torie pay the full claim. This is essential if the blame for the inevitable hardship and inconvenience is to be placed at the door of the
Tory government 8 the pressil on putting the pressure on unions arbitration. The TUC will soor be putting its oar in, to sell out the strike in the same way they sold out ASLEF Only a fighting response from the ranks, uniting the working class for joint Labour Party/trade union
KICK out the Tories will give victory to the water workers.
Photo: Morning
dreds of men, women and children in the pro. cess.
We can only hope that the Palestinian and Muslim people they are
'protecting will have learnt from this bloody history.
A howl of protest whole labour movement at the sen ding of these troops to [DISTORTION!!
TORY
PROPAGANDA!!! (b) SELL THE TELEVISION CONTRIBUTION TO THE
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