Socialist Challenge No. 94, 1 May 1979
The scan: sc-n94-may-1-1979.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.
Page 1 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge Whether it's Callaghan
or Thatcher, FIGHT
THEIR
TORY
POLICIES
No. 94 1 May 1979 15p RETURN A LABOUR GOV'T BUT VOTE SOGIALIST UNITY
Page 2 scan of this page
SOUTHALL MOURNS
BE'S A PROMISE. WE'LL FIGHT FOR A SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE AND KEEP
HOME NEWS
By Richard Carver SOUTHALL mourned as if it had been one of its ow who had died. And in a sense, of course, it was. All Talk of outside CELLOT OVCTshadowed last Saturday as 10,000, mostiy local Asians, marched in memory of Blair Peach. the anti-fascist mur dered by police the previous
An urgent appeal
WITH maybe a handful of exceptions, the MPs who troop off to Westminster after the ballot papers have comted will hope that we al forget about polities and leave it to them.
That a number of Labour candidates joined demonserations and pickets in their constituencies during election campaign can be taken not so much as an indication of their intentions as a vote-catching response to the resistance sown to the Tary policies of both main parties.
We have done our hest to aid tat resistance - by black -sople, opponents of HEL h troops in Ireland, the vourn who are denied a vote, and many others.
gratifying, when w
ceive a letter which says: *1
Saturday's demonstration pusses the spot where Blair Peach was murdered
Monday.
The banner of the Sourball Youth Movement placed his name alongside that of Gurdip Singh Chiggar i the Auan murderd by racists in 1976.
A relatively small group of Asians and socialists met at che assembly point in the Dominion cur park wish the enclosed (E5) could be more, In any crent, you are to se commended on the supert heen reportine. of the events at
Southall, No orber paper even suggested the real extent of police brutality. They were ton busy assigning guilt.
Wethink we could have done better during the the campaign with
resources. Financial contributions durine the opening weeks of this quarter were abysmal. Last week, which broucht in E229.80 was a lot healthier, But even that brings the total so far tbis quarter — £551.55 to barely hall the the should have received by now to
remain on target for the t2,500 we need hy the end of June. We wish that target merely an added extra 1o our rescrices, Unfortunately it's
Lenge / 1 May 1979 Page 2
to grow almost geometrically. More people seemed to come
young came from everywhere
shops and houses and from the pavernients.
The march started off lightly white grouped in rows of six. It was
Talent as it passed through the empos sreets, broken only by die feedback of
life or death for the paper. Modesty is not
Slum Tory pallecs will be
bluntly: that much easier for the next government to unless you give generously now to keep your paper alive.
Otherwise you'll be very clection more
Our thanks this week to:
Anun Fred Leplac Алоп UMIST supporter R Ford MI Brett sum we A Mitchell
C Nash Jo Hammond Hus worker WEIG
TOTAL.
Cumulative total
moved off its numbers seemed | the police radios.
where Blair Pract
- front police station and to a
the stillness tood became
militant
WerE thousands
a virtue for unmarked we'll say
Freets:
implement
the police station.
mitcee has E10.00 50.00 10.00 majority 3.30 4.50 tried 50,00 operation hist 15:00 26.00 6.00 30.00 5.00 1229.80 £501.55 assessment of the
As it went on past the spo
was killed into the Broadway, past the
final Nazi tally in Southall Park, the original stewarding plans went sit the window. The demon- only stration swelled to cover the themscives entire width of the road and the
increasingly make
The police maintained wha they cull a low profile — ther
them.
However, Blair Peach's mur derers in the Special Patrol Group were kept hidden, their
green and blue Transit vans lurking in the sid.
The mounsed police were immigration. Kept out of sight 1o0 — Hhough the evidence of their presence lay steaming in the road outside
The Southall Defence Cam
taken sratements march. from most of those arrested last Monday, proving, contrary to press reports. that the vast
were local Asian youth. But if the police had
La similar repressive Saturday i would have faced defeat, boct politically and on the streets,
This enormous mobilitation of local sentiment seems 1o dwarf the efforts of individual policial organisations. Nevertheless il is possible to make an
various
leadership of the movement.
side the Southall Youth Movement and the Anti
League emerge with credit. On the other Sydney Bidwell and the Labour Party
succeed coverine with further nominy with every move they
In. contrast to last Mondas Bidwell did attend Saturday's demonstration, but only alier a
he Ealing Communily: ions Council the previous night. Asians had rentinded Bidwell in none too friendly manner of his record in signing the Select Comintilee report on
When the MP told one of them to Sir down you arrogant sud' the meeting crupted angrily: So Bidwell can probably count himself lucky That he war allowed on the
Many voters this Thursday may compare Bidwell's own aerogant manner towards the 'ethnic vote with the achieve ment of Tariq All's Socialist Chity compan in putting itself at the service of the struggle.
The altitude of police and press in selecting Tarig as thie novement's leader berrays a characteristic concentration on convenient symbols rather chan issues, but it also reflects a cectuin reality. The backbone of the Southal movement is the
your und Taric is the most promineot figure to give voice to their unyielding bostlity to she police and fascists
On polling day Asian voters luce the sance dilemma as others where Socialist Umity is Standine - whether to vote for à socialist alternative or make certain of returning a Labour MP. In Southall, however, this will be weighed against th decline of the Labour Party' influence and the rise independen black politics.
Sourhall is significant for Socialist Unity nationally in thatit is the first instance of an election campaien which ba moved beyand mere politica propaganda and putsiself at the disposal of a genuine mass movement:
That mich can be seen simply from walkine down the street with Tarig. He is stopped bypassers-by, enthusiastically greeted in shops, and his advice consistently Thaugh many of these people will not vote for him he is nevertbeless their candidate
Socialist Unity has won is following by the fact that it ponent alerte hate political alternative Labour government and a set of nubitant, intransigent and eminently practical actics.
Bur it is still only part of a larger movement whose for
continued on page 3
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Page 4 scan of this page
The message of black consciousness Get up, stand up - for
BOOST THE FIGHT AGAINST RACISM BY FUNDING YOUR PAPER
OUR POLICIES
think.
By Colin Talbot
Housing is only one area where black people suffer from racism. In the period 1974-1977 unemployment rose by 138 per cent, For black people it rose by 307 percent, over twice the averaze. Among black youth the situation is even worse.
Housing. education, jobs. Black people are discriminated against across the board. Yet far front secing this racist atruse of black people as a problem, the main political parties share • common yiew that blacks, *immeran, are a problem differences between the partie: There course, Labour comes under pressure From the left, the anti-racist and black movements, so they include saps promising to review" the Sus aws which allow the police to atrest blacks indiscriminately on suspicion"
The Tores, on the other
'race relations" under the heading of The Rule of Law'. and numerous proposals for firm immicration control'.
In practice, however, these differences BEC SUEnt. Labour and Tories want an end INF
your rights
BLACK council tenants pay, on average, the same far right and othe ent as whites. No discrimination there, you may
Wrong. Out of every thousand white tenants only six have to live in shared accommodation. Yet among the same number of Afro-Caribbean tenants, 100 have to share, and for Asians the figure is 180.
In other words, blacks have to pay the same rents. for worse accommodation - just one example of racism in Britain. Here's how it should be dealt with.
to immigration, the differences are merely over a few thousand dependants; and ments'.
Both parties support strengthening the police force.
It has been during the past five years of Labour govemment theat detentions deportations of black people have reached record levels and tomuration rules bave been repeatedly tightened, physical intimidation escalated:
The new Nazis National Front merely take the its conclusion. If blacks are * problem the best and final solution is to get rid of them. like When the whole ment ways that blacks are a problem", wben thousands face unemployment, insecunty and unrest, it's hardly surprising that some will be attracted to the fascists' recipe for holocaust.
The Front have the added attraction that they want to make scan repatriation bombing, burning and bullying black people into leaving.
CLACE WOTOS MICY CHET ACRDO.
It is this that really sets the apart from the 1 May 1979 Pages
racist politicians, and makes necessary a campaign self-defence by anti-racists and blacks through powerful mass actions.
The answer does not lie in calling for bans on fascist marches or meetings. When the NF was banned from marching in Ilford during the by-clection last year, it was the labour movement, too, forbidden from demonstrating on the streets.
That fits in perfectly with Thatcher's call to deal with "extremists of the right", leaving the defence of democratic rights at the mercy of the forces of law and order
The growth of the Front over the past decade shows that racien has to be confronted by and the whole movement, if all of us are not lo pay a terrible price while The sort of policies which has would represent a real break with racism are not to be found of the In the manifestos of the main
parties. foremost is the need to cod logical institutionalised racism attacks by the state on black people
That means repealing the Sus establishand immigration laws disbanding the Special Patrol Group, which murdered Kevin 'Gately in Red Lion Square and Blair Peach in Southall last week.
nOW. Tooted economic life, toothless Race Relations Acts, but by extensive programmes of positive discrimination, or Tory affirmative action, to secure By Geoffrey Sheridan INTERVIEWING • police officer ubout the preparations for the N's Plymouth last week, a reporter from Independent Radio News began by sasing: 'You don't have an immigrant population here, so you don't have the same problem as in Southall.
The idea thai the "problem b black people and not racism B rooted in the days when Britain and the other European powers began to plunder most of the rest of the world, from the 15th century onwands.
It was slavery, involving the transportation of millions of Africans from their homelands to the colonies of the New
World. fullest elaboration of racist ideas to justify the uprooting of whale concentration camp conditions on the plantations.
Early in the 17th century, commerce
Britain experienced • vast
expansion based on the revenue
from the trule in black human
overtly and better education. of
- to stop the NF own culture and language
movement
which was
left and force
their rights
sciousness. self-organisation. working class
black
ment.
First and
sations.
black peaple
can expect the host and
squads of the fascists.
black people themselves
Black
social and not through be the order of the day.
rights necessary!
And It was
meeting development
economics.
of TEMPUELES which provided an
of the
the uttitude Imperlalism in Africa: which required the
and the
MISSUSET
TCHELLY
for black people homes, jobs.
It also means recognising the right of black people to theis
In order to achieve these aims, and to defend ourselves aguinst attacks from the state and the fascist goon squads, we need to build a massive
The key to this is the self-activity of black people
Only by standing up to light for their rights will black people
majonty of the working people to recognise
and demands That's why we support all developments of black con
and
Alongside the fight to build a
liberation movement goes the need to forge a broad anti-racist movement rooted in the organised workers move
We Tally support the Anti Nazi League and all other anti-racist, anti-fascist organi-
Finally, as the murders of
and anti-fascists have shown, we
brutal campaignine attacks from the uniformed thugs of the state and the goon
right
We support all moves by
to detend against these assaults, and demand labour movement support for them. their
self-defence and workers" self-defence need to institutions
Stand up and fight for your
by any means
And a workers' government? workers"
How racism took root
merchaadise and the products of their captured labour.
the further of capitalism And the which prompled the sholition of the slave trade. Between of Hock 1884 and 1H98, most of Africa wis acquired by the European nations in order to service their Then as
Cheap labour was needed on which were the spot to exploit the maturai
the continent. time
capital and excess production
Imperialism was in its heyday.
Earl Grey politely expressed riots
ATTISE Birmingham
*Throughout this part of the British Dominions the coloured
upon by the whites as an Inferior race. whose interests ought to be systematically
the 1920. into competition with our own, The and who ought to be governed perfected
with a view of the udvantage of the superior race.
NEVER
AGAIN!
NATIONAL FRON
-T08 In would begin by
Tor black rights вПоч rejccting all ideas of integration - or segregation, in favour of the
Hack people determine bow they wish to lead their own lives.
Discrimination would be ended by ensuring black people
rightful place in all economic, social, and politica
through prog rammes of affirmative action racist and outlawing discrimination.
In recognising black people's right to self-determination. a
government would
For Earl Grey's class - the industrialists and financiers racism registered on the profit side of their balance sheets.
working class wus persuaded that the oppression
ollier was their
tow it was the failures of the capitalist system
used to foster
En the 19th century it was the
then muinly Jewish and Irish, would be used to cut wages or cunse dilution in the skilled trades which led to anti-frish
Liverpool and
In 1919, lears of anemployment by white suilar brought ahout riots against black sailors in Cardiff, and the imposition # quotes for bucks i Ine National Viion of Seamen in
Nazis in Germany scapegoating prepare Their path to power. and then — because divide and
chalish inenigration laws
black people to congregate or disperse how they wish -putting a stop to notions of ghetto communities where black people choose lo he together H -and provide all necessary facilities for minoricy languages and culture
Lastly, the black population would be encouraged to take any measures necessary to end
Violence, including forming HIL CLE democratic asscmblies of the community rule was in no way sutlicient to deal with the capitalists crisis
- liquidated the organisations of the working class.
The National Front today aises the same ideas to violently oppose hlack people in Britain. many of whom were encour wieu to come nore in the si and '60s from the West Indies and the indian sah-continent lo fill low-paid jobs that white workers refused to de
• Their verson for comine E summarised In a very simple statement: 'We're here hecause you were there - there, that is. wrenching the economies of
the interests of the imperialise heartlands.
The white sense of superiority that racism upholds began
After Southall lust week. when 5,000 police physically transformed an Asian com manity into a colony to allow s handful wi Varis to make their threats, no one should doubt that racism can continue fo justify any number of atrocities
Page 5 scan of this page
EACH TIME THE MEDIA MENTION BALANCE' SEND US A QUID!
OUR POLICIES
Law and order
call for strong police forces.
protects — capitalist property.
merchants have their way.
confronted.
During the past five years of Labour government there have been important developments in the law as it affecis the working class, and in the methods the state is employing to maintain order,
In the space of just 12 weeks after Harold Wilson
BRUTALITY
THE STATE has assumed greater legal powers and strengthened repressire machinery over the past five years.
Given that the economic and social crisis in Western Europe is likely to worsen, the bosses want to be sure they can deal with the mass opposition that will deveion.
In Chile. their law and order took a particularly bloody and repressive form. The British ruling diss would not shrink Trom sure the sume methods H is parliamentary institutions and police cannot hold back workers" resistance.
The working class needs to DOUSE MOVES SWITCH CH the state.
That means the abolition of the Official Secrets Act, the repeal Emergency Powers Act, the Criminal Law Act, and the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The truncheon
under Labour
'THE purpose of security in its widest sense is to l protect a way of life." That statement could have come from the Labour or Tory manifestos, both of which
In fact it was made by an executive of the Chubb private security firm, which makes no secret of what it
This election campaign, which has seen thousands of police moved about the country to counter those Jefending democratic rights, has given a foretaste of the 'way of life' we can expect if the law and order
RIC SISSONS looks at how the state has been strengthened over the past five years, and how it can be
office, he calmly presided over three major police-army occupations of Heathrow airport in a vain search for "terrorists"
The presence of troops on the Sreets of Helfast and Derry had been a common sight, and it now becoming Britain.
FREEDOM
from ROF HE
POLICE
ARGE
HANDE
Ordering law our way
These laws have all been used during the past five yeurs of Labour government to block workers struggles and limit The opposition by the black communities and orgunisations to the Sus law. which is used to intimidate black people, provides a gord example of the kind bronnied relance that i needed to confront price powersActions such as pickets and demonstrations police need to have the full backing of the with the fullest BHPTCIECILLA
through such means inquiry carried out by Brixton
harassment at black people.
It ls not only on the statute books that the hand of the police has been sirenethened.
As has been seen during reeeni
The lessons and techniques from Ireland have not been lost on the police here
Training in riot control and uns practice are now
common. The plexi-glass riot
shields are on hand for
demonstrations decorant has be the growing presence of the Special Patrol Group,
The SPC was sct up in 1965
under a Labour government
This 200-strong London-based force of shock troops has
inspired the formation of the
Commando Squad in Lincoln-
shire, the Special Squad in
Lancashire,
vices Squad in Bristol, and the
Birmingham SPG.
The SPCi's first victims were
two young occupants of the
Indian embassy.
deployed in areas with large
black communities, such
strikes, the level of co-ordina
tion berween the military, the
government, and the police has
never heen higher.
All joint police-arms ma-
noenvres und police training in
military methods has to
opposed, as should the arming
of the police
acquisition of riot gear, of The Special Patrol Group
Local Labour councils sbould
han the SPC or their regiodal
equivalents from the the under their jurisdiction.
The Special Branch und all markers other intelligence and surveil
lance groups should cease lo
exist: their records and files as the examined and destrosed. along
THEODOLE the police national computer.
Parallel to the police und
army there have sprung
hundreds of private security
firmas. Today
notable the Special Ser-
capabilities
more than Heavily
lingerprints 10,000
dogs.
against strikers.
resolutely
and their
of the working class areas political encouraged
should be repealed.
and replace
they muster Torces.
Brixton and Hackney, their | million. latest victim was Blair Peach
The police have also been stepping up their surveillance harass
through their based Hendon. Operational in 1974, were black.
135m. Has been apent to ensure that nearly four million peopie are on file, with
Suretary.
By
country.
bocE anolher
deportation Hosenball
trial. comrade. 250.000 uniformed "guards" In
armoured vehicles.
Securicor alone boasts 1,000
Elsewbere in Enrope similar firms have frequently been used
Any such development must Britains Their wore starld apposed be encouraged to join relevant
any action against the interesh
Finally, Full trade union an
rights should In the armed LONDON:
The Incitement to
Disaffection and Mutiny Ac would encherner i reing. workers" drilling, and training of the entire population. They would police and defend the country
the present capitalist police and unned
There are an array of laws under which the police can
people on the strocts.
In 1975. 30,000 people were arrested on Sus. Half of them
Two major new laws were introduced limiting democratic rights. The 1977 Criminal Law Act makes it easier to stop factory occupations and squattin the Prevention of Terrorism Act. passed by Parliament one night in 1974 afler the Birmingham bombines, allows the police to detain people for 1K hours without charging them and for a further five days with the approval of the. Home
December 1978, 3.589
the PTA. Of these, onis 24 were charged under the Act, and a further 160 excluded from che
Freedom of Information has
victim of the Labour government. with the
Agee and for which the government tefused to give an explanation — and the ABC
The growing baison between different parts of the state apparatus was never clearer than in recent strikes.
East London Teachers Association mourning the death of BLAIR PEACH our ex-President We have lost a man who was not only an anti-racist but a
dedicated socialist who fought and worked on issues inside and
outside the union
He played an important role int a variety of campaigns: the
Wiliam Tyndale school struggle; the campaign against sexun]
oppression; against racism and fascism
He will be irrepluceable as a friend. a brother and a viduabl
East London teachers will continue to be identified with the
policies he helped to formulate, and with the development of a
trade unson branch conscious of irs responsibilicies in the class
struggle, nationally and internationally.
SOCIALIST TEACHER
mourns the deuth of BLAIR PEACH and calls for *Disbanding the SPG *Dropping ail charges against che anti-racists *An independen public coquiry *A united fight agains racism and fascisin
WHAT'S LEFT
REVOLUTIDNARY Cemmunist Group
During the FRU strike, For example, co-ordinating committees were set up nationally and regionally with represen tatives of the Home Office, the police, the Aims and tire service officers They were based in Territorial Amas buildings and used police opcration rooms.
The Labour government has done much to defend capitalist law and order, as Callaghan has been so anxious lo explain Attacks on basic working class rights can never have been more severe and calculated than at Grunwick.
The same brand of law and order has been on behalf of the Nazis of the National Front, A Labour Home secretary gives go-ahead for Southall to be turned into a police state to protect a bunch of racists, while the Public Order Act is used to divert a demonstration from the NF headquarters.
The lesson of the past five years is that the working class cannot rely on the legal syatem
The bosses' way of life can only be challenged by workers organising independently of the state. To GO otberwise will ensure their laws and their order Xx er lei 274285: for further detaila meaning Alter the section IMON NOGGIN STITCH OUR SA
Urger Challenge
Socialist Challenge 1 May 1979 Paer 5
Page 6 scan of this page
the law won't change it
WRITE US A LETTER - AND ENCLOSE A DONATION
OUR POLICIES
Pushing
back
the
walls of
hearth
and
home
By Penny Duggan
"WOMEN are conservative with a small "c" and Caring with a big one, declared the Daily Mirror last Friday when it attempted in its first two pages to woo its women readers from Thatcher's clutches,
While Labour and Tory leaders pitch-their appeal women in teims of defending the family and reinforcing women's role within it, the women's liberation movement begins at the opposite pole:
How women's choices and opportunities, and develop new kinds of relations DEINECA people based mutual respect and genuine emotional lies.
But this goal can never be achieved is long as women's primary role in society is seen in relation to the family.
This view of womeo tied to the family is not confined to the capitalist countries. When the constitution the Soviet Union was revised in 1977, the
which is meant equal rights women amended propose the gradual shortening of the work-day for women with small children.
The Soviet leaders explained that this new provision was to improve the position
women as workers, mothers.
childraisers, and housewives"
It is a far cry from policies of those who led the revolution in Russia in 1917. In
ract, the programme adopted
by the Communist Party of the
Soviet Union two years later
provides us with a valuable
starting point to frame the
policies needed to counter
women's oppression and plot
the course to our liberation.
It stated: "The party's task at
the present moment is primarily
work in the realm of ideas and
education so as to destroy
utterly all traces of the former
inequality or prejudices, par-
ticularly antong backward
strata of the proletariat and
peasantry.
'Not confining itself
formal equality of women, the
party strives to liberate them
from the material burdens ot
obsolete household work by
by communal
houses, public cating pinces,
central laundries,
ALESLES
etc.
Dismantling women's role in
the family would be at the
centre of the tasks of a workers"
government, and
Sociulis Challenge 1 May 1979 Page 6
Bolshevik leaders correctly
proposed, that means socialising the array of duties which women presently carry out in the home.
Large-scale material sources would be devoted to elung up: 24-hour child care
centres: oWCost, aen-ouane restaurants; collective laundry faciltiest and bouse cleaning services organised on an industrinl basis.
Al the present time, governments seck to regulate population size and maintain women's place in the family by exercising control over worten's fertility.
Asserting women's right to choose whether or when to bear children means provision of contraceptives and abortion, and an end to forced
But if women are to make a genuinely tree motherhood, then pressures that presently define
the fulfilment women's only role will have to be countered with an extensive education and programme.
All the ways in which society now shapes women's role such as the pin-ups in the media
and advertising which pro the
to Women as Sc objects;
for mom tain schools
domestic tasks
low paid jobs
outlawed by
government. So would
Forms of discrimination against
women at work and in social
and political life.
In reinforcing the family, the
stare presenty dictates
forms of sexual relationships
and that
allowable. A workers
ment would do no such thing. It
would encourage people
decide their own sexuality, and
campaign to end the prejudices
against bomosexual relaton-
ships.
Changing women's situation
at work, where they are now
almost entirely confined
low-paid, to requires positive discrimination
in favour of women advancing
in male dominated jobs, backed
affirmative
COUCHE and
schemes, of Financial Independence for
women would be guaranteed by
making jobs available for all
and full maintenance the state of those who are not in
paid employment.
Today,
choose how they will lead their
own lives when they
violence from men, whether in
the home, the street,
fundamental ahout a socialist
society and the
achieveil.
For the large majonty of
people now, politics begins and
ends with the ballot box. But
the overturning of
and the establishment
socialism depends
mobilisation and self-organis-
ation of all the exploited and
uppressed.
That is why the women's to movement, women's caucuses
in the trade unions, the rape
crisis centres, and the refuges
for battered women are such
important steps
women's liberation.
Lt 15 the organisation
women on the housing estates,
in workplaces,
organisations of
society that will expose and
confront by all means necessary the even the pettiest of restraints
all NECE By Jude Woodward
Thatcher has won considerable support because she is a
all the Guardian
Tweedie gave this view a real boost in her column when she argued the indisputable modcl that a women prime minister propaganda would be for our daughers was
far nore Thatcher's policies Even Harold Wilson commented last week that if his wife voted Tory this time it would be because of cher'ssex.
But Thateber has been cager and to play down hersex. I got here would be through ability; workers' 'Warnen
all long before women's Eb.
The conclusion/ The reason that so few women make it, is that there are so few women with 'ability the
are
to 1o Jobs,
action
training
by the
cannot
-fear
or al
struggle to
on the
and prejudices that are an obstacle to the choose io live. mobilisation to overturn cren the most intimate social relations is difficult to magine.
towards Bur only by basing itself on
such self-organisation can a workers' state guarantee it will of not take the bureaucratic path of the existing post-capitalis
all the
socialist societies. These leaders fear the
challenge posed by the degree of self-activity needed to tackle women's oppression.
MARGARET Thatcher told an audience in Glasgow on Thursday just what she thinks of women.
*I didn't get here by being some strident female. I do not like strident females. I like people who have ability, who do not run the feminist ticket too hard."
With statements like that it is hard to see that she is running the feminist ticket at all.
the virtues journalist hill hasn't exactly been in
important than if they wantto.'
can compete with men rest had better get Margaret That- playing their traditiona alternate, bole and she says, opporlunities the misth individually
WHEN L FALL
MAYO JOIN THE FIGHT FOR way The scale of
aspects of
Women's status -
In the same speech in Glasgow, she went on to extol mothers. And for one who
the forefront of defending rights, she put a strong case for women to have the right to stay at home and take care of children
Equal rights legislation will help those table women who
the on with TOLS There's
more Hyde Purk. women are refusing to accept
weak, stupid, incapable or inferior. They see the condition of women as a social question. A question of the role women perform and Women
Although
been
of it.
LUL
generation.
cattle
be exploited
production,
function.
assured
OR W
WE SHALL
BARKING
SATURIAY saw an enormous rally of anti-abortion forces in
London. The doubtless helped by the press which had carried hysterical abortion stories throughout the preceding week.
The prospect of a Tory government will be cheering up the anti-abortion movement 100. the way they are seen. law
have begun 10 organise together, thraugh the women's movement, to challenge how the family and class society have Forced us into centuries of submission, und to re-discover our history
women have alwass borne children, bistori cally their social role has not
compicies denned this. Nor undervalued because
The development private property rapidly changed that because then some people accumulated wealth. while others had none. Class society threw up new forms of
Patriarchal forms with men
bead. guaranteeing patermity to ensure property could be handed on to the new
Women themselves — like
became valuable objects for exchange, because they could produce new human beings with potential labour to
Gradually WETU deprived of any role in social
more and more limited to their reproductive
The advent of capicalism. with itsrigid division of labour,
finally women's imprisonment in the family.
Through struggle, women bave won some changes in the l
OMEN
OTBEMOVED
reactionaries" mobilisation
But legal changes can't end women's oppression. This involves fundamental changes
It calls for an independent self-organised women's move. men! lo fighr for women's needs. No can Win sheration on bebalf of women.
Al every level women need to organise - - in women's groups and campaigns, in caucuses in the unions, and in organisi tions like the national women's #guregate. recently won at the National Union of Students conference.
Women aren't the only appressed group in sociery.
Class society and cupitalism oppresses the working class as a whele.
In a society witbout classes the condicions for Inequality would not exist
So in figbting for such a socialist society, women share a common goal with ei other forces fighting for the end ol capitalism.
The old slogan still stands. There will be no revolution without a struggle for women's Eberation, and women musE organise together to ensure this struggle takes place
But there will be no women's liberation without a struscie to add their support to ensure that this strugele for the iberation af all l carried forward too.
Page 7 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge SOCIALISM & DEMOCRACY
The real revolutionary beast not the century-old ghost INTERNATIONALISM - VITAL INGREDIENT FOR SOCIALISTS. GIVE GENEROUSE:
SOCIALISM' tured word in the history of Brush
politics What they talk abou
incomes and corting hack badly-necded social services. These socülises are out to pur British capitalisa back on its feel by making sure that the bosses get the profitsthey want.
When Thatcher and the Tories say that this clection is a matter of 'free enterprise versus socialism" they find themseives in agreement with Tony Benn and the (allbough Callaghan and his right-wing cronies are hot so quick to agree).
Would that it were all that casy, Just imagine if a party exised today, fully supported the movement in this country dedicated to building a socialist sociery. warse of our troubles would soon be LINCE
For one thing is sure. With a stretch of Tory Government cconomic crisis such a party would quickiy LOATHE the working people of the need for a drastic overhaul of the present system. It could take office with the sort of real support
Parliament factories, schools, homes and streets) that socialism is built out of.
But the troth is rarely anyone's propaganda.
numbers, and even fewer are figliting for the victory of socialist ideas in this clection. Far fewer yet again will cater the portals of Parliament self respecting JONESE would be able to show his or her face on the Government benches, party wins.
I will be a long, tough haul before the fantasies of the Tories and the bosses press abour the socialism becomes a reality, important part of this will be destroying
and for all the myths about 'socialism' and ensuring that every working man and woman at least
We can start by saying quite certainly what socialism is not:
"Socialism' is not freezing workers" wages while prices rocker and the living standardsol working peopleare cut;
"Socialisma' is not about setting up "nationalised companies headed by the samesort of people as the old capitalist firms, exploit МОТАСТЬ ДЕЛС SOC was, ara car ou as if nothing had ever changed:
"Socinlism' is not about nicely warded Jaws discrimination. against peuple like women and blacks, and protecting the rights of workers, then letting thugs in blue atrack those who try to make sure that words become a reality.
"Socialism' is not about sending in an organised death and torture-machine, employing the most modern technologs adapled to the cruellest purposes. in order to preserve a 'sertlement' chal was imposed by forse on the rish peopie by the most blatant capitalist politicians 50 years ago:
"Socialism' is not about using the scarce economie resources country to manufscure machines and
Tories mean when cialists ira gang
for OnCE
Labour lefts
Then the theworld;
and renewed
In short, majority of
of Westminster trying
astheir Tory opponents"
as peetty as
In reality
and no HOMELINE a inter to acmocrats. Willians and Whatever rather revolutionary beast,
*democracy
'threat' of field: onC
An
of London.
inhabit these corridors "democracy has an iron fist
workers at Dunlop
which arc in the purseit of profit?
theit
passing
outlawing
oppressed race-hatred
community? And how and uniforms
weapons to prop up the bloodiest and most rcactionary regimes elsewhere in
'Socialism" is not jer-setting arpund the globe to try and save the bacon of every pony tyrant us na by Je good customers for British business;
"socialism not Tim Callaghan, Denis Healey, David Owen, Tony Henn and an assorted crowd of
ladies and sitting on their backsides in the Palace
think up escuses for following the same policies
The real meaning of socialsa can be summed up in one phrase: it means the mas of ordinary working men women taking power, laking control of their own lives and all those things that
According to the Tories 'socialism' is
Shirles friends nod in sage agreement when faced with the real,
and not a century-old ghost. But for these people
occupies a rather nanow square mile so: that contans Parlameal, Downing Street and Whitehall, and another in the City
For chose of us not so privileped as to
the rule of
the boss at work, the head at school, the police in the street fand the judges and prison warders afierwardsi. Did the
in Spese get a voIc to decide whether their muttinational employer would smash their lives to bits
Did the workers at Grunwick vote that they wanted to have scab buses driven through their picker lines at top speed? Did the black community in Southall have a democratic say in deciding whether the Nazi purveyors of
couki invade their would Blair Peach have voted if democracy" had ruled the policeman's truncheon"
Socialism would bring about, not a
democracy of the two square miles, but democracy over every inch of the country and for every -BIC inhabitants.
In the factories, offices and shops, workers would have their own mass assemblies and freely-choosen committees in which the decisions about their work and livelihood would be taken on a democratic basis atter free discussion based on full nocess to all the relevant information.
Democratic assemblies, free discus sion, control by workers" representa tives — that is what socialism would put in the place of closely-guarded business secrets, the victimisation of workers who speak their mind, and the tyranny of anonymous and self-selected boards of directors and bankers.
Similar mass assemblies in the local communities would extend democracy: to those (men, women and
people) who carry out their social tasks in the home; to distinctive communities (like minoricy groups or nationalities) who have
OFFICIAL ROLL CARD
HACKNEY CRAMMARSCHOUS
HACKNEY STRFEI
sp hroader. nopic slicesaway frons work
Already copitalin sound the world recognie that kica cheaper and more efficient government bureaucracies in dealing with social problems. course, only interested in this as a means of saving money and are afraid to see such bodies grow. But socialism would not be atraid. In place of bureaucracy, cerruption and privileged pressure proups il would put a system that ensured everyone a volce and a vote in important decisions and was most interested and concerned about the least of its members
This would arise by guaranteeing to all those who felt that their views or interests were not adequately represented in the suste currents opinion oppressed, groups argue their case and to form their own special organisations to proteer their of its interesis and light for them within the democratic framework.
On the basis of these democratic organisations resional and national assemblies their representatives would meet to deal with the broader problems of the economy and society. Parliament and the Whichall bureaucrats would pale in comparison democratic bodies, resting upon the support and enthusiasm of the working Class and its DreamsEm
Under socialism no one would be a POINCISE pobitician, and no one would be a boss and everyone would be a boss. Because no one would have a monopoly to take that decisions and run the lives people, but eversone would be able to make political decisions and run their own lives collectively
Such system particular compatible probiems to sort our; and would take ! powers of freedom and imprisonment
ON HER MAJESTY S SERVICE questiom that arteer
governments
sell help troups are new order
than
They are, of repression would unnecessary
-whether minority especially basie rights to
inferior" in the past!.
of working people
situations
with such genuinely
and everyone would be a
of other
had grown up, would not be alongside the with concentrating the
involve Their "democracy werkers democracy
DEMO KAUT RATION CARD Taranton iles yout cost doe
CHEF LUOR* I Normal
he 13 Rubbich Row,
Hackery E9
attend deshiac hand ot sues. telet group thethe police tigend the aring, at present, Sech groups world represent a constant near to tac
They would ince table he arrached to the old days when democrace was tep in it place and they had a free hand, ans provide a permancor ally for she big losers under socialism — the cantales — whe would be constantly plotting to get back their power and privileges by hook or by crook. The example of Chile shows only too ciearly the terrible danger of overlooking this
But such special machiners of
also be totall under socialism. The existence of i just and democratic social order would massively reduce social disconcent. Of course for some time there would still be problems, with those who had been most miseducated or roost ground down under capiralism still acting in various anti-social ways (enpaping in crime or using violence to ger iheir own way or continuins 10 victimise those they were told were
But what would be needed would be a real elfort to change these views and take the hear out of unnecessarily tense
Continual wrongdoen would have to be dealt with by forms of tecatment which wouid recognise the wronglulness on their behaviour and protect their victims but also leave every door open to their refamn.
Who could best do this? The bright-syed lads in blue with sirens screaming and truncheons Blasting Khaki-suited spacemen with fixed bayonets? Bewigged old men with then hearing-aids turned down? That's the way it's done now. But socialism would reiy upon the mere socially-conscious members of the iocal community who
warked and lved wrongdoers and could understand their actious as well as the need to change them.
Not only would a popular militia have all these advantages, but it would
only realtively small proportion of the people at any one
Ime and could be run on a voluntary basis, This would free the snumense numbers of blue and brown parasie that presently populate these islands to help build a better life for all, rather than defendine the good life for the
If the socialism of those whom the Tories describe as 'the socialists' is a sham it is one that is outdone by the "democracy of the Tory "democrats
is for the rich, the powerful, the privileged — in short for the one percent who don't need it Socialisen fights for the democracy of Those whose only weapon is democratic unity and action, those who fought for and created democracy in this country in the first place, and whose struggle is the only thine keeping ir alive today: Sagalie Challence 1Mas1992.298e
Page 8 scan of this page
SOUR GAME By Geoff Bell
the torturers.
This
radicalism promise of the technological revolution'
promise was made.
DEtweEn, banner of equality. clection slogan,
cautious moderation,
leadersbip,
And yet Britain today is more in need
make the point.
workers earning less than they Thus the
otherwise
30,000 in 1974 to 290,000 in 1976. Th applementary benefits increased fro be
number living below the poverty lim
leapt from 260,000 to 890,000 in the
same period million people continue to depend o Today more than
applementary benefits to survive But such statistics have not figured
* the clection campaien. Quite th screamed from the rooftops about the Teverse, Margaret Rebor that put expenditure a Labour on improvoid education facitities. necessary lo spend agreed Its unwillingness to take up such Labour goverament itself has taken issues ishardly surprising. After all, the 18,000 million out of public spending since 1975.
Socialist Challenge 1 May 1979 Page 8
Socialist Challenge
the death-dealers, the bomb-droppers, reward the biggest wreckers of them all: have a competition as to who can best of the major political parties in Britain enough. She would response was to complain that it wasn't the pay of the armed forces by 25 per cent. Margaret Thatcher's immediate Labour government that it would raise with a promise from So-here we are in 1979 and the leaders but which will make them worse. THE ELECTION campaign began give them more. the outgoing
before. In 1964 there was the youthful compared with others which have gone clection campaign be Get Things Done' and holding out the demanding Let's Go with Labour and of Harold wilson, Healey promising to 'squeeze the rich even ten years later we had Denis Idealism was all the rage then. And White neal of the probably believed him, but at least the not have the right to free abortion, that
fair society have been few and far monarchy. pronouncements about the need for a nothing like that. Even the ritualistic stations are essential. This clection campaign has seen nuclear weapons and nuclear power
Thatcher has pinned their colours to the and neither Callaghan nor
"Labour is the better way" reflects the play thesame guine by the same rules. The Tories do not even have an while Callaghan's point has of change fan ever. A few figures system. So it talks inste taket thir no-change conservatism of the party is that the economy will operate on the the plodding
number of full-time "mixed coonomy. entitled
control and five who work for thems.
Charche providing jobs, on better hospitals, or the productive process. They millions why it in to do workers jobs.
HELP BUILD THE LEFT IN THE UNIONS.
ALL OF THEM
PLAY THE SAME
Labour which party will improve things, mess. They are arguing not so much fact that none of them has any real solutions to get us out of the present i could have something to do with the major parties have been so uninspiring, So if the election campaigns of the until their pips squeak". Only the naive out of the country, that women should threatened with major reverses, non-white immigrants should be kept decisions that affect them. Ireland, that Scottish and Welsh people shouldn't exercise genine control over that British in NATO and the Common Market, They equally share a consensus that continue to spend billions of pounds a year on defence, that Britain should be minimum, that services should he restricied to a bare shouldn't apply to profits, that public be severely limited, leaders all believe that wage rises should death dealers is just one of them. certain basic things. Higher pay for the The Labour, That's because they all agree about troops should stay in Tory and Liberal country should that
And they all seck to preserve the sanctity of the family, parental control. The list is endless. But by now the the House of Lords, the within the same framework, they ail Tory and Liberal leaders all work been made. The Labour, Those rules are quite simpie. Rule one basis of free enterprise. Labour is supposed to oppose this
by the stare so as 10 service extraction of private profit. means that some industries bave been nationalised. But in fact these are run Rale two is that those who own. The 'mixed" the
niust be placed, and thie army is brought judges decree where those picket lines police are used to break up picker lines. exists to back this up. Where necessary, means restricting the rights of those must be afforded protection, production, distribution and exchange A powerful apperatus based on force miurage the means of Which These basic rules don't just apply to thems. Now they don't. So immigration controls are tighrened up more and after the war because the bosses needed grants were encouraged to come here seen at work in all areas of society. Take racism. Commonwealh inmi- can be hands The
inare,
somewhat soured in game isself and larger numbers. more 'law and order' is necessary, that Britain is ole — it has been unable to the same southern Africa, Tran - imperialison is Cuba - have been taken out of the capitatist market. In other areas - Eastern Emope, China, different. Huge chunks of the world - capitalism. isolated, the world seemingly saved for culminating in the Second World War, defeats — in Germany, Spain, cic. coralled back by a series international Today socialist infection had the situation working
And in its heartlands happens afterwards. But the future will be decided by what with is leaders when they are in office. class is better placed to settle accounts should bereturned because the working malters that a Labour make mach difference to the faruse. li Interests. insist that society is shaped in their organising togerber, working togerber, arguing togerher, fighting together, to voting every five years So what happens on 1 May won't complaining, by writing letters, or bs they can make it all the same. Not by Society they wauld like to live in. they given a choice as to whar kind of sickness. Volers are asked perhaps ten times in their liver to choose which politicians to distrust less. Never are They are not given that choice, bur believe a rebash of Heath's promise 1o "out prices at a stroke Labour"? Who would he prepared to thinner. scriously the slogan 'back to work with Gencra) profit driven system effective again. working class which it needs to make its inflict the shattering defeats on the So the magic solutions wear even elections Who today government
inadequate one, of socialism. delinition, and by to wrest control of society out of the power themselves. And that is on continuing struggle of working people presently profit from i: and take the of the small minurity crucial factor will be the ло means who
already are increasingly under attack. and the rights of those here
The police riot in Southall an 23 April made that point only too brutally.
But if these are the rules that the Tory, Labour and Liberal leaders play What's happened is that those who are has become been spilling outo the pitch in larger supposed to be passive spectators have recent Years, After the Rassian revolution the
of major was
been
15 rather Indochina,
- oF which
could take
sum up this
but by
THE main fealure of thoroughly demoralise the bosses
strength weakened workers" The past year organisations superficial stabilisation
but only marginally. Inflation is down to single figures,
In holding down wages through various prosperous capitalist road taken place 10 No real overland of the economy las The success notched up by Callaghan ser
public expenditure has boosted profits wage policies and through
next year they went up a further 10 per rose by more than 50 per cent, and the 1976 and early 1977 In one year -
Cenr.
engineering has declined in the past 12 has just reported that investment in the Engincezing Employers' Federation
opposed to the order of 15per percent in averages no more than five per cent as mopths.) The actual rate
taken to alleviate the last crisis mean of 1974 to 1975. an even more severe recession than that the 1950% and 1960%. As a result we are now on the eve of manocuvre will be even more restricted that the capitalists*
expenditure (primarily welfare services) by 10 percent and slashed public million, cut workers" living standard enemployment to over one and a half this time, The last recession doubled official fighting over is what measures to Labour leaders and the Tories are now 18,000m The Question SEND US A CHEQUE TODAY
ON THE
A NEW
government — at least in the eves of the the the Labour ang
has been its inability
to the survival of capitalism, it is the class, If there is one thing that's crucial working to sufi need to keep up the rate of profit. on the living standards of the working up wi Today, this requires massive attacks stand They class. These can only succeed once the weake шлеп
and self-conlidence of the is mortally difficul capiralism. True, there has been an upturn in the economy, but it's limited. . so has of British meeting seen a secret thens The halance of payments is in the red, undermir solidarit
"seconda almost entirely thanks to North Sea oil. only threa and the pound has stabilised. But this is points ou another Tbe C
Britain on a stump thi importann like those I! confrontat slashing Heath gov - between the beginning of - company profits standards sh failure and The Labe on the hasis investment in basic industry. (ladeed, account. Alre But this has not led to an upsua in forced to with the trad TUC To some e
as ther on ouri Proposeis have of profit and more rad contracts enfor making wage dropped altoget The very measures Callaghan's five Class #ll least But receat stic driv for Thatcher's alterna in living thereby snatching stanc life. If Labour can say, then the Torie The lesson for th which power on 3 May we a clear whicheve be prepared to fight living standards
Page 9 scan of this page
From crisis to revolution PUTTING THE ECONOMY
Socialist Challenge
iVE OF
LUMP
the next recession. This time to make sure that the workers ermanent and severe defeat. e Tories are proposing is a the methods of the 1930s. for massive increases in sent to force down living nd the use of the law backed rength of the and file Power would then find it the unions. state, to Hence take action the proposals on to defend
opposed ons by if the closed shop. illegal, so-called and the if bosses" solution. alternative Thatcher's policies not He bring the 1930g about a greater
with the working class, tula lead to more I to the collapse of the et in 1974 ders point to Heath's that working class worn down -- hut aching an agreement n burenucrats of the Thatcher has been me of the original warning into Soned down (such (the closed shop), moposals
like by the courts - legal or the time being of the working right cent norm and some of the cuts new lease on have given emi, the houses
king class is ing to have to comes ur rights and
this is a lie.
the silicone chip could easily restrictions could capialist system. of working people, it would be potential, and that of -Declare War exercise
ссолоту
-Nationalise the banks and
big financial
monopolies, and the decisive sectors of
production
oft-repeated commanding and action to break the sabotage of the workers
economy bosses and take
-Break up the army of bercaucrats
and police
uphold the interests workers bchaif of The BOvernment bosses by
class and to base itself upon democratic workers' councils capabie of defending
themselves against armed reacion.
But on 3 May the vast majority of will cast their votes for dyod-in-the- politically-conscious wool reforinist without the conscious support of these present systern like supporters inconceivable. BRASSCE OF people socialism would be Experiezice of oppression struggie can change their minds: but it will not do so in an instant, overnight pieces, and will only develop into an conversion. understanding of the need for total,
SOCIALISM
REFORMISTS of all stripes use the
depth of the econontic crisis as "proof" that the country can't afford a decent
mandard of living for everyone. But
The scientifie advances and modern technology which have produced the
computer, automatic production, and
an immediate and continuous rise in the level of economic production, if only produce But in order to unleash this immense the freed profit-seeking from the the hosses
mass necessaty powerful and the means they use to strangichold and instance,
Institutions, other big distribution organisations (the Work control on investment.
who run the country on public works,
Jike, is easily secr pledged electing interests of the bosses Similarly.
overtime working people are unable take-home pay.
Callaghan: the Yet be the motor industry indastry.
will happen in bits and lefi-wing and of workers" capitalist concerns Chullenge supporters in my wrea.
Naane....
Adiress...r
fund:
ON THE ROAD TO
Immediate questions which workers are demands - demands which meet the of the working class for transitional government must be paved by the fight are involved in those struggles to help put the bits and pieces togerber radical change if conscious socialists That is why the road to a workers grappling burden of the crisis onto the back of the with but which Throw capitalist rationale of the economy and capitalists, clearly challenging This isn't because enough is produced officially admitted to be unempioyed Today there are nearly 1/ million State.
no recreation centres. of disrepair, and youth have virtually hospitals, roads are in a complete state clearly there are not enough houses or 100,000 ancillary building workers are unemployed and Why are the unemployed not put to satisfy everyone"s construction workers are idle, But Deeds 200,000 nor be sold at a price which will satisfy capitalism's desire for a rate of retura Recause what could be meet these produced can- basic heeds? house-building and the A crash programme of
working class but is equally against the r as necesvary by the working demand to abolish unemployment is the innediate declaration of a 35-hour simple and effecove
nationalised. Immediate targets would week across the board and an end to ear ki huge cannons which to afford this should be With no loss
components - and the construction reluding
action is the opening of the books of all A vital complement to this sort of
very simple. Every historic example ofa coatrol. The reason for this is Tacilitate typical
1976) shows that radical socialist Allende or Portugal before November government (Chile under
I am interested in finding out more about activities of Soctalist
why not consider enclosing a donation for the paper's fighting Send to Socinlist Challenge, PO Bor 50, Louden NI 2XP. And
the the financial system also plays an immense their direct role in company finances alone, banks investnient funds. becomes even more decisive. Taking economy. In the present state of the economic crisis in Britain, their role or that individual firm, but by central economic decisions. not determined by what happens in this nationalisation we propose and that which occurs today. The economy is The banksare a vital lynch-pinof any resistance in the bud Or wing the books and the inpositio. 1950-51 was met with such saborage. This is industry by the Labour goverament in measures as nationalisation of the steci creation of a black market. Even such workers provide the difference
Common Market country, har lady, rises. Moreover, wage rates of every continually had to chase after But the the Tories is thar wages cause inflation. the Labour goverament, the bosses and happily ever-more threadhcare, lies of clearly vital for any economic plan. Britain. Securing controi of these is nearly hair One of the most blatant, but now truth of company shares 15 that wages
to the fall in the rate of profits. The has been the particular way in which ancontrollable inflation of recent years capitalist governments have responded *Tiar inflation is less ale greater than Britain Many factors cause inflation. But laid the basis for
massively increasing credit. This putsto today! adequate profit. sold at a price which guaranices an that more is being produced than can be much is being produced, but rather over-production. It is not that 1o0 So governments expand demand by crisis crisis
By Brian Grogan
economic sabotage from the bosses: iving idle. But if also fuels inflation. measures in the economy will be met by use some of the economic resources
investment strikes, flight of capital, Wurkers have no responsibility for this.
comparatively small
control would nip such monitor price rises with the with
freczes. Moreover, would he subsidised oversee ment's "price commission' Measures could be jevied role in industry. For example, they hold much better defence against their real The rest of the buik
organising sumpie workers and Vietnam have Price - but their chans, a workers' government would the economy. And to lead it out of mere 200 top lins would do the trick: necd commanding heights. Nationalising a cffective ail big forcign capital. the bigges indastrial monopolies and the credit system, essential industries could prevent capitalist sabotage and A state nonopoly on fozeign trade Eras - quite the opposite to the place to dictate to the remaining capitalist easte control over the economy to serve the interests of the working class. That's how the government could begin occupied by the nationalised sector
in the cost of living. This is a solation which can be extended through forning workers price committees to for inflation by tring wages to the rise The bosses should be forced to pay Paztial
Jocal price committees full authority to interests would control prices and give A government genuinely concerned the defence uf working class
with the Labour impiement basic necessities Compare these any price
Tae end achin adela. govern
social spending. Workers would find a defence". Yet this is the only figure the Labour government projects will rise in Defence expenditure woudd be slashed Workers have no interst in 'national against
esiemies- private capital —- through a which defeated the US state in Cuba solidarity. That's the kind of defence international militia and workers" undermine the whole capitalist Togic of These measures would begin to
Cuntrol of the TRADE UNION CONFERENCE SOCIALIST CHALLENGE on "Alternatives to the Concordat" 26 May, Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, and "Workers Plans'. Further details from TU Conference. London WCI
SC, PO Box 50, London NI
Socialist Challenge 1 May 1979
Page 10 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge THE NEED FOR A PARTY
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE EVENTS
WRITE US A LETTER - AND ENCLOSE A DONATION
A SUCCESSFUL
as wcapons for the future,
By Bob Pennington
The daws struggle does not
one ever onward and uward.
Frani 1917 until 1933 the German worken threatened to
1936
vorken and peasants stormed
citadels capițalism; in 1956 Hungarian
motking people look lo the
articades against their burcau-
But when these revolutions
smashed the movements they had inspired
People who
lought, convinced that social change could be made by their own efforts, then lost heart. In their millions they turned back to their private lives.
The memories of emerging
confidence
sorkers control.
under the beat of inc
But the working class cannor aTarE SLEE cach revolution from the beginning
Through its discussions, its
aerature, and ins debates, the
pArty has preserve not just the ideal of the
ocialist revolution 1 Bas VO act as the historical memory of
he working class.
Essentially the role of the
is to go beyond the
mediate and visible aspects of day-to-day existence. It has to develop an understanding of the fundamental fotces at work ROGON IA OTSC CO WOTA CHT and act upon an overall strategy for revolution,
For instance, 11 nas to start feom the fact that every TEOT CEOETELL political and social event in late capitalism has increasingly international causes and effects.
This consideration certainly dominates the thinking of our rulers. They have a series of military CHILELE. DULLE NATO) and other mechanisms (such as the IMF, EEC, ctc.) NORTH WEST IARRINGTON Socialist
Sia Br e sagin e alien tort
ZAL
NORTH EAST Corra Group Fot Seil conte
s gion, . Pane Cotages: Lom
ADOLEBBROUGH Suleme ha
noe rere atana t nta come
cialist Challenge, 1 Mas 1979 Page 10
socialist revolation revolamonary party to preserve the lessons of the past
wosch aim to natanal capitabist regimes and contaia the world-wide resolubonary procesi
Graping the International character of the class strugele necessarily means building an international party-
To begin the construction of a world party of revolation is a step towards taking power in a single country, Revolutionaries fighting their own ruling class great Heed to be able to draw on the political experience and te sources of their comrades in the ELETRONI
Ir Es not cnouch simply to cheer on revolutions in other countries from the sidelines. Every practical political and DEUS BEETLI required to make sure that their revolution is successtul.
revolutiomary party educates its militants to grasp the real class nature of institutions are apparentiy neutral -notably the capitalist state.
This lesson was first driven home to revolutionary Marxists by the events of the Commune in 1871. The soviets
trom Newslare in
DULNION DN-TECSMIPISENO
TarS HIE AHnC HAE CODOnE
SCOTLAND
romana pess sn sol
Nes, Trurs Fo and za su Metnge ol
NDEE Information aboul Socie
allenge activities irom 64 Ducen
3s0om: Join in Sc sars oulsi
lals Icerner of Reform St oa Saturdas 11am-2cm
Ford, Sia Eliai Crescent, Hamllin.
need» a Lt9cs Kussi then how--
Char toems of rule the warkin chess needed it il waste take PaNCE Germany, Chile -the
stabilbe the for with the blood of milions
Vol working peonic The essens ol wbich have snaped lastoly and mitzor future clast battles, are not spontancously understood by the majority of workers. Alter the boring and shenating grind of day-to-day existence un SUL CEN possibilities for change seem remote or non-existent, most people do study the Marxist classics.
been Marxism, and see the potential fot revolutionary change, whe will carry out preparation in periods of tull as well as upheaval, It is they who will be niust prepare
struggles
way. revolutionary party is an elite
group of remote individuals.
The party is the university of the class struggie.
• 3009
worker and incellectual, or female, black or white, to ils ranks, with only one condition
Paris
the revolutionary overthrow of MIDLANDS NUT HOUHAM SANCT WC
WHE3S HE-EI
HOTTINGHAM Salatom Coola Halconl LER ING TUN DIARI mla atri wry shar Sumcay mie's YORKSHIRE ILE HITETHHIIY-
HUDDERSFIELD Socialiat Chulie Northe- Berend Spet.
Challenge
HUDDERSFIELD Socialist Challenge - 5, ly Saturays 11 a7-1pm # Munda madere
Cia.sn.
Min d.
Spain and • road wal pald the democratic.
surh ments leading up lo a vote.
applies the majority assess when the decide
not dash home to will be It is only those who have vindicatedn
revolutionary experience party.
38831 new
This doe not mean that the coup of some kind.
It aims to win every singl.
male
power. that they are committed to
only organisation Se sleci alente SOUTH WEST May, 730pm UTOpil Donare e South West,
Ohe enge.
Ünim St, Rodr -gen 3 (Brame Cent
Gammerta rae Pracine SOUTH EAST
MITTE SHI DAY HELOTE von
tanne verciop a pr'ograhtfie to realise us 230ss uniess t zan debate and discuss these maters — unicsa it 15
CAOPTICELE
The democratic centralism bf talc pOwe! the revolu ichary natry allows
of the telest anciesng m. #s rank, onl alt major questons,
The whole organkacion ther
Tine nănerco Vote, and un the parry can collectivel
this experience and whether or not modifications or changes need to be made. Thus any minority can be confident that its views
heard and the light of adopted by the
Needless to aay, the party does not in any way attenipt to substitute itsell for the actions of the mass of working people.
It rejects any notion of takin power on their behalf through s
Instead it aims to build up support in the ranks of the working class and its allies on the basis of its policies, which taking sand or fall on whether they 'help the working class to tuke its own independent road to
A revolutionary party is the
which can lunched on
астол.
the uniled, tonEry
the adequate
waspessillle.
Just FOR INFORMATION an activities Bratal taras, 110 Chellentam Raad • autar: Mamlaz
Be trom the Cy sn BOUT HAM TO Se e Chalin
Sore Ear Past Cice, Brunie
020I44893 andSpn
minotities ond integmat-
its
HotEle iDE dE 30C0
Socied Challenge
launchet by the Internaneta
Markist Group - the Britist
Secton el the Fourth Insemat-
jora- ascar ora ighriowin
agacircht a303s
i0 UoHRoEs Dr tle neud
and lask• ofa uni ed party:
Ir has. WOt tlIC
ROLE OF
SOCIALIST UNITY
By Allean O Callaghun SOCIALIST Unity has been united campaigo had allowed unique on the far lell in using the special facilities provided
gelleral election popularise a programe for
torward the
sWe Wil meusure eur impact audience of a few thousand, ne
not in terms of our cofe [which
small]. but by the number of peaple we Have
the годе independent working class -ALBOM
those grounds suls cumpaiyn bodes well not only for the future of the fight for socialism, but immediately for
prospect of bailding democrutic rerelulparty in Britain affilinted to a muss rerelutionary international.
What has unguestionably been proved is that standing candidates in the election was
first condition tor intervention by resolutionaries. Bat in that sense, whut Socialist Laity has achleved les far short of what
that the Socialist Workers Parly had agreed to a joint slate. That this BRIGHTON SC larums fannighely or
Contaci- Micky un
LONDON
TOWER HAMLETS Sory tr that:
gnR 247 2717 tor
tor delalis;
No A Ba baan Fial
BENE
PADDINGTON!N KENBINGTON SU
arlars sall the paper every Saturday a
Junction Parlobelic Ra: Weslboune Park Ad. W15, Aiso al
Ladecke Grove tube: Ther 3 May, Ten
ET LUTE ULE
Intenat cardd Sovieti -l
lianie, but has loned rondy
spowst atone man ethen
sED ue
Aectatianiunof the lar lef:
The tew ares of great class
belore the international work
ing class make such a light al formal I the mere important toda the standing of 50 candidates [quile possible] and thus TV and rudio time. Then imagine its broadcast in the wake of the ces mander of Blair Peuch.
Instead
could have expinied millions the reality of police violence, the lessons of state oF interseation #guinst WROSS
and began a much-needed dialogue beteen the revolstiouaty left und alost all of Britain's two milion black people.
Whether the nea! guvern ment is Tory or Labour, we ard ceriain to. furtlier sharpening of the class streggle. Althe same time there will be a polarisation within the YT4F ITU class ChelseRn the entreached bureaucracy and a developing class struggle opposition.
We go into chese confliets Full of confidence, hecause revolutionary politics - tested oul before the masses in the election period - have alresdy helped to equip part of that opposition with the weapons to carry through that fight.
CKMEY Socialet Challengs
Msdom, Blatona pao, Mare S, Nat
IENT зороопивані нангу вави CUDNOE BEoUI OeBHEA T
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Page 11 scan of this page
REACH INTO YOUR POCKET TO HELP MAKE ZIMBABWE AN ISSUE
OUR POLICIES
about the "White Commonwealth".
policy!
needed.
By Richard Carver CRUCIAL to Labour's foreign policy tis the pursuit of peace, development and disarmament'. That is what the party's current: manifesto says and Labour Party members can still be found defend proposstion though only with the most Jesuitical of arguments.
'Disarmament" presumably means the manifesto's continued adherence to NATO, the western "Peace" Is very much a Pax Britannica, as the accompanying table shows — subduing the restless natives to ensure the stability of neo colonial development',
the world in which Labour seeks this threefold aim is no longer what it was. The ted which now creeps across the map is the colour of the colonial revolution, not the empire on which the sun never Sets.
In its light-beaded moments the party will even proudly claim responsibility for this state of affairs. Apart from the itony of any British government taking the credit for dismantling the
CIL BITE Labour's claim is simply false.
It was the Tories who
dramatic COMPARE these two examples how unemployment:
1. The Party in country A Fights for controls to protect
imports from country B and so save jobs. The Party in country B does likewise with imports
Labour's foreign policy
Sheltering from the
winds of change
IF YOU have read this far you are unlikely to be very | impressed by the Tories" foreign policy promises of A strong Britain in a free world', or the Liberals continued close relations with the United States', and least of all the National Front's frenzied rantings
But what about the Labour Party? Might not something come of its radical phrases on foreign
On this page we argue why that will not be so and suggest the sort of internationalist alternative that is
Africa. of ere seepings Where
the insurgency operations:
Greece 1944-7, 1945-8, Vietnam 1945, 1945-6, Eritrea Malaya 1962-6, Aden 1963-8, Cyprus Das 1963-present, present, Ireland 1969-present. (twice).
This list excludes open war
15 most obvious 1cature has been crucity and violence.
In Greece British troops were crush a revolution, while Malaya and Aden became bywords for the most bestial ExCess of 100er 150 In some cases Labour simply refused to decolonise, in Java in 1945 it used British troops, helped by Japanese prisoners of TISH THEODORE RU nationalists CREEC handing the colony back to the Dutch.
It was British troops occupied Saivon to cranie the French to regain control in 1946 -andit was British troops who pacified Palestine in the late 19405 to prepare for decolonisation — the famous | formation of the state of Israel.
The ABC of solidarity
from country A. fight 2. Workers in country C learn thut their multinational employer based in country Dis planning to shift its operations buck home, making thousands redundant. They contact the workers at the multinational in D and oreanise Chinese froops in action — the impact of Socialism in One Country
Strangely the Tories seem to have greater sung-froid and extravagant with the troops these days. But Foreign Office under David Owen has seen a return to the age of gunboat diplomacy.
The 1977 Bermuda expedi tion is a good example. Two blacks were convicted murder by the all-white judiciary. The Gover afraid population's reaction to death penalty being carried out so he Owen told him to hang the blacks and let the troops worry
SINCE 1945 Labour govern- (Korea 1950-5), strike breaking ments have sent troops into the at home or abroad eight times following countries on counter- under Labour since 1948), and
the following internal security Palestine operations:
India, Belize (British Hon 1948-51, duras Malaysia Singapore, Mauritius (twice) Oman T965- Bermuda (tvice), and Anguni
responsible for decolonisation about the consequences.
But why Party which draws its support from the decent, humanitarian and peace-loving sections society behave in this way?
Ernest Bevin, David Owen's predecessor in the 1945-51 overment, gave pert of thi answer:
Empire fell the standard of life of our constituents would fall considerably.* And JONES EACT Michael Foot of his day left-winger turned right,
who rated when he explained that by
"hook or by development of primary production of all proceed... it was a matter of life
the and death for the country."
What they meant by this was
campaign against all redendancies.
Both are real instances. The first refers to the 'alternative economic strategs Communist Party and many left question we can ask them is:
Joint can we count on your solidarity
reserves of
less _use of the
of colony's
of the the
deferred to London. three times), Ghana
Kong
should a Labour
that production of marcrials in the
Present polic babwe shows all the British
the
clabo-
crook the prosper
sorts must
on imperial expansion
workers imports?
Flat. Trotskyist
the Fourth of the
The only
the workforce.
strategies Common Market
enlargement: defends
Fou
IreS on 8 common
Laited States of Europe.
Wibson with Portuguese sucial democrat Soares
of THIL
the way that British capitalism balanced its trade deficits
Zimsame ness of that the Labour Even government makes a big show of being the decolonisers of Rhodesia, but they have been unwilling to do so except in world workers circumstances which allow smooth transition from which British business interests can No
The very existence of the Labour Party is based upon the existence of empire. Ironically World it was economic strength based
which for the cumpaign of Japanese
against British Parties International.
The second example refers to
workers at SEAT, its parily-owned Spun ish subsidiury, discovered the redundancy plans and, through 'good
International, contacted their counterparts in Turin and organised a joint campaign among the mass of
Or consider these alternative
For fighting the Which is likely to be more effective?
1. Your Italian, Belgian and Spanish parties are in favour of the EEC und cumpaign for its imperialism
your French party favours the EEC but als the British
*French national interests" and is opposed to expanding the community: your British and Irish parties are related against the EFC and campaign for their countries' withdrawal.
пошн • joint campaign in all FEC member and prospective member con- ism
tional platform, which includes the destruction of the EEC and the establishmeat of a Sociulist
It is
Again these are reat instances and again the alternatives are
- the interestional counter-revolution. gave the British working class movement the power it needed toset up its own political party. for
But that imperial heritage has also marked the conscious-
party indelibly. carly Brilish Marxists such as H.M. Hyndman were so marked with the idea of their aristocratic position within che
movement that they supported British colonialism in the Boer War.
wonder then that anti imperialism played no party in the formation of the Labour Party. From the First
War to Ireland to Zimbabwe Lahour has fallen in line with imperialist thinking
offered by the Communist
and the Fourth
The point of these exumples is not to blow our own trumpet but to show how international. ism is not just an abstractly
thing but the most practical road to socialism.
We should learn the lessons of the Labour Purly discussed shove. The reformism of the Labour Party flows not from any lay which says that mass workers partles are bound to betray bal from the circum stunees in which it cume into being - In other words the and particular position of British
Similarly the degeneration of
and every other Communist Party was not the result of a sudden transnational coincidence but was intimately
to the counterrevolution in the Soviet Union:
And that counter-revolution itself had as its explicit Ideologs the rejection of international.
the policy of 'Socialism in One Country '. The socialist cause still suffers the tragic impuet of such a policy - in the wur in Indochina for example.
relativel! Simple lo sufline the sort of measures # workers government in Britain
Even party conferences tend to reserve their verbal radicalism
matters ot less cirect importance to British capitalist, such as Latin America.
When revolutionary currents have emerged within the labour movement it has often beco as a result of their intransigent stand on international issues -
Russian Vietnamese revolutions.
To do so on cach occasion required a total break with the
foreign policies of the Labou
Party. To consolidate revolu tionaries in the leadership of the working class will require breaking the Labour Party as a whole
could take: material wid to liberation movements. state monopoly of foreign trade and
with Comeron, embargo on the racist regimes of southern Afries, and so on.
Similarly we can argue, as we do elsewhere in this issue, that the indispensable instrument of WALEM IS revolution international revolutionary party. But Internationalise i reducible to neither a single organisation nor a putative future programime.
The real test for revolutionuries in Brituin is how far here
now they solidarity with the liberation strugeles of southere Africa or how far they too fall prey to that insinuating British imper iulist ideology.
How far they fight on an International level against unemploymeat and austerity or
far they pose national solations lo these ecenomic problems
nternalionally againsi the EE or how far they give in lo tempting chouvinist answers
These questions need practi Canswers. The choose will in lurge measure determine the sort of socialism we are going to build.
Socialist Challenge I May 1979 Page 1
Page 12 scan of this page
OUR POLICIES
Act of Union, passed in both the British and Irish ends Irish all say on Irish affairs to Westminster. The Act is never voted on by the Irish people - and only bribing of MPs secures its passage through the Irish parliament.-Catho. lics remained banned from political life.
Attempted rebellion led by Robert Emmet. A total failUTE BAIS CB UTEL TICOIO TELELU Legislation passed ar Westminster allowing ihe seizure of the crops and livestock of frish rural tenants for non-payment of rent.
Under the leadership of Daniel O'Connell the Catholic Association is formed to press for the repeal of all anti-Catholic laws Catholie Association is banned:
Catholics finally permitted to stand for Parliamcht. O'Connell introduces a Bill in Parliament for the Repeol of the Union. Defealed in the House of Commons by 529 TOTeTO.
D'Connell and others establith the Repeal Association ena organnc a senes c aass demonstranonsro press tor Home Rule. 1844: O'Conneil and other leaders of the Repeal Associa:
tion are jailed for "conspiracy'. 14S: 200,000 people attend a meeting in Ireland demanding re-
peal of the union. 845-6 Between October 1843 and January 1846, 30,000 osen,
buils and cows, 30,000 shecp, and 100,000 pis are esported from Ireland to England: 1846-8: Successive lamines depopulate Ireland through starva-
and-a-haif million people. 147: Crime and Outrages Act passed at Westminster. Several
Irish counties put under semi martial law.
Leaders of the nationalist Young Ireland movement charged with sedition. 347-58: A total oF 12 Coercion Acts
governmcnt special powers, suspending a whole range of civil fiberties such as habeas corpus, the right of association, and freedom of assemhily Young Ireland movement stage rehellion. It fails, and its ДОСТА ДЕ CALLED 1849-50: Over 36,000 tenants are evicted from their boldings.
221,000 emigrate from Ireland to the United States. The "Brotberbood", later the founded to press for the establishment of an Irish democratic republic CDerciM Ac habeas corpus suspended.
Fenians stage rebellion — leaders condemned to death. Home Government Association formed to preas by parliamentary means for Irish "home rule"
Ceneral clection sees 39. Home Rule MPs clected - a majority of Irish MPs.
Trish Land League Formed io press for tenant ownership Irish Land League banned.
A new coercion measure — the Peace Preservation Acr CaASCT 1831: Charles Parnell, leader of the Home Rule party, and
Michael Davitt, leader of the Land League, are imprisoned. 1882: A Turtber Coercion Act enacted
Liberal government under Gladstone introduces Home кше вино діо встало онс шенше ог поерспослосLiberal Party splits, Tories hack armed resistance by 10 350T 2011 030-DSHA SUSSINB ILM Commons Loyalist mobs launch a series of unti-Catholic riots; 1f out of the 103 Irish MPs arereturned on a Hotse Rule 1857:
ticket. 1887: Crimes Act
porary" legislation suspending normal rights is made permanent. 1891: Leaders of land agitation, the Plan of Campaign, are
imprisoned. 1892- Home Rule Bill Introduced, passed by the House of
Commons, bur overturned by the House of Lords. 1901: Coercion Act passed.
Further Coercion Act passed to suppress mounting land agitation. Half of Ireland is now under semi-martial law, Sinn Fein formed. 1910: General election sees 83 Irish nationalists elected, hold-
Wing the balance of power at Westminster. 1911: egislation limiting to two years the power of the Hous
Of Lords to vero legislation is passec 1912- Home Rule Bill introduced. It is passed in the House of
Conucons, deleated in the Lords, and thus due to become law in 1914. 1912: Loyalists in North-cast Ireland form Ulster Volunteers to
resist by force the granting of Irish home rule. They are supporred by the Tories. 1913: Employers in Dublin Jock-out members of the trish
THSHUT 100,000 are affected.
Jender Jim Larkin: in one incident the pollce atrack n strikers meeting, killing two of them. The strike ends in
Triat failure. Tarkin hilames the inactivily of the British
1914: Government of Ireland Act passed granting home rule to
Ireland but allowing for the pussible exclusion of Uilster and suspending implementation of the Act until the end of the war.
Soctalist Challenge ' 1 May 1979 - Page 12
'home rule and transfers are passed, giving the
Fumine in the 184
Fenian Brotherhood. passed against the land agitation; "tem
Warkers L Bion TELLI The government jails the strike
The execution of Robert Emmet, 1803
179years
of the union
Police baton charge uguinst strikers in Dublin, 1913 British repression 1970s style
1916
James Connolly. 1918:
1919:
laration of independence. 1919:
Anny and British forces 1920:
dence. 1920:
1920:
tween 1919 and 1921. 1921:
the Kepublicans.
1922:
1922-24: Interument in North of Ireland.
tren
next five sears. 1932:
1933: 1935:
1968:
TUCOLEORCI 1969:
B Specials and RUC 1969.
troopa Lo aid police. 1969:
1969:
1970:
1971-75: Incernment in the North of Ireland,
19T2: British Army kill 14
1972:
assuines direct controt. 19T3:
1974-
Regiment. 1974:
TRTUTE 1974:
TUREIU 1975:
1976:
sent into Sauth Armagt. 1976:
1937: 1979
1979
Faster Rising in Dublin. Irish Republic is declared. The rising is put down within two weeks and the leaders are executed. They include beading revolutiopary socialist
Ceneral election. 73 out of 105 sears are won by Sinn Fein. Many Suun Fein leaders remain in prison. In acpordanice with the election result the Sinn Fein MPs establish an Irish Parliament in Dublin and issue a dec-
Hosilities break out berwoen the Irish Republican Government of Ireland Act passed at Westminster, partitioning Ireland and timniting the degree of Trish indepen-
North of Ireland Loyalists launch pogrom against Catholics: 62 die, over 200 ase mounded. British launch Full-scale assault on tbe Irish Republic;
epuhlican suspects murdered, crocusea, and intern
O TRA members and civilians killed by the British Aul aar in tho Sounh of lrdand sota the defeat ol, In association with the British povernment, the newly establislied North of Ireland government forms che B Specials, an exclusively Protestant paramilitary foroe, 1o back up the Royal Ulster Constahulary Special Powers Act introduced in the North of Ireland This allows for internment without trial, closuce of bewspapers, execution withour jory trial, and Mogeing. The powers are to run for one year only.
Special Powers Act reneaed Special Powers Act renewed
Special Powers Act renewed al-a rUwCl AErCaciau Special Powers Act renewed Special Powers Act renewed and extended to cover the Unemplayment march atcacked by the police in Belfast two demonstrators shot dead hy police Special Powers Act renewed and made permanen: Loyalists launch anti-Carbolie pogrom . Nibe Catholies dr. When the events are tawed io the Horse af Com mons at Westminster discussion is ruled aur of order. 1938-45: Internment re-introduced in the North of Ireland 1956-61: Interiment re-introduced in Nortl of Ircland Civil rights march in Derry banned by North of Ireland govermmeat. Marchers atracked by police When the events are raised in tbe House of Commons discussion 15 Peil rée bermaraty oi teled by Dasa os, inced ts Civil riahts march from Bellast
Anti police riets in Derry. Labour government sends it
Loyalists, B-Specials and RUC Inunch attacks on Callo lie areas in Belfast. Ten die, 150 Cathobie homes buent
B-Specials dishanded, replaced hy Witer Defence Regi
Bertas. our sile sy tian ay
curfew Imposed on Catholic Falls Road in
Payment of Debts Act passed in North of Ireland parliament. Permuts stoppage of sate benefits at source for MOn-navneN Ol febts and титс
wiatmed aot-ibICEnEnen! marchers during a demonstration in Derry North of freland parliament abolisbed, Westminster
Бегченси Provisions Aut renlece SORL PONCE AO Triat by Jury for Tersorist" offences is abolished. British (Labour) government announces the expansion of the police, the police reserves, and the Uister Defence Prevention of Terroram Act passed to cover Bricain Allows for deportation without trial, arrest without a warrant, up to aeven days imprisonment wittout access to a sobicitor. Officially described as of a temporary Prevention ol Terrorism Act extended to North of
Merbers of the Uister Defence Regiment stop Nami Showband at a road block in Armagh. All are Carbolic. UDR members kill three CUIL BETCEZOILULALETIENA Under-cover Special Air Services unit of Britisb Army
Prison conditions for those convicled of "lerrorist olfences change with abolition of political status. Prevention af Terrorism Act repewed.
Brilisl (Labour) government ansounces a further n crease in policestrength, now weapons for the police, and
killed in Belfast by a plastie bullet fired by a British soldier Prevention of Terrorisat Act renewed "Terrorist' suspect dies in police custody in Belfast. Amnesty International finds Britain gusity of 'mal treatment" of terrorist suspects, Prevention of Terrorism Act renewed.
Brilish (Labour) goveroment increases North of Ireland representation at Westminster.
Prevention of Terrorism Act renewed
Page 13 scan of this page
OUR POLICIES
and fast during the election campaign. By Geoff Bell
From inside Britain there was the LOTSEE heckling Labour leaders, an editorial in
Evening saying that Ireland should be
issue", and a similar Matement from Cardinal Hume, the head of the Catholic Church in England.
Out/Sinn Fein march Glasgow on 21 April and the attack on it by Orange forces, and there was the assassination by the Irish National Liberation Arthy of Airey Neave, the Tory spokesperson North of Ireland.
From outside Britain came the statement of Tip O Neill, speaker of the American House of Representatives, that Ireland nad been usu as as punucal football" by the main British
article Governor Hugh Carey of New York which said: "We should arge the British Government to develop and announce a strong plan for political and physical withdrawal from Northern
*If political encouragement and financial incentives do not succeed in strengthening Brit ain's willingness to initiate moves towards peace, the US Congress should consider applying the same coonomic
thal are. applied against Rhodesia, Russin and cater callome lor violations of human rights.
In the North of Ireland itself the came from different source. In the week Irott members of the British forces were killed and four others were wounded.
This is the highest fatality
What to do,
what to do
ACCORDING to a number of opinion polis, s majority of the population in Britain British troops out of Ireland.
Certuin!" most people are confused, perhaps unhappy ahout the whole business. They know that there is nothing to be proud of in what Britain has done and is doing in Ireland.
far. 50 good. difficulty arises with classical British liberal response lo the situation in Ireland. What to do? What to do?' is the scream of anguish.
This doesn't only apply to that most respected creature, "the concerned individual". Too often there is a similar response from those who more or less
what they should doing.
After all, the prescription is not that difficult to dispense. It starts from the assumption that the major partles will TESTONE sentiment uniess that sentiment is organised, visible and active.
From that there follows an acceptance that it is best to look for support for troops out lo the labour movement.
179 years too long
THE OPPORTUNITIES for the politicians of the major parties to discuss the issue of Ireland came thick
and casualty rate the British forces have suffered since the current phase of the Irish
of national liberation
began.
News The leading politicians did
offer some response to these events. Tory candidate Robert Adley described Carey as a latter day political Al Capone* Margaret: Thatcher insisted that 'we have never used Ulster a political football...the Labour Party didn t Opposition and neither have and Labour's Education Secretary Shiricy described O'Neill's remarks as the 'unfair.
But apart from a 'personal' statement from Liberal deputy leader John Pardoe that Britain should consider withdrawal" from the North of Ireland over period, there was no attempt by any leading politician or party 10 TRISC Ireland vote-catcher, an election issuc, or indeed to suggest any way out of the current British policy in Ireland.
Liberal leader David Steel put it most clearly insisted that the Ireland was one of the few issues on which there was no basic difference parties". But if this states the consensus on Ireland, it does not explain why it operates. Two other views expressed during the election hint at the reason. from a senior Tory, Hailsham. He declared: 'I would say to him (Tip O'Neill) and lo Kennedy that they should bear in mind that Britain is an seven
independent country.
A similar opinion came from the Daily Star, whose editorial announced: Americans This Is because the labour movement not only has the want strength and power
determine events, but also bas a progressive tradition TURNIS ThE mination" busis of 'troops out" is likely galo sympathetic hearing there than elsewhere.
The But staling what the process
should he is not the same as secing that process through. Lafortunately many organisa lions and many more indiriduals. who believe in determination and out, and agree "in principic how a movement with those aims should he built, become strangely he SLEET CODES ETE
But the materiuls are already there. The United Troops Out
existence for a couple of years. not bas over 40 branches in various out loWes and cities
Britain.
It has enjoyed a modest growth in the last terins of active members and probubly a lurger growth in terms of support. But It is still
guise the fact talking claptrap by using long # 015- Well. simple words them, delivered in true British fashion: Belt up!...
Whatever the wrongs of Ulster
struggle
Star believes we are right keep the troops there for the time being certain: it's our business and we don't need advice."
Whether it is the sophisti. cated tone of Hailsham or the brash vulgarity of the Daily Star, the essential message is in the same: the North of Ireland
Williams,
*phased
a three year
85
crisis of
when be North of
between the
campaign One came
Lord
Senator
to
which sen-deter
я моге
self-
troops
minute compared to the task it needs to perfonm. It needs support, it needs money, but most of all it needs active members.
None can now deny that
through there is a real opportunity to
make Ireland a major issue in British polities in the next yeur
year in or two.
The best way of taking that opportunity is by accelerating the growth of the UTOM, an
that they're
our way, should shut up ACTE HITE of advice for
Lists have always adopted
rights and
and the
outsue world one thing
Britain to
Ill-informed
did with his established
mination are welcome.
movement. 15 Intemational
is Britain, we'll deal with it in
and everybody else
This is the classical attitude agreed that colonisers, then imperial-
fruits of that arrogant determination to run their colony as they see without interference from the
its opponents,
It is somehow legitimate for
interfere the events of Iran (as David Owen
sacking of the Shah) or the Soviet Union (a Britain does with its criticisms of 'human rights" there). But let needed anyone dare to mention what considerable Britain is up to in the North of repress. organisation which hus already
secturiun reputation and one in which all who believe in troops wat aow and Irish self-deter-
Ireland.
One of the ways which it b hoped that the UTOM can be built, especially in the labour
through the Tribunal pn Britain's Presence in Ireland.
At its final hearing in early
Ireland and all bell breaks
All the major parties are
North Ireland will remain British. The
insistence are shown on the opposite page government-backed "coercion"
the jailing of "special powers,
the killing of those who tight back.
This not only speaks volumes about the nature of British rule in Ireland, but it also illustrates the level of resistance to that rule. Repression would not be
unless there was resistance to summer, prominent judges wad delegates from the labour, worsen's and student movements will pronounce judge. ment on the British presence in
The International Tribunul can be contacted at 47 Wilsham
Wil:
UTOM at 2a St Pauls Road, London NI. Don't he anguished iberal, act now.
Throughout the 19th and carly 20th centuries the Irish people voted time and time again for the breaking of thi link with Britain, for the right
rule tbemselves. And throughout that period Britain denied that right.
When resistance became wellnigh uncontrollable, a level of home rule was granted. But the way in which it was granted did not conform to the wishes ol the majority of the Irish people, but rather to the violence of the minority who insisted that Ireland should remain British or - if that wasn't possible - then part of it should.
Neither then nor since have the Irish people as a abole voled for The division of Ireland; at no time have they been allowed to.
why the *Irish problem remains. Until the people of all Ireland are given the right to decide together bow that country will be run there
to fight for that right.
At times tbis may involve only a few hundred, at times it may involve thousands, and at times it will involve hundreds of thousands. Such is what has happened in the past, and such is what is happening now
The right of a people to self-determination is a principle to which socialists bave always sworn allegiance. But all too often, especially as far Ireland goes, it has remained a 'principle' without application.
The application of it Ireland today means the immediate ending of the British SOJESCULE there BLU he concrete, the immediate withdrawal of British troops.
There is no way the people ol Ireland can decide their own future withour interlerence abile there are troops there who insist that the future lies with them.
Get
Together
For
Ireland
Song, Dance, Music, Film
With:
John Arden,
Edward Bond,
Murguretta D'Arcy,
Kenneth Griffiths,
Adrian Mitchell,
Leon Rossebon,
Half-Moon Theatre,
The Shegui
and many others
Sunday 6 May,
Caxton House,
54 John's Way,
London N19
starts 4pm with premiere of
Keaneth Griffith's film,
"Curious Journey".
Eads with Grand Ceilidhe.
Har extension
until midnight.
Tickets £1.50
Proceeds:
Incernational Tribunal on
Britain's Presence in Ireland
Socialise Challege M Mar, 3929. Page 33.
Page 14 scan of this page
Youth: a new explosive
Not 'citizens'at all
ALTERNATIVE POLICIES DON'T GROW ON TREES. DONATE NOW
OUR POLICIES
force
responded, "we're ready for the battle". among young people.
By Dodie Weppler
Southall that Asian youth rapidly organised themselves following the racist
murder of Curdip Chaggar in
summer of 1976. And the
With that has appeared in this other Asian communitics often been UPLE ise to the passivity of the ional leaders. in the wake
thousands have taken up the fight it the repression they face
West Indian youth have been
Elected to one of the most me, systematic campaigns harassment and violence bertaken against any com nity by the British state, The HEYE TABBERE They've been in the front in the pobtical mobilisa-
loes, like during Ladywood by-election in 1977
have been the teN
eceiving end
ardware used by the police
ines at Lewisham; and in
ocessive Notting Hill carni was. And they have organised actions in defence of victims of
"sus laws, charges conspiracy and other attacks by the state to demoralise
the mistancy of the West Indian population.
But perhaps the dramatic indication that youth are the move
of. WOrKINE youth who have rallied behind Anti Nazi League banners and flocked to gigs organised by Rock Against Racism. are not citizens at all.
By Jude Woodward marched off to school and Dressed
to school -learn primarily how to work without answering back; to be Panace without same up for your rights; to learn how to be ripped off by a boss; or how to be a wile and mother; and to accept that's the way the world
The youth are oppressed.
They have no Jegal political rights, Stuck in the family, with no financial independenee, parents call the
Parents can decide whether youth can go our at night, what clothes they'll wear, even how
Socialist Challenge, 1 May 1979 Page 14
"ARE the young lions ready?" asked a 60-year-old | and individual achievement in Sikh woman before the fascists arrived in Southall the day Blair Peach was murdered. "Yes,' the youth
It's not surprising that Southall was the scene of a mass show of seething militancy amongst youth. For the youth of this West London borough have come to symbolise the emergence of a new factor in the political scene in Britain: an enormous explosion
The discontent of the times is reflected in today's music — from reggae to punk to new wave - which heralds the new youth revolt.
And it is partly thanks to the growth of women's bands that young women are expressing a growing mood of discontent Rock Against Sexism is out to focus both the anger women feel when they come up against sexism in their political activity, as well as the growing concern about problems of sexuality.
This is an issue which is finding its way into the columns of the music press as well as While many of the themes which have sparked women into activity are testimony to the presence of a Strong wone a moycient — a product of the youth radicalisation of the sixties radicalisation has quite differ ent roots.
Today's youth are not at all new the product of boom that the "Children of '68* were. Young people today have been through nothing dole queues, deepening social crisis, of little prospect of improveBlack and instance. experienced an astonishing 800 per cent increase in unemployment figures between most 1973 and 1976, The crisis of the capitalism is the backdrop of class solutions to the problems they confront. Capitalist society has little to offer.
The vision that hard work THE youth aren't even second-class citizens - they|
they'll have their hair done.
Parents and schools have the right to physically "chastise" the young. In other words the night to beat and hit young people if they feel like it, and they do.
Youth, through the age of consent laws, are denied any control Over their sexuality. Young women can't get contraception and they face moral lectures if they get found or Young people have no rights
to organise. If schools don't like it they can ban the National Gaion of School Stadents. 10 parents don't like it they can drag their sons and daughters oul of meetings, youth clubs,
school will bring a rosy future recedes as it becomes evident TESTUO CAREERED STOCHES for jobs that don't exist. When students recognise this, hard fact that schools are used to discipline and repress the future work force netumes even sharper.
The family, already straining under the crisis, finds it more difficult to take over where the schools have been unable 1o cope. And thanks to all the problems the individual family unit is farced to shoulder. youth are not ready to rush headlong
such insocurity:
Not only the sanctity of the family, but all other tenets of
morality crumble. parties hold few attractions for young people condemned to unemployment
And so, with a new army of young youth on the march — more working class in character and younger than in the 1960g — the question of leadership is posed the new The issues which youth are fighting around out of Ireland, for solidarity with the liberation struggles in capitalist Southern Africa, as well as on all the different anti-racist and anti-sexist themes product of this situation.
Youth radicalisation is not and being channelled through the traditional organisations of the
enormous potential weaknesses but one advantage is that youth are not held intransigence of labour British caucrats.
Revolutionaries have to win
youth. for the 1930s showbe political
that a mighty force may unleashed to other ends if they don't. social events.
And schools and parents can often call in the police to help them.
The state has a whole battery of institutions and apparatuses specifically to deal with youth - juvenile courts, remand houses, officers and the police, to name a few
And the youth can't vote until they are 18. own Youth can't drink, buy cigarettes - the list of dos.
SUSE 13, 35 COOleS
And leave school majority it doesn't stop.
School leavers face massive unemployment, and pittances from social security, with its special low rates for young people still living ar home.
the financial
Traditional political
and misery for troops This
back by the bur
confidence little union organisation.
borstals, For young probation
oppressed socialised as second citizens. leave home, be wives and mothers, don'ts, musts and denied the
when soung people And from every
and reach legal
and girls how to
men.
OPPOSE
POLICE
BRUTALITY
Those who do get jobs will be pince, the lowest paid workers, with
ency yet apprenticestips The
ill probably mean no unic organisation at all, and money that it is a chock to call pay.
women the situation is even worse, because
of being young and they are being class
Young women are trained to violent,
often possibility of controlled. technical training in school.
news-stand tbere is a barrage of magazines
telling dress, behave, make up, so they can attract
Ital works, and works well the young in keeping young people in their Parents, schools, the state are
einsbury t confining them to the prescribed role that bourgeois society defines for them.
ruling class has two contradictory explanations for the inferior social position of the young: on the one hand they are weak and helpless, on the other violent and tough
Working class youth are not seen asincapable of fending for themselves, They are a threat to the very fabric of society
work-shy, hooligans who have to be policed and
Black youth are muggers rapists and need extra special authority to be controlled "sus' laws and the like.
Either way around - weak and helpless or violent vandals - it ends up in the same place:
have
the ones in control.
As socialists, our explanation is completely different
We understand that the oppression of youth → as with other groups - flows from the nature of class society
The concept of 'childhood' is a fairly recent innovation, In societies where extended families were work unit, this notion of the weak and incapable child didn't exist.
True, the young were seen to be weaker, but they were not cut off from the society of adults because of it. They played a role in tending the crops or the sheep and were integrated indiative fely the family. into the
Early industrial society began to bite into this. The young, even the very young. were an easy source of cheap
Page 15 scan of this page
Our future in their hands
The young will be seen and heard
OUR POLICIES
labaur. Their lack of physical maturity meant they could not demand such hish wages; them lack of mothlity made them an easy target for explentation.
The nineteenth century saw a period of the super-exploitation of the young.
Due to working class elloris. Factory Acts ensured that young people were taken out of this highly exploitative labour
them rights to education, and the chance to experience theit youth before having to sell their souls to the devils in top hats.
were still there and had to be IN Iran, it was youth who carried the guns into the streets, and spurred on the masses with their fighting enthusiasm for the uprising. Today in the north of Ireland. British soldiers invading Catholic ghettos get most uneasy once school 15 0u1, because it's then that youth are on the streets, and prepared to fight back.
In every revolution that has taken place, youth mounted the barricades, at the meetment. The fish forted foretront the workers liberation as an oppressed group in society is part and parcel of the struggle for socialism - for a genuinely democratic society which enda all inequalities and injustices.
It's on this pobtical basm that socialis support the organisation of youth - or women, or blacks. Support is not a moral question. As long as any pilt or society remains oppressed, the working class itself will not be
The revolutionary party aims to politically unlite oppressed and exploited by winning them to a programme which champions their rights. The party is not just an added extra in SEaR struggle for socialism - it's vital.
MILLIONS of youth all over Europe are beginning to sec that capitalism offers them no future. But equally, Large numbers torn away from the
icture of socialism they see in
astern Europe.
The youth revolt is deeply anti-authoritarian. Punk and
was little more than
force of the future.
direct process of production, youth are isolated from the rest powel, and wered any tole except as passive children.
In the family and in schools. the youth are subordinated to two processes:
because canstolesm constantly discovers technology, requiring a skilled labour Force capable employing new techniques, the youth have to be trained. This | training is more than skills for Youth have a special role in this - they can strengthen it enormously. The future of the party is in their hands; and in their dynamism and enthusi2s11.
It's they who can guarantee the party will remain in touch with all the new and critical developments in the strugale
But even If everyone agreed have that a party is essential, no one would be too quick to say it is an easy task to build one with mass influence in every section of society.
Its especially difficult in Britain, where revolutionaries have been divided for too long. often on secondary issues, and torn apart with seciarianism.
A mass party in Britain will be built through splits and fusions inside rhe cristing working ciass
political events on us internatinnal scale.
We want to win youth to this goal, but there are spocial ways
In 1916 Lenin said: the middle aged and the aged often don't know haw to apprpach the necess than t socialism in a different way, by other paths to their fathers fand
that is why we
eggae fans march against the | National Front stands for banning their music, deporting their friends, and militarising society.
The burcaucratic dicratorships of Fastern Europe stand for much the same when it comes to democratic rights. The bureuniracy.
served. State education rapidly Jobs. Schools prepare future
workers to accept the division
of labour which defines their
Secondiy, the youth have to
believe in HIC
bourgeois democracy,
have to become citizens
capitalast socicty.
have to be equally aware of the
consequences if they don't.
Learning these things is not
some natural nrocess
understanding the world. It 15 a
CasE 1
accepting a repressive world
order. An order that divides
women from men, black from
white,
comnion I must decidedly favour the
organisational independence of Youth Leagues...
For unless
complete independence. the youth will be unable either to
train good socialists from their
midst or prepare themseives to
Tead socialism forward. Class Lenin was dead right.
way youth radicalise calls for
their independent organisation.
Moreover, youth are making
up their minds about their lives.
and about society in general.
They are in the process of being
formed as members of society.
Of course, they don't have
the personal and social stability
of'adult revolutionaries. That's
why they need to organise in a
way which takes account of
"e's for all these reasons that
Socialist Challenge welcomes
the appearance of the youth
paper Revolution, It's the first
step towaris building a youth
organisation based on a full
programme for socialist revolThe Lution.
It's through building this kind
organisation
today
towards our common aim of
establishing a mass revolution-
ary party on an international
scale.
society in order to exclude the because working class
from political power
For these states, the youth
revolt is a deadly threat
new rising of the peoples in
Eastern Europe has had the
south in is front ranks: from
the students of Crechoslovakia regiments Poland in 1976.
Stop
I based on the bosses' needs, Understandably.
our form
They manned
But they
fight back, their firmly anti-authoritarian
Tion.
geois sociely.
yet tries to create a they have
The
that vouth
drawn and its allie
each bureaucratic power and culture In East
workers of
cratic rule.
One of the first taken ho
revolution in 1917
the reachers. = including laws on
sere dismantler and
revolutions.
If that realised today, demonstrate
the vouth are resistant to this process and youth capilalism knows it, so it is backed up by highly authorisarJai structures to mike sure the vouth no throuch the mill an
When young people decide to
struggle b ination
Socsalists support this react- schools
strikes fundamental aspect of bour-
We encourage and promote the independent seif-organisation of youth. Independent of Against the safe and its institutions
Today in Czechoslovakia | south; for the extension of new wave mine means bands Like The Plastic People, jailed because their music rejeets the
monopoly of
Ciermany, Wolf Biermann was relused re-entry because his songs cone out for workers' democracy, Socialists today have a job to explain that there are no equal sigas hetween socialin and bureau-
measures the •Holshevik government after the Russian
abolish corporal punishment in the schools. Along with this schools were placed under the control of the local community the youth
students and the The
was these laws itbuction reform, for democratic rights muguings,
so on — that hy the Statinist regime. Youth have played a deciuve role in all
potential is to be we have lo that socialists stand lor equal rights for
self-organisation to promote
and demands of within the broader struggle of the whole working class against its oppressors.
We support the formution of a union in the schools to fight against perry rules, the cane and the bel, the restrictions on teaching methods. the discrim-
against women
We support the organisation oF SKAN groups to light back against the National Front.
We support youth forming Rock Aguinst Racism und Rock
clubs promote the culture of the democratie rihts: and Tor youth to play a full pole in building a socialist society.
That means today chan pioning the rights of youth: lor a vole at 16; for the right to organise; for adequate social facilities under youth control: against state interference in sexual relations beeween youth
for the abolition of the age of consent; financial indepen dence; and for the abolition of all forens of corporal punish-
Law and order target NONE of the traditional parties have anything to offer
Conservative Party doess't have a specific section on the needs of youth. But the Tories pin the blame for all the
delinquency. and unrest on the youth.
The youth are one of the main targets of the Torles' repressive 'law and order' campaign.
Their manifesto promises in certain detention centres will experiment with a tougher regime as a short, sharp shock
young, to fisht for social and political facilities, to hit hack against the appressors AI work, youth should ergunise within the unions to change the present leaders who have systematically ignored the interests of youth, who have allowed their wages to be no more than pittances, who have allowed the youth to be the first on the dole queues.
In every sphere we support and promote the organisation of young people in struggle. This is what we mean when we gly that independent out
independent youth moventent.
The fight for these rights starls now To light. youth need their own independent organisations like the National Union of Students and the National Union School Students.
In future it will be through these their own mass organisation: That YOul will he ahle to both participate in the socialist revolution and be represented in a socialist democracy
for young criminals.
Labour doesn't offer much better. Their manifesio does mention youth.
It claims that the Youth Opportunities Programme guarantees every school-leaver either u job or a training place
employment experience. But this will have a hollow ring to the thousands of youth on the dole queues.
And plans 10 extend education facilities wille there are no johs avuilable will not le welcomed with open arms.
Socialid Challenge Y May 1079 Poge'!?
Page 16 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge DEFEND THE PUBLIC'
sewspaper. Published by Reigocrest Ltd. for Socialist Challenge, 328/9 lipper St, London N1. Printed by Feb Edge Litho lad (TL),
THE LEGEND is that the Public Order Act was passed in 1936 to restrict the activities of Oswald Mosley's fascists.
In the last week of the 1974-9 Labour government, however, it was employed to defend the macists of the National Front, when an anti-fascist march last Sunday banned passing the NF's headquarters im Hackney, East London.
This was a fitting conclusion to the "law and order" activities CLICKACE
• The police minder of Binir Peach in Southall was followed
denunciations OF: demonstrators by all the major
* Merlyn Rees turned aside the demands Tor 12 DUDLE enquiry into Blair's murder and
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insisted that the activities of the pobice would be investigated by in IRE POUCE • Thatcher's response to the events. in Southall promise that she would back the re-introduction death penalty Blair's murderers need not fear front the hangman's rope. • Massive police operations defended the INF Bromwich and implemented the Public Order Act against
Those who themselves protesting police activities were subjected the to a campaign of harassment Worker was witch-hunted the describing Blair Peach's death and Socialist Unity was questioned Young Nazis greet anti-racists in Fast London last Sunday Cheques, POs and money orders should be made payable to Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London N1 2XQ.
with the Post Office as a
FROM 'ORDER'
by the police for a leaflet saying the same thing.
Whoever wins the election, all the signs are that such "law
was and order" will be stepped up
after 3 May.
of the The response
communities ALLARGHS GICLES CO stepped up. All such groups will in West be the targets of a new "law and
order' offensive.
Both Eabour and Tories have
found made it clear that they intend to
agaInst outlaw traditional union prac
tices such picketing: both have tried to equate the left Sun for Socialist Unity and the Socialist
Workers Party — with the NF:
Southall the police murder
Peach
— police profection was there in plenty
for black self-defence.
Hlair
trade movement socialists and the under racist enquiry into Southall on 23 April.
the Last
"secondary"
particularly
Blair and the general "strong as any to follow.
FIGHT FOR YOUTH RIGHTS!
NATIONAI. REVOLUTION RALLY
Saturday, 5 May, noon to midnight Speakers include:
Tariq Ali, Bernadette McAliskey, Barney Mogatle (Soweto Student), Rock Against Sexism, and others.
Tickets: E1.50
Workshops include:
Sexism • Sexuality and music• The nature of fascism • Ireland and internationalism • Students as youth • Building a wtion at school BLACKS BRITANNICA and others.
Militant films • food • drink • stalls • exhibitions
operation in Southall once more spells out the need
Peach's murder re emphasised the need for campaign in the working class
demand the disbanding of the SPG. There is also a need for a trade union
METIE events n
Most importantly, the visible growth of state repression in
couple of years. highlighted most clearly in the past two weeks, means that militants must once more put to the fore of their activities the defence of democratic rights.
The mass resistance shown in Southall is as good an example
Films include:
We say...
Put Labour back
in the dock
make fundamental changes in everything thut mutters in the next Tive years. The form of the nexi government won't in itself determine whether the living standards of people rise or Tall whether the rucists are finully driven from the streets: whether the young unemployed continue that way:
ithdrawn from the North of Irelund; or whether women's limite abortion rights ure further restricted.
These questions will be decided in the same way that we have seen events developing in Soutball, What was crucial in the mus defiance was the lead given by all those who provided u militune and united answer to the racisis in und out of untform, in und aut of the main political parties.
Of course the result of the generul election will base an Importunt bearing on whether working people will refuse to accept the vicinus policies put forward by both the Tors and Luhour leaders, A cole for Labor represents a class vole, It is the working close voling for the party if sees as its own, against the party of the
This doesn't mean that every sole cast will he in agreement with Lahour's policies, In fact, asigniticant number of sorking class voters will abstain, demorulised victims of the government's measures.
Furthermore, it will be easier to light for a socinlist ulfernative lo the left of 1 abour when this party is in office. When Labour formi: The opposition, it poses thie alternutive
If that li why we are for the return of a Labour posersment, if is also why me une voting for socialist Linity where it is stunding in sufe Labour seats. During the election Socialist Enity hus, in a modest way, begun to outlibe how that socialist allernative can he organised, and what policies it will he bused on.
Socialist Unity has not been used us u marron sectarian esercise. Nor has it been used lo put over abstract propapanda with mr relaticinship to the strusgies presently going on
Rusher Socialist Cnif has beerused in the election to prosnote the type of wait shown in Southall, and to promote the tope of tired organisation that is vital on every issue that concerns the
Socialist Unity has argued that it is possible for militands to worl together and to fight hack together. A vote For Socialist Unity is a vote for the policies thut can hiring this about,
Rock for Revolation Gig in the evening with:
THE TICKETS
THESTRAITS REGGAE/PUNK/SOULDISCO Transport will leare from: Glasgow, Newcastle, Hull, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Bristol, Brighton, Birmingham, Oxford.
Tickets and further informacion from; Revolution: PO Box 50, London NI 2XP
Note change of venue At the Institute of Education Students Leion, Bedford Way, London WC1. Nearest tubes: Euston or Russell Square.
Orpanised by Inst. of Ed. SU/Revolution
whether Inps u 3-4 The Oval, London EZ.
← Socialist Challenge No. 99, May 1979Socialist Challenge No. 95, 10 May 1979 →