Socialist Challenge No. 96, 17 May 1979
The scan: sc-n96-may-17-1979.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 Attack on unions, blacks,
ALL
THE TORIES talk about
balance between
nd duties. They That was the and прос from Parlament this
That's why they jacked u pay for the police and ama and deny * decent wage to
I Trade Unions.
Thew aim to attack the rant and file strength of the labour
ing ineffective; hreaking
shop safeguards working conditions and limiting trade union democracy by postal ballot-
• Black People.
More black fumilies will be permanentiy separuted. Thousands of black people who want to come to Britain will be deprived of their rights as workers and citizens.
& Housing
Councils will be forced to sell off council houses those that can afford them deprivine those who can to a
• Taxes.
To cushion the rich they want to invite asser strippers into the ship yards aerospace lactories and choke off money to our already inadequate social services.
The Tories don't want to carry out this attack on basic rights alone. They are looking for collaborators, They are won't have to look Tar. queuing up already.
Len Murray was first in line
- a cosy three hour chat with Jim Prior before the
CHICH Employment minister, had even changed the locks on his front door.
Next was Joe Gormley of the miners' union 'altering his SANCE BREAKE ENG DCS OUT DE a bad job.
Already the union bosses
homeless ... everyone
FIGHT FOR
to
and are trying to disunite the trade unions - the force the working class has.
The talks should be stopped Tony Benn says he wants to build an oPposion to Ene Tories. That's good.
OUR RIGHTS
main fighting Parliament as well as inside.
In action not just in words.
Like supporting the teachers SHE DEMOTECE What is needed is the umity of all those prepared to fight But it lock against
based outside
and private sector trade union activists.
the Tory rights.
government's policies. Unit betwcen the working class and the oppressed, befween public
workers, Party and
Let's unite to defend base
FIGHTING THE
TORY ATTACKS
Public spending The cold hard facts facing the public sector union conferences... page 4.
Housing Tory Councils await the sale of the century. - page 5
Abortion
Anti-abortionists get a boost from Tory election victory. .. page 6
Immigration
Weask How far dare the Tories go?' and take a look behind Willie Whitelaw's smile... page 7
Ireland
We take a look at the new team appointed to direc Britain's presence in Ireland and discover some fine military records... page 10
Zimbabwe Will Thatcher tangle with Carter, and do they know where Rhodesia is anyway... page 13
FEATURES.....
Who is Margaret Thatcher?
John Ross, working on the principle that by knowing your enemies you can better fight them, takes a close look at the new Prime Minister... pages 8 and 9
Morning Star Editor Tony Chater continues our debate on how to fight the Tories... page 8
Benn plays a left card Benn's profile... page 3
European elections
Tarq All is standing... and Anna Libera looks at the contradictory policies of the European CPs... page 12 International Rally AGAINST THE BOSSES' MARKET, FOR A SOCIALIST KUROPE Speakers: Leaders of the I.CR/LO slate in France, Tariq All candidate in West London.
FRIDAY 1st JUNE, 7.30pm. Portebester Hall, Portchester Road, Paddington.
No 96 17 May 1979 15p
Page 2 scan of this page
Did you know they elected
Socialist Challenge. ippeared
with the TUC leaders.
ranks.
statute book.
and Jorry drivers" strikes are still fresh
mmediate war on the trade union
mion leaders to the rank and file.
"Agree or else', they say to the union leaders
rgislation. horror from the phrase.
arrive becuuse the cosis to the pallows quietly.
the lorm below and send it to us
about aetivities in my ares
enciose Süp to cover costs Daiete if not applicablel NAME
AODRESS
BILORCHR
ialist Challenge 17 May 1979 page 2
EDITORIAL
328/9 Upper Street, London Editorial: 01-359 8180/9, Distribution/Advertising: 01-359 8371.
The Tory Queen's Speech
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH proved less of a spectacle than the Cup Final, Subtlety, rather than high drama, was Thatcher's emphasis.
The promised moves lowards strengthening Inequality duly
the cuts in direct taxation, council house sales, the attacks on comprehensive education — but any measores to curb union rights will be preceded by full and leagthy "consultation'
Thatcher's approach is hardly surprising, Despite the size of the Labour defeat, it is not just socialists who are wary of Thatcher. In their pre-election coverage, leader-writers in The Economist made i clear that they had litle enthusiasm for the right-wing strategy threalened during the hastings by the wilder elements in the Tory
Such concern is not with the principle of union-bashing, but its tacties. This is why the Tory government is promising full consultation" with the union leaders before any legislation attacking the traditional rights of trade unionists is pul on the
If the Torles did not know it before, their civil servunts will have told them hy now that their problem is not how to deal with the Moss Evanses of this world hut bow to give Evans something with which he con deal with his rank and file. The memory of the Ford
strikes which did not
ume from a conscious decision of the TGWU leadership to turn ilitant, but were a consequence of the membership's militancy.
In that contest it would be madness for the Tories to declare
bureaucracy. From raperience of the Heath years the Tories know that no amount of rgistation can succeed if the strength to oppose It stretches from
Accordingly the tacties behind the Tories" union policy are not Il that different fron those practised by the Labour government. breatening a Tory government, as Labour did, the Tories threaten
But already there was enough in the Queen's Speech to spell out what is really involved in such schemes. The attacks on the National Enterprise Board and the various schemes designed to stave off unemployment mean ionger dole queues. The policies on comprehensave education and council bouses involve a furtber cut! in the 'sociai wage": the nature of the tax cuts marks a further stage im making this most unequul society yet more unegual.
The truth is that the Tories are dedicated to engaging in class warfare, even if the Labour and trade union leaders shrink in
Ultimately a direct attack on union rights will arrive. It will
of British and world secessilates sigaificant cuts in the living standards of working people. The danger is that the Tories will muke these attacks when and where they choose, in the most favourable climate, at their mosi favourable time. To be seen to be 'conselting' with the union
Instead of talking to Thaicher and Prior, Len Murray and the TUC's time would be better spent in talking with the teachers and arranging how the TEC can assist their current wage struegle. If the TUC leaders prefer to talk to the Tories, they should beer one thing in mind: the only reason a hungman offers "consulistion" with a condemned prisoner is to ensure that the prisoner will walk
au agiee with these principles and want involved in actimties by Socialist tENARTE MESUSausans aRTinUM
* 1 am inserestec in more information
Al would liae additional Ilterature and Send 10 Soblalist Challenge, 328:B Uppe/
NI 2XQ.
By Steve Potter IT WAS a sombre occasion.
Last week in a crowded room a proposition was s propagiiost i. Nobod voted
against it lt was done. leader of the cleven million strong British ment bad just been elected ERE MOL
As the meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party began, Jim Callaghan was able to deciare, without opposition: There is no vacancy. I think it is healthy for the Parliamentary Labour Party that it is known that there is no vacancy
The 267 Labour MPs who had been convened to agree with Callaghan elected by the swear and votes of millions of workers. Yet the current rules Party permit this tiny group to elect a leader of a movement the which these millions created.
To add insult to injury the man they re-clected had led the Dovement to cecioral disaiter by pursuing the most rightwing social-democratic policies but instead of since MacDonald in the '30s.
lt was unsurprising then that there would гутраспу for advanced by Tony Benn the day after the 'election' took place.
After putting need to build an opposition to the Tories in Parliament (see tacing page), Benn went on to declare movement should examine:
*How to study and analyse the experiences of the last five
HOME NEWS
Parliamentary
The
labour move-
activists whose
the accountability
had been conference current clection by MPs. of the Labour
Shadow Cabinet
to automatic resclection Any such
widespread party These the view the of their party.
forward the Benn
the labour
the righr's reaction.
OUR POLICIES 2*
RUTSED, CHE OEINE CLAU
your leader last week?
Government, Party.
National Executive and the tion of the annual conference, so that we
can apply the leasoas learnt tc the future work of the party: that o propay Lacoud with
many Labour Party strategy for socialism rests that of winning the labour movement to left policies. The guarantee of such policies being put into action is Neither,
light for of the party structures to the members.
Chief among the demands Benn for reform of the party are:
• The clection of the leader of the party by the Labour Party
instead of the
• Election of the Cabinet or
not
• That the PLP, whether in government or opposition, be bound by the decisions of the his Labour Party Conference posts.
• That MPs should be subject
proposals are every body always greeted with shrieks ol horror by the right wing of the
"democrats"
vould go to any length to stoj
thorough democratisation
himself has fought #gainst his local Bristol party adapting the policy of clection of the leader by the whole "There are good reasons for
Such a structure, radical package would be a
3
Shir which existed between the bersing toas rar more direhy fC, Wil gool unes hey are working class far more directly
Of course the democratisa-
party would not solve the fundamental problem of bow any lefl-wing government would be able to carry out its programme in the face of
-hostility from ruling class and its state. The balance sheet of Clile is not part and parcel of the proposals to reform the Labour Party
BOTOrtOnaLET is there any common conception
light SOESILUE measures immediately.
in speech in Birmingham before the leadership clections declared that there should be no personal recriminations as to the record of the last five years.
Decoded this micans: "I will
conduct campaign throughour the labour move ment to remove Callaghan and
supporiers from their
Yet this is exacily what is needed, The main fight for
in the labour movement today is to build an opposition to the Tories, But the simultancous fight to remove the right wing of th labour movement on the basi: of their record of the last five vears is indispensable if such an opposition is to be built.
At every turn Callaghan and his allies in the trade unions will attempt to block that opposirion. However democratic the
sabotage by these leaders, like Scanion's overturn
ARS E0 FOR BRITAN
Tersereil Tey waeild tarner Ternoveu! would rather see the Tories in power than find their own positions in the labour movement threatened by a mass fighting movement.
To build such a movement requires that the left organise BTEOUUDTBOEEOEUSGC BM the Labour Party and, even more importantly, in the trade unions. These lefts who say that they want to sce the Tories out and a new leadership for the labour movement should be put on the spot as to whether they will play a full part in leading such an opposition.
Otherwise we may find that once again the mirage of a left government replacing the Tories obscures the need for the lighting opposition that can transform the labour movement into a weapon for the working class.
Socialists and the Labour Party, Joint IMG/TSA school. Sunday 20 May, YWCA, Great Russell Street, London WCI Under the auspioes of the London World Affairs Group Registration 1pm. advance for papers. Furthes details phone Mistley (Essex) 1141 (evenings).
(The school is part of a series organised for those who have signed, or are interested in Sgnung- the appeal for revolutionary unity by the IMG/ISA]-
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BENN PLAYS LEFT CARD
TO NO-ONE's great surprise,
editorial the week before polling.
mean the election
respectable alternative
opposition'.
dog The Economist fears? By Clive Turnbull
Benn's "left" credentials were gained in Labour's last period of opposition, when he:
the workers against Heath's lame duck policy:
*addressed Institute Workers Control conferences announcing that the crisis that we inherit when we come to power will be the occasion for fundamental change and not the excuse for postponing it*;
*promoted "Labour's gramme for Britain' in 1973, which included the nationalisation of the top 25 companies, compulsory planning agrocments, and industrial democ racy
course Wilson
The supported Margaret Thatcher and the Tories in the general election. But it was obviously a difficult decision, only reached at the end of a 4,000-word
The problem was, a vote for Tory in 1979 could
of a perfectly awful Labour government by 1984 — one far worse than the
available today, house-trained party gone rabid in the kennels of
Could Tony Benn's return to the back benches, less than a week after Labour's defeat, let loose the mad
Callachan slightest Intention of implementing such policies. Just as they rode roughshod over TUC and Labour Party conference UCS decisions the referendum, Clay Cross, cuts in social spending. and for other issues.
But Bens remained in the BOYCHECHE throughout this, rooognising his collective responsibility for all decisions taken by the Cabinet since we came to power. He even meekly accepled the sack as Minister for Industry after the gutting of his own Industry Bill.
Benn has identified bimself not with democracy', but also with and freedom of
Economist abolition of the House
Lords, and reform Labour Party itself. Through position on the Labour NEC he has appeared as the defender of party policy in government.
Yet on every issue it was Cabinet policy precedence over party policy.
Benn never resigned.
Even when fellow Labour left Eric Heffer was sacked for opposing the EBC, remained.
Three junior members of the government than stomach increased parlia had the mentary representation for the
Ulster Unionists. Benn mained.
H Block, the Hennett report Owen's support for the Shah of EBC Tran, over unemployed,
many slashed... Benn remained.
Harold Wilson's resignation increased all charges in 1951 seems ultra-left "full extremism by comparison. Benn's statement declining nomination Cabinet called on Labour MPs to discuss how to mount a prim in Parliament toppe sition in Parliament to policies and philosophy of tbe new government in so tar as industrial these policies harm the interests
of the people whom Labour information, represents.
ALTERNATIVE POLICIES DON'T GROW ON
of of the
sents'.
that took didn'
struck and
Benn
miners resigned rather Heath's incomes policy
the Tories.
152 million social spending
such mass action again. prescription Велл
the past five years.
for the Shadow wasn't
including
for Thatcher.
fight leadershsp
Leaving aside
Lery 1973.
government,
Norma
LETTE Trom Geotfrey
was thought
It is not surprising that this has aroused cynicism even from election. sone Labour MPs after the Labour government srecord of "harm to the interests of the people whom Labour repre-
'Opposition in Parliament'
defeat the Tory government in 1974. It was the Europe. hundreds of thousands who Why
demonstrated against the Industrial Relations Act. The workers who occupied relegated and fought for their jobs, The
who barcled against why
It was the mass struggle of the working class that defeated
The Economist's fear is not of a rabid Benn. Hemight loam at the mouth, but be doesn't bite. The fear is thar Benn's left to China rhetonic might infect sections of the working class into taking
has called for no personal recriminations about
But the Labour leadership
elected to attack working class living standards. dor to China. Callaghan and his supporters,
Cabinet member Tony Benn, have paved the way
The next period will require a
an alternative alongside слеstruggle for alternative policies.
News
nowhere
Tional Riddle One
IF THERE Is a consolation about the return of the Tories to government It is that at least we may be in fora few scandals.
the current goings-on at the Old Balley, th Tories have always produced the best scandals.
The one that immediately springs to mind is the Norma
scandal of May/June Prostitute Norma revealed that among her clients were two members of the Tory
Lord Lambton and Lord Jellicoe.
These two worthy lords were Immediately sucked from the government, but a still bigger scandal then threatened when
said that she had another cient who was a much more senior Cabinet member.
Much persuasion must thee have taken place, because the name of the third man' was
officially revealed, although anyone with an ear to the ground knew the name of
bounder who had 50 lists besmirched the Tory environ-
Riddle Two AMONG the manies missing
Thatcher's Cabinet is MP for Hexham. In 1973 Rippon, then Minister for the Environment,
to be • likely successor to Heath if the latter
the looming
Bur suddenly Rippon's star any began to fade, and today he is safcly far away as the leader of the Conservative Group in the European Pariament. But now even that sinecure is to go, for Rippon is not standing for
oh why has this one-time potential leader of the Tory Party now been finally
Westminster's back-benches? And why oh
has the media commented on this fall from grace? Do they know something you don't
Slow boat
Belping hand, News from helping hand, from Nowhere has a solution to the Tories' problem— what lo de with Ted Heath. Our recom mendation is that he should be appointed as British ambass-
Ted Is known to get on well with the Chinese buressericy, and the importance of a posting to that country is explained in a leaflet currently being circoInded by the Workers Institute of Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zeđong Thought. TREES. DONATE NOW
from
The leaflet exclusively reveals: lu 1977, the internat-
dictatorship of the proletariat WAS estublished under the leadership of our purly, the Communist Party of China, covertly, applying new forens of warfare, in particalar clectronic and satellite
This is excellent news for a all, but more is to follow, for the leaflet reminds us that in 1977 beloved Chairman Hus pointed out: The International situation today is good, it is very good, not just good or fairly good"!
Of course, in 1977 there was a place called Cambodia and Vietnam was about fo be "taught a lesson'. Just like the British years previousty.
Thatcher v Saatchi
AT the end of the 18tb century how he had arranged to how he Carranged to increase the bostilities" between Orangemen and Irish nationa
A contemporary example of such a scheme could well surface soop, masterminded by none otber than Saatchi and Saarchi. Fot the Tories' advertising agency last ACCE acquired a new client in the shape of Fianna Fail, the governing party in the South of Ireland,
For 30 years Fianna Fail have used the O'Kennedy-Brindly Irish-based agency. But that company has now been laken over by Saatchi and Saatchi, whose chairperson Kenneth Gill was quick to take up the Fianna Fail cause, describing
Irish CEPHONIY the fastest growing in Europe
Such remarks are unlikely to picase Thatcher or make her attempts to attract investment into tottering Hritish industry
casier. But Saatchi and Saatchi cannot be blamed: isn't healthy competition what Thaicher's revolution is all about?
Hell Thatcher!
NATIONAL Froat greets Tor victors! Not, in this Instanci our own home grown Nazis but the Freach Front National. Jeun-Marie Le Pen the President of the FN. which tends to be rather more open about its fuscist sympathies, made this declaration on the British election result:
With the success of the English Conservative Party and ils leuder, Mrs Thatcher, 1 greet the first success of the right in Europe for a long time, over pauperising secialism.
With a similar programme
Lan end immigration, redeced taxes, an end to the trade union dictatorship struggle against the Soviet Union, the relunching of investment. the list of thi national right will have comparable SAleCESS in the European elections."
Sociulise Challenge 17 May 1979 pogr
Page 4 scan of this page
New alliance needed in student movement
SEND US A CHEQUE TODAY HELP BUILD THE LEFT IN THE UNIONS.
HOME NEWS
BEFORE
WE NEED YOUR HEAD
Britain's NHS trade union
By Pamela Holmes IMO student orguiser
RHODES BOYSON has been given responsibility for further
higher education Thatcher's goveroment, This appointment should clear up any lingering doubts about what students can expect from the Tories.
Anyone who still needs convincing of Rhodes Boyson's right-wing credentials onlv talk to students from Highbury Citove school North London where he was headmaster of a particularly SHONTECHO
The appointment of this reactionary, a founding member of the National Association for Frocdon, makes it clear that the Tories mean to include students and education
their offensive
gainst the working class.
When Tharcher attacks teach-
cialint Challenge 17 Mar 1979 page 4
COHSE
STOP
THE
VIS
KILLS
ers, that 'honourable sion', we can hardly students to be exempted.
Unfortunately, the door 1o such an attack on student unions was opened under the Labour government Since 1974, the Broad Let leadership of the NUS has led the stadent movernent in the firection of organisational and poitical concessions to central government. Their position on student union TENCENS autonomy, for example, opens in the way to rigid government control of sion development and by pseudo-public ind national negotiations on funding levels In this situation, the major question for students is how to defend their union despite the defeats since 1976 the demobilisation students under the Broad Left leadership, students retain their
THE PUBLIC
government.
By Pat Sikorski
It was under labour, during last winter's public strikes, that picketing came under attack.
It was under Labour tha
union leaders entered discussions about the possi bility of surrendering the right to strike in the public sector in return for empty promises of comparability
It was under Labour that the rights of health workers to take DUESTEEMED LEE TATEL ched by 'emergency services codes
But Labour didn'T simply pave the offensive on basic union rights It also did the spadework for them in slashing EB billion off publie spending, closing over
130 hospitals, throwing leach eke on the sole. Taldier nurser will be aiming to push home the attack — hard.
Whilst the police and arny will be spared no expense l'law and order' being a priority), Turiber cuts in jobs and panied by unemployed scroungers attacks on social services a "luxuries we cannot afford' Thatcher his made it quite clear that she will halt unnecessary
Whilst Thatcher will be going out of her way to talk with the General Council of the TUC before rushing controntatian in the sector. cash limits steadily squezing the public sector,
A determined and united response by workers is vital For it's when
profes organisation and know that it expect provides them wich their only means to defend their interests.
The main, line of divide is between those who support the present direction of the NUS and those who berween these who we'll share the capitalist crisia, we'll help you camouflage and administer cuts in public those who seek to defend the
Easier an open lefter, signed by Al the NUS conference al members of the Broad Left and way of the Union of Liberal Students, accountabily new alliance, embracing all new alliance. those on the lett active in the student movement who arguing n fundamental and change in society
We agree but we such an alliance most be Comly based on mass action, rejecting
As Thatcher unveils her plans
in firing line
sector unions, most of whose conferences meet over the next lew weeks, are going to have to face some harsh facts about life under a Tory
Defending basic trade union rights in the public sector — particularly the right to strike and picket — will be vital if public service workers are to resist a Tory offensive against public and social services.
public sector workers
ribbons, won to action. into tremendous
possibility when 80,000
way for a Tory commission NUPE sold Tory services will be accomoutbursts against and into any private will
public sector appose STEE open: sy 1Ves. education system. responsibuity for
participating spending'
in the Tory government.
embracing *National Suturday 19 Birmingham figliting for radical Edgbaston, Birmingham.
say thal Conference on allance,
Public sector first
But
be eaten
comparability
minimum
start
taking action, exposing all the Tory clap-trap as a cover for cutting the welfare state to
that the Labour movement as a whole can be
During the winter we saw the comparability
potential of A public sector alliance, when one
and a half million public secto workers struck on 22 January and maintained action for six weeks over their pay claim.
employers*
A similar alliance was a real
against the marched London in November 1976 WILLET TUT solved By prator. pay
comparability Alan Fishe this fo his TATTLE membershipas the way to solve low pay and get a minimum conferences wage without having to fight defending the imprisonment of the Shrewsbury Two building worker in 1975.
any altempt to make workers By P.M. Grant and students pay for the present cruis, on the need to unite with the labour movement and otber LAST sections of society in the Tighr against the Tories and for
democratic
It is on this basis that we will per cent
grades Conference that has been called
leen intried to discuss a new alliance and we lesdership hope it will see the birth of a socialist alliance thar will unite students against the attacks of Rhodes Boyson and his cohorts
cision.
SSA meeting, committee My students 1lam, tenured the Poly Union, 9 Westbourne Road, footpisle grades.
the new MASA SAC WAI 26-27 May. Polytechnic of Central London. anything
comparability will achieve a few poundsat best for full-time workers, and this will
by tne price increases that will come from Tory Increases in VAT.
The lesson drawn out of the
Commission must be that only a national
wage can end low pay, and that this will only be won braction, The main task is
prepare the unions for ing all-out action behind a claim which is drawn up by the members to meet the real problems they confront which have nothing to do with
resolution to NUPE confercuce demanding an E80 minimum wage, 35-Л0ur week, and a recall conference to decide what to do with any
offer shows the way to begin this
But to fight the cash limits, defence of jobs and servicin belter
servioes, the union leadership's retrest on basic union rights must be
Both the NUPE and CPSA
will consider resolutions apposing the Con cordar. Fisher has declared the
CREEC
WC
NO THATCHER's Minister of State for Social Secarity (Disabled), Reg Prestice, in an earlier role
ASLEF buries claim
ASIEF, Paddington branch only
year the rail anion ASEEF attracted the wrath of the dropping of the original Fleet Street by staging a couple claim on the grounds that a rail of one-day strikes in pursuit of dispute would a responsibility allowance of 10 ours
for all footplate Now that demend has was by the union
lestead both ASLEF and the election National Union of Railwaymen Now Inci have aecepted the railway worst of all worlds staff national tribumal's rates
accepting these findings the national execative chop up
of ASLEF has hard fought policy of "no classification' of EDH"
The responsibility will only he paid to drivers of by
Nor are the new wage rates
(shout aboul, ever.
Concordat DUE the
document was an agreement
between the unions and
it did not
specify whether Labour or
Within three days of the
Tories taking office. Len
Murray was talking to Jin
Prior about all the same issues
contained in the Concordat
picketing. compulsory ballot-
getting inflation down
(wage cutting) other
words, 'the Concordat is dead,
one live the Concordat
The only thing the Toric
want to talk about is taking
away our rights - the right of
health workers to strike, the
right to elective pickeling, the
right to decide whether to strike
without outside interference.
One resolution a1 NUPE
conference calls for the sacking
of Fisher and chiet
governmen negotiator Ron
Keating for their roic in the pas
claim last winter.
Throwing out those union
leaders who are willing to talk
away basic union rights,
whether they be national
negotiators or branch secre-
taries, is still a fight that has to
be waged.
Drivers" assistants will be paid
E50, shunting drivers, 171.70, and drivers €74.20.
The undon leaders justitied
damage Lab. election chunces, The prospect of a Tory government
SHed to argise that ruilworkers would be worse off if they didn't settle before un
railworkers hare the - lousy of puy. und a Tory government which could well
the rallways even
The only good to come out ol
whole busines the increasing disillesionment with payment the union leaders now being fell
the membership. The necessity of a rank and file fightback is more abvious thun
Page 5 scan of this page
Tory con on council housing
REACH INTO YOUR POCKET TO HELP FIGHT BACK
HOME NEWS
those on the waiting lists.
By Jeff Richards and Geoffrey Sheridan
The offer sounds attractive.
Why pay reat forever with nothing to show for it, and a lown hall bureaucrat telling you what colour to paint your front door?
Much better, say the Tories, to give tenants the chance to buy at discounts of from 33 to 50 per cent. That way, they claim, ratepayers and taxpayers will save too as subsidies are cut.
But sales will make things worse for those who afford to buy. The best homes WITH ICE CHEESE means the houses with gardens, which cost less to maintain and where the rents have long since covered the cost of building.
This will put up the rents on newct properties, where ten
ants will have to meel more of the costs themselves, Interest payments to money-lenders on the money borrowed to build a new house or flat can casily cometo over E30 a week.
Councils will be left with the poorest properties and council housing will be stigmatised as "welfare housing'.
With the best properties sold off, there will not even be the
hopeof a transfer
The supposed savings coul be an illusion too, when tax rebel on morgages is taken
would find themselves saddied with bigger expenses than they expected, when the cost of doing their own repairs is taken
The Tory sales scheme is a device to set council tenants against each other. pitting those who want and can afford to buy Daainst the test, against those in niced: million households waiting lists, the three million houscholds sub-standard housing, and the record 50,000 families year becoming homeless.
libe Tories did win votes on this issue, it was because the Labour leadership could offer no alternative except more of the rents,
bureaucratic town-hail management.
The number of council houses started last year - only 68,000 in England — was the lowest since the war, Existing houses are decaying into slums at a laster rate than they are being repaired,
Yet the outgoing Labour
sliced housing spending by 19 percent in its term of office — more than any other item of public spending.
And its housing Green Paper suppested that new investment in housing would fall hy a lurther third up to 1986.
Meanwhile the fianciers and money-lenders continue to collect £2,000 million and more cach year in interest on the B800E2 burrowed build council housing in che past.
At the same time there are over 300,000 building workers out of a job, land lies idle in the
Sale of the Century
SALES of council houses, already introduced by Tory-led councils, will be further encouraged by the new government, which is likely to put financial pressure on all councils to carry out this measure. The Tories no doubt believe these plans were a vote winner. But their offer means soaring rents for remaining tenants, and even less hope of a home for
inner cilies, and the brick makers nave though unused bricks stockmiied to bund tem
The Tories" plans for cuts in government undoubtedly trim house building even further
departments - already pursued by Tory councils -further lengthen the queues.
If the banks and finance houses were taken over and the outstanding debt can"t money could be made available
for a crash programme of housing to let at cheap rents. With public ownership of the land and the building industry workers control could soon solve the housing problem" which is in tact a problem of rent, interest and profit.
And those who still want to own their own homes could do so. without being in debt all their lives to building societies.
Bur the local
ushering in Labour councils in many arcas, has set the sone controntation local and central government. Notth east Derbyshire coun cil, which includes Clay Cross, imposed a ban on council house sales within hours of Labour raining control.
Labour leader of CUUREULLELCE applications on his desk to buy council house refused, The Tory government intends to introduce a Housing Bill which, according to thei election promise, will give all council tenants the legal right to buy their home, and is likely to back this up by the bousing subsidies to councils the that decline to oblige.
In short, the Tories will not be sopped withour collective resistance.
It was the councillors of Clay Cross during the
possibility of resisting the fiats when relused to implement increases and mobilised support of working people for their position.
With directly employed buil ding workers in the firing line, Labour councillors would have difficulty in support among their employees for against the Tories But Labour councils cannot be depended on to initiate a struggle against the wholesale disposal of council homes.
Their performance under the Labour government implementing cuts, opposing the council workers" pay claim, and hiking accustomed them to the tune piped from Westinster and the City.
So the labour movement and community should waste no time in starting the lightback on the housing front, and within that socialist answers to the Tories" policies will need to be spelt out.
spending will
council
will dole
cancelled,
we Tollenham elections,
beiween
Hy Denny Fitzpatrick The THE TORIES are pledged to Tameside cuts in education of at least
зпу EUm. which will so great be phraught the
would be school closures
by government which will involve the axing of thousands of jobs in the schools.
Labour's rationale was the fall in school population, but the Tories are not so crude.
cutting They recognise that the demand
for small community schools can serve a particular function in deprived areas.
Provided
restore the direct grunt independent last Tory repeal the 1976 Act which
requires local education authorides to submit plans for they comprehensives, able to protect the privileged the classes.
The principul way they will
winning
a fightback
- of
has
organisations
HOUSING in Wonderland. Not satisfied with selling off existing council houses, the Tory-controlled Greater London Council has built some 350 homes for sale on the Ferry Lane estate In
•and most have remained empty for up to two years.
That's why they've been occupied by Housing Action, which is
will be
part of
polle tary, to end Labou purents"
real students Tail in the S7SECE
the Tories Can and schools, and
they will be
STOP THE INE HOMELESS
HOUSE
sells.
Class rule in the schools
take on teachers and parenis
-BUSTEU IN Mandards, testing, and results.
Hence the pledges of Mark Carlisle, the Education Secre-
mised ability schools. teaching and to introduce a Many
charter & conve Joined niest way of covering for the against
why school
It will also provide the pretest for closing schools.
The Tories target for the axe transferred, will he unpopular schools in disadvantaged areas with poor exam results, while a straitjacker will be Imposed on the type of education schools cun offer, with the emphasis on London
The cumpaigns that have been launched against school closure. Involving thousands of reachers, parents, and school studenis, huve begun to come
fight education.
OF COUNCIL HOUSES
demanding the empty homes be made avallable to those on the housing waiting list, und all sales be stopped immediately.
The houses are on sale for £19,750 upwards, which means an income of at least £6,400 a year to purchase them on a morgage. and even then the GIC loses well over £10,000 on each house it to terms with the issue of who and what education b for.
The battle to maintaie local schools is the first step towards controlling what goes en in the
parents who have the local struggles closure have been critical of the failure of their own children at school.
Yet it is apparent that if soverument policies go through - if a school is closed, staff are
redeployed, made redundant, and curricula cat while claw sine remain enchanged - then education cannot be in their interests
The conference of the All
Campaign Against School Closure, to be held on Saturday 19 May, will examine the alternative to closure and include discussion on schools and their communities. and what is happening to educa-
It b being held at the Tate and Drama Centre, Princeton Street, off Red Lion Square, London WC1, beginming
The fiest national conference en school closure is scheduled for October, and it is boped to obtain wide sponsorship from the luhour movement.
If we are to advance the interests of the community and not the Treasury, socialists will need to make demands finance a central part of th
for alternatives
That means demands such as: an end to the cash malt system; profection of social expenditure through antematic increases to keep pace with
loan repayments; and nationalisation of the education suppli industry and the banks.
WHAT'S
LEFT
conterence on leland Sat -9 May
Smell Peoples Demeat shops, discussions BROADSIDE THEATRE.
Both Fu time ong-inn Write giving full deleils of experient stilla, salt ca. apprasch 1o theatre And i-asans far wanting to wors wit
Laran sen
MENSTRUAL regulatien and acoltion
dies — a working parly to ompere abortion
DRES
MALE socialist wants share diat in
preferred. Phone
Tom Som Dean Hearten an
against racism and fasciam.
FORD UK Workers Group (Cer bin
Rd. London Wi
NORTH WEST regional Feminist Canference an Education Socialist Challenge 17 May 1979 page!
Page 6 scan of this page
IF YOU HATE THE TORIES, DONATE TO THE PAPER
HOME NEWS
Tory
abortion
rights
By Sarah Roelofs
Private Member's Bill have had its first reading in Parliament.
Defend free
speech
on Ireland PAT Arrowsmith, the Independent Socialist candidate lor Cardiff South-Fast in the general election, due appear in court in Cardiff on 21 MEat faces charges arising out of her two arrests during the clection campaign.
Photo: JAMIE TAYLOR (SCRAM)
Scargill meets his match By Helen Singer and Vai Jones
ocialist Challenge 17 May 1979 page 6
Parliament
to attack
THE ODDS are that by the middle of June this year al * Miss Scaristrice
- or even a government one aimed at lowering the upper limit for abortions will
in a shopping precinct during a street meeting and charged with obstructing 'insulta breach tanguage and obstructing officer in the course of hi duty.
Pat was talking about British policy in Ireland at the time.
On 2 May the second arrest took place. Pat was picketing an Army Recrultment Office in Cardiff when she was charged with obstruction.
PROTE 21BE S15e 0MI considerable concern in the labour movement. on a petition calling for the charges to be dropped include the Communist Party and Plaid Cymru candidates in Cardiff South-East, the secretary of the Cardiff Trades Council, and BIRMINGHAM's May rally on 7 May started off as a fine example of traditional male politics, with speakers including pin-up Arthur Scargill but not a single woman. It didn't end that way.
On the Women's Liberation stall we had prepared a pin-up poster (taken from Challenge) of our May Day
Since the legal wrangies of
last year the National Abortion
Campaign has suspected chat a
atlempt
restrict women's control over
their own fertility was being
planned.
A lowering of the time limit
was an obvious choice and sure
chough the clection campaign
saw late abortion
splashed in full shock horror
media.
On closer,
cxamination the stories lose
credibility and ironically show
why the time limit should not be
reduced (see box). But the propaganda having been made,
* Protesor Richard Beard
(Obstetrics, St Mary's Hospi-
ta, London) proposed that
Parliament should seriously consider whether the present 28
weck limit should be reduced to
24:
* David Steel (who introduced the 1967 Abortion Act) said
that he expected and would
abortion LIFE's administrator) hoped the limit
*benne Munday (of the British 20 weeks;
On 14 April she was arrested Gordon McLennan, secretary of the CP
highway". Nor is Pat's arrest an isolated likely to Incident. During the election of the peace', campaign a number of those
beckled Callaghan
Ireland were arrested; others
were physically attacked
Labour Party stewards.
Accordingly.
"Free speech requires a dual delence against state against those in movement who also deny the freedom to speak out on British policy in Ireland Signatures
As to the Arrowsmith case,
the first stage in the defence
campaigo is a demonstration in
Cardiff on 19 May. This will
leave Sophia Gardens, Cathe dral Road, at 2.15pm.
No nukes
explosion
hits
Torness
By Puul Atkin and Paul Hubert
AS THE last occuplers left the
site of the planned Torness
atomic plant in Scodland last
week, one of the construction
workers fashed his anti-nuke
badge from
CULTUVEr.
Five thousand people from
as far away as Brighton and
Exeler, as diverse as the SNP,
Hands off our Wild Life,
the Anti Nazi Leagoe, had that
weekend pur the anti-nuke
movement on the
Britain.
The atmosphere was like a
rock Testival - ascing hippies
Day playmate Arthur full frontal,
with a graffiti
defender When Scargill sent down one of his lackeysto deal with us, he explained in the course of heated Yorkshire miners were ignorant and bad to be Socialist pin-ups to read their paper!
And when Scargill himself
TOTEELELE
had become election issue.
stories TO voting abortionist parlaments years.
Tory
more sensous series of
areas picked artestion will be those
cally weak.
conference on 9 June.
Socialist Challenge
(anti-
would be
abortion
general
00
by
the issue of
Ireland
attacks and the labour
down
But the
polentiully huge
May,
on Sunday.
the fence completely, and subotaging
principle.
passing TERIA
and
map in Themiselves
There is
board for with undisguised
all the birds'.
SESS the
bribed with
Pregnancy Advisory Service, a
supporter of abortion rights)
By this time the euphemisti-
cally termed women's vote Parlament
last minute Subsequently, the first woman Prime Minister
was decled with one of the
most right-wing and, according
records, antifor TUC.
thetorie promised attacks basic
democratic rights. Divide and
rule tactics will mean that the
DUE for special late where
the working class is ideologi-
In thar Context
women's rights fit the bill.
Against this sombre back-
ground the National Abortion
ampaign will be holding it campaign
provision
ters will be arguing for the conterence to initiate a
lowering of the time limit sel
delend the 1967 Act' campaign Menstrual
with the aim of getting the
maximum number of people abortion
participating in mass action 10
defend the limited gains for
rights. Already the
British Medical Association has chanting at bemased tourists. Also
weekend also reveules the weaknesses of this
movement.
On the evening of Saturday 5
manive meelings took Day march. place to plan for the ocupation
Some wanted to remove
around the site argued for though ir were a matter of equipment
Dihers said constituted 'violence" and was morally rather than tactically
For those of us who held
the most disturbing thing was that some of the amarchists unilaterally decided to subotage equipment join in the compound — not holding
accountable either the Torness Alliance or the majority of the ocupation.
ment.
was challenged, he responded | tits and arse.
contempt:
Im really pleased about the poster, now l'il be able to pull
Sports wonien"
As Scargili began to speak at the rally, at least 50 women stood up and began to chant:
'Scargill is a sexist, he divides a result the the working class, women hold up half the sky, we're not just
defended the 28 week limir.
The obvious climax for activity would be a demonstration in the sutumn to coincide with the second reading in
of tbe expected restrictive legislation.
Last year the Women's TUC agreed to organise a demon stration in the event of an restriction heing introduced a stand later supporied by the
The Labour Party's conference has twice supported a woman's right to choose.
Few women ever undertake an abortion lightly, let alone a
Indeed, late abortions are often necessary because of extensive delays in the NHS referral procedures.
Accordingly one of the main defences against upper limit restrictions will be NAC's
VTLA for ensinar and extension abortion facilities.
NAC is fighting for day care (out-patient) abortion clinics to
up in every area. aspiration, an safe and carly Technique recently legalised but ignored by the media and the SHS. should be an integral part of such clinics
Abortion rights promise to overcoming divisions in the movement over lactics without democratic decision-making.
disturbing tise jeering which met a proposal by some SWP members to send contingents to leaflet Dunhar and join the Edinburgh May
The Scottish NEM and TUC are opposed to Torness being buill and want a moratorium on new nuclear stations. When Labour was in government this was used to justify a strategy of lobbying Been in the Departnent of Energ
With Tory David Howell i office that approach is looking less valid to muny. But that an orientation le the Labour movement is valid is shown by the plan drawn up hy Vickers and Parsons workers to save
by working on alternalive energy sources.
Use of direct action must be linked to mobilising that Intent support in the labour more-
Others marched to and fro in front of the platform with a big placard reading
the exploitation
We were amazed by the amount of support we won. As
organisers were forced to allow us a speaker, Tricia Davies. She explained:
be one of the first targets of the Tories. Defence of those rights should therefore be one of the first campaigns laken up.
"NAC conference, Manchester, 9/10 June Details from NAC. 374 Gray's Inn Rd, London WCI.
THE ELECTION horror stories' were selective and
*The first focused on a lute abortion at Wanstead Hospital. Wanstead is in a local health authority with the smallest per. centage of NHS abortions in the Lendon arca.
In 1975 palients al the hospital were 'subjecied to long delays In recelving appointments, hostility from mursing staff und the final possibility of refusal of a termination when it
-l00 late to seel the operation elsewhere" (Abortios Rights Tribunal, 1977, NAC und NCCL).
*The Barnsley story con cerned the case of the woman with German measles and the Aterial Bel, althe membe ahortion. If the womsa concerned was in contact with German measles after 15 weeks of pregnancy, why did she have to wait another two months for the operation?
'I CONSIDER there is only
ome correct sentence for
someone demberately breaks the tav whe only
lut encourages olhers to do
50. Magistrate Roderick
Romain's comments on the
of Londen
Piers Corbys leave little to
imagination: try
Mujesty's pleasure.
Corbyn was lound guilly
of resisting the mass eviction
aquatters in Huntley
Street. He bas been belled
until this Thurday for
reports. Piers would apprecinte it if as many friends as
possible could turn up at
Marylebom Magistrates Court on 17 May for his sentencing-
PIERS
INNOCENT
Pin-ups are part of the was in which capitalism exploits the working class. They are the most visible part of the sexism which alienates many women from socialist politics. We want to build a united socialism. The way to do chat is not to keep quiet about things thar divide us but to find a way to talk abour chem, We want socialism, not sexism
Page 7 scan of this page
How far dare theygo?
BOOST THE FIGHT AGAINST RACISM BY FUNDING YOUR PAPER
HOME NEWS
peopie in Britain.
By Rich Palser
in 14 black newspapers claimed that because of white fears over
*Conservative policy encourage harmonious relations by relieving this fear.
The argument in itself is phoney. If the problem is the racism of whites, then you can hardly light that by capitulating to it with more controls on black immigration. The problem is not immigration but
But comine from a party which jumped as one to defend Thatcher's statements swamping, and was happy to allow Enoch Powell to stay in its ranks despite his outbursts, this argument is pure пуростіку.
Further controls on immigration will just fuel racism aiding the Tories preparations for an offensive against the labour movement by further dividing it
But just how far they can go aiong this TORd unleashing a monster they cannot control another
At the very minimum the Tories will end the "concession" made by Labour in 1974 which allowed husbands and fiances into Britain. The entry
Fighting
back
WITH the election of a Tory government the Campaign Against the Immigration Laws (CAlL) has moved into top gear.
Up until it has concentrated on modest activines such as producing newsletter which seeks provide anti-racist bodies around the country with news SHE SITE TAUS LITE WHERE fighting the racist Immigration controls
Now It is trying to help build a link between these organisations by co-ordinating a picker
30 June of cach of the demigrantee riso detention *illegal 1hob-
Hy strengthening the links between those already active on the issuc, CAlL aims to prepare the ground for the kind of broad-based paign which will be vital if the new proposals coming from the Tories are to he defeated.
The campaign will approaching black and antiracist organisations with the aim of getting joint sponsorship for a conference nong these lines.
Socialist Challenge urges supporters to win your union branch and ANt to affiliate to CAIL, and contact campaign about organising a Once a tre perse peentor centre to your town. Write to CAIL, Box 133, Rising Free, 182 Upper Street, London NI
The Tories and immigration
IT MAY HURT, but it's for your own good — that is how the Tories have been trying to justify their proposals for tighter immigration controls to black
of parents, grandparents and chi dran over I will be cut There will also be increased harassment of black peopic as the hunt for illegal immigrants' is stepped up.
Edward Heath would like black people to turn the other check" to these attacks on their democratic rights, since it is all in the interests of
A new Nationality Act, also promised in the Tory manfesto. certain introduced. This would probably have the same effect as Labour's previous Green Paper roposals → allowing Britain ketheother EEC countries, to base its immigration laws on citizenship. racist Roughly speaking, citizens
of the UK and colonies who are regarded under the present immigration laws as (largely white) would become British citizens, patrials (largely black) would come *British citizens, According to Tory spokesperson Willie Whitelaw, this would also remove some of the DONSIDE sources OF immigration.
A neW Nationality would, moreover, be a step in a Jar more imporant prolect male moving towards the
system of migrant labour with THE TORIES campaigned on luw COMATUCE SIRENILET Immigration controis. Labour said they would repeal the "sus" lows, and that immigrution controls were already adequate.
It doesn't need a professor in to black people voted Labour lo politics to reason that most
keep the Tories out.
Not that the Tories haven't tried to win the votes of black people. Leading those attempts has been Willie Whitelaw - the Minister with chief responsi bility on matters of law and order, race and immigration. It was Willle Whitelaw who helped to launch, and warmly supported, the Federation of Conservative Students' teampaign against racism' in 19T7.
It was Willie Whitelaw whe warmly encouraged participation in the be Committee Against Racialism
- a dismal failure to present a moderate alternative to the ANL.
Ever since it dawued on them that black voters form over 8 per cent of the clectorute in 61 urban constituencies, the Tories have been trying to face
both ways at once: for an end to all imnigration to get the racist vole, humanely anti-racist to woe the black vote,
to be
of the democratic rights of British "patrial"
Finally, there is another door whilst non- left open by the Tory manifesto
commitments - help for those immigrants who genuinely wish UN SEAR
leave this limiting black prevents worsening race relawhy
Tuture number of black
Britain and gain still better race Act relations?
The Tories Insist that there is по
EEC repatriation. But once help is
being given to those who want Tary
Joint
the
Facing both ways ut once is shrays a little whilst Willie Whitelaw has
There's ONE
civil
social security?
Certainly
country" If
immigration
The
reduce the
people in
between 1972 and 1976.
of forced
play.
Behind Whitelaw's smile
faced one difficelt.
opposite direction.
blacklise we can BoTH agree on! why encouragement? Why not cuts In tax relief for dependants, a change in the state system of
"encouragement" of this type would be needed to achieve any substantial reduction in the black population.
number of individuals receiving assistance under the present immigration laws has never gone beyond 250 a year
But if that gives the Tory Party a bigger racist card to
10 A50 0 C SaG considerably, It will not take
Alter speech to the conference
Britain
be reduced further.
When She met this
controb. ments
Thatcher's 'swumping.
see manifesto.
way, Thateher las dressed the balance in the behind him stands Magui
Thatcher.
long for the fascists to see that
'encouragement" black
people to leave can take the
form of more assaults and more
bricks through windows.
And after Southall there can
be no doubt that the black
community is equally capable
of mounting a fierce resistance
Conservative Central Office
told us that they did not
covisuse ans new mcasuaca Au
aid black people leaving che
country. Tightening the exist-
ing controls and preparing a
new Nationality Act will be
- beyond that
they will be cautious.
Whitelaw's 1976 Tory Party confirming Ton commilments to the dependaats of people who had settled
1973, Consersative policy document stated that immigration had to
negotiutions were under way to involve the Tory Party in the Joint Committee Against Ruciulism, Thatcher tried to stop a Tory nomination For joint chairpersonship, only to be over-ruled by the purty.
by publicly innouncing thut she intended to pursue tighter immigration
Given Whitelaw's history, and the fact that he is backed in
: Office by Timoths Raison and Leon Brittar
associated with the liberal Bor Group], It would be tempting to think that these divisions will continue to divide the Cabinet.
Hut more recent develop-
indicate otherwise.
Whitehall has fully backed up
statements 00 and the Torles determiaation to tighien immigration controls is there for all
their election
Gc/o
The new Home Secretar may have a smiling face, but
Appeal to fight discrimination
From Birmingham Action Committee Against Rucism in Clubs
THERE have been continuous reports of racist colour hars in Birmingbam nightelahs.
The latest and most blatant exumple is that of Polyanna's, which has been served with a discrimination order under the Race Relations Act.
The management response has heen to defend its quota system. This activity sometimes disguised is the form of a no hats or turbans rule
The Action Commitice exists to mount the broadest possible campaign -In the labour movement to combat racism in the clubs. We call upon all organisations and individual opposed to racisas to sponsor and sapport this campaign.
Spentsors of the Action Committee so far include [in = релині сарису
Moss Evans (Generul Secretary, TGWU); Arthur Seargill Dorkshire NUM): Trever Phillips (President, National Union of Students); Tony Bean MP: Stuart Hall [Centre for Contemporary Coltural Studies, Birmingham Universits: Reverend David Jenning [AFFOR): Maurice Ludmer
Birmingham ATTENTIE.
Trades Council, editor of Searchlight); Martin Bronk (Secretury, Birmingham Labour Party|: Councillor Briun Bird: David Spilsbury Birmingham NUT Executive].
righe
eciss
Orgunisutions backing the committee include: Birmingham Campaign Aguinst Racism and Fascism; T&GWU 5/909
NUPE Birmingham Genera Hospital branch; Birmingham Area NUS; Bir mingham University Sindents Union: Binniogham ANL.
Further information from Birmingham Action Commit tee Agninst Racism in Clubs,
Labour Club, Bristol Street, Hiringchum.
Socialist Challenge 17 May 1979 pug
Page 8 scan of this page
HERE'S A PROMISE. WE'LL FIGHT FOR A SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE AND KEI
fight
The
movement in the next five years.
Last week we outlined our views.
contnibute.
other contributors to this column,
Star Editor
By Tony Chater, Editor, Morning Star
A TWIN-TASK now faces the labour and progressive movement following che election living standarde Tend
living standards democratic rights, and at the same time, to create the conditions for the election of a Labour government of a new type, committed to the policies of
This will involve struggle over a wide spectrum issues WIth mobilisation of millions. In this way, a broad democratic alliance needs to be built up, with the organised labour movement as both the kernel and the leading force.
Naturally, this will involve un Intensification of the battle of Ideas. This ideological battle needs to be rooted in the people's daily strugeles. For it is in the course of struggle on the Immediate issues that people can be won to understand the need for more far-reaching changes opening the road to socialism.
In this sense, the struggle which mast be developed cannot be restricted to a defensive struggle against the Tory altacks vital as that Is. The movemen! needs to go over to the offensive to win commitment from a future Labour government to fandamental changes in policy, and where necessary, changes in Is leading personael.
Central to this is the need to learn the nsons of the past five years. it is the policies of the right-wing Labour leaders which created the conditions for on 3 May.
In this, the social contract played a major part. Right from the beginning the Morning Star and the Commanut Party characterised the cial contract as a con trick - • BOTEL! for imposing wage restraint in return for yugue promises of progressive
In reality, altbough under the impact of the mass movement certain progressive measures, for exarple, the repeal of the Tory Industrial Relutions Act, were carried through, most of the JULE THE ROUSER:
Mor
against
the
THE DEBATE on the way forward under the Tories has opened with a bang. Tony Benn's refusal to join the Shadow Cabinet has concentrated attention on the whole direction of the
This week we invite Tony Chater of the Morning Star to
Despite our differences with the Communist Party and with
we believe that the widest possible range of opinions in the labour movement should be debated on the pages of Socialist Challenge at this decisive time.
on the Tories
In the main, government policies simply uggravated enemployment and Fulled to open up a solution to the crisis in the interests of the working people.
To have done this would have meant bringing about a fundamental shift in the balance of wealth and power in favour of the working class, and at the expense of big business.
But right-wing policies were based on class collaboration. This was essence of the social contract. All that hes to be changed, Progress has been made in this direction. A festure of the recent period his been the acceptance of policies at Labour Party, TUC, und trade union conferences more in line with the policies advocated by the left.
But the right-wing Labour leaders BUYE DCTSISECONIS TEEMSCO LO CHECY COUL conference decisions. This raises the boler movement democretler the labour conference decisions, re-selection of MPs, the clection of the leader or whatever.
Important here also is the question of bans and proscriptions. In particular, l would greatly strengthen the left's fight if trude unions were able to send any of their members withoot discrimination to Labour Party conferences and other bodies, so long as they paid the political levy. This particular fundumentally undemocratic. poses limits on the rights of trade unioes when it comes to selecting their from this, The return of the Tories is a setback for the working people of Britain. Butt is not a reason for defentism, forces exist which can throw back ibe Tory onslught and win a Labour very government of a new type.
The issue is to mobilise those forces over the whole range of issues — jole, WeeN, the 35-bour week. brices. defence of the unions, women's rights. opposition to raciam, defence expansion of the social services, for public ownership, and so on and so on.
The struggle may not be easy. It was not easy against the Heath government.
BOTE WASTICOROOSTOCO, SHOE CAN DE victorious again — well before 1984, and at a higher polltical level.
administration would be government since the war'
right.
has faced for decades?
By John Ross rates, high levels of imports labour collapse of production level.
1945. That's administration is reactionary government
governments since the
per cent between 1975-1977
do, but how she intends to do it
1975-77,
Without preliminary preparation the first year
union boss Chapple workers" strike of 1970.
these policies
the ban It im-
The
ENE
and
BEFORE the general election, Tom Jackson claimed a Thatcher
the
For once the right-wing leader of the Post Office workers was
But to fight an enemy effectively you have to understand it. Why is this Tory government the most dangerous that the working class
The vast scale of the Tory battie plat
s dictated by the state of British ano international capitalism. The world coonomy is moving into a new reccasion on detente following the limited recovery of
reaction
The much vaunred prize of North Sea oil can actually make the situation of the British coonomy worse. Without an attack on the working class to drive up me rale of prol, the influx of oi revenues can infect Britain with the "Dutch discase" of soaring exchange
and mobilise mass action.
So Thatcher cannot just maintain the status quo but has to rob the working sdeas. class of most of the gains made since
why this Tory authentically gains, smashed Heah.
But haven't both Labour and Tory
(60s tried to pandis carry out such policies? Affer all, the last government's incomes policy drove down real wages hy no less than 12.5
What makes the Thatcher govern ment original is not what she intends to INGENIEN
Sur Keith Joseph's famous Centre the years to Tor Policy Studies" drew some definite conclusions both from the defeat of Heath's government and from the class successes of Wilson and Callaghan in
Joseph and Thatcher concluded that Heath made a disastrous mistake in
Heath refused to meet the TUC lot
and a half of his government, He introduced the openly anti-trade union Industrial Relations the transport workers, Act. He even refused to give a way out The chiel to the ultra-right wins, cloctricians"
in the power
Heath never tried to politically undermine the inevitable resistance lo opposition
• a resistance founded an ideas of maintaining the welfare argument of
most extremist and reactionary state, of fall employment and therefore existing nationalisations, of a liberal" legal system, and'a foreign policy based
As a resul a mighty defensive
swamped Heath. Even sections of the trade union burcaucrats such as Scanion, convinced that the
very existcilee oi the organisations on waich nes re Front their membership, maile they were based and gestures of defiance and on accasions left the door ajar for militants to
Without breaking from its reformist
without clear socialist cermited in detence of is poster working class,
If This was the conclusion from the Heath experience what did the Tory
glean from the - Tatou government which followed it?
Wilson Immediately serapped Heath's war machine: The Industrial Relations Act was repcaied. -The Employment Protection Act-and the
Act FACTS offered to the working class as olive branches. Yet in
come and Callaghan were lo mark up a series of successes in attacking the working
At the root of these victories was a complete reversal of Heath's attitude to the trade union bureaucracy. Where Heath attacked the Labour leaders Callaghan brought the union bosses into the very seat of government.
Consultation was the guiding theme at every sage. The deitils of the first round of incomes policy in 1975 were proposed by Jack Jones, then leader of
weapon and common starting point were labourist politics centred on appeals of 'national interest above class interest', to weakening of classes rather than class conflic
to what the: tertied "Violence and extremism and the final
the of
The most da
Who is
Parliament
Where such stirring battle cries had no effect the trade union leaders did the government's diny work hy such organisational threatened expulsion of the toolmaker from the Amalgamated Union Engineering Workers
Apart from is defeats in the winte of 1978/9 at the hands of the Ford: workers and lorry drivers, Wilson and Callaghan led the most successtul righ wing governments in Britain since the war. They made the capitalist core of Labour reformism directly serve the ruling ciass. experience, That's why the desertba Thatcher aims of her as an "ideological politician' i accurate
Of course , certain political wcapons used by Wilson and Callaghan anti-Toryism. "the unity of the labour
Page 9 scan of this page
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Page 10 scan of this page
WE'RE MAKING IRELAND AN ISSUE. GIVE GENEROUSLY
IRELAND
By Geoff Bell
The role of the British Army
in the North of Ireland became
most obvious in the streets of
Derry on 30 January 1972, The
occasion was Bloody Sunday,
when
Parachute Regiment shot 14
in cold blood.
Ar the time the deaths in
Derry were microteied by many as a product of the selective
repression theories of Briga-
dier Frank Kilson,
counter-insurgency expert then
high up in the Army command
in Belfast,
Just six weeks after Blood:
Sunday, Philip Goodhart MP
Mood up. the House
Commons and proclaimed:
"In his admirable book Low
Intensity Operations Brigadier
Frank Kitson has underlined
some. •problems and has called
for a great effort.
delighted Brigadier Kitson should at this
moment be in a responsible role in Belfast, This is very much a case of the right man being in the right job at the right time.
Last Goodhart
appointed by Thatcher as a
unior Minister at the Northern
eland Dffice. As the only one
the appointees who
poken at any length about the North of Ireland, his utter indue abour the type of policies perhaps the Tories will try to implement in Ireland
A former member of the Parachute Regiment, Goodhart has always himself in military affairs. first appointment after being elected to the Commons in 1957 was as a private parliamentary ecretary to the War Office
It was not long before he was addressing himself problems of the British Army
- in particular, the fall-off in ecruitment.
In November 1960 Goodhart argued that "a small colonial disturbance would, I think, have a stimulating effect, oddly cnough, on recruitment'
when such 'colonial distur hances" started to break out, he was only too keen to welcome hem and pertorm the usual whitewashing job of British politicians.
In November 1966 Goodhart informed the Commons that 'relations berween British ervicemen and civilians over-
5 have been remarkab
lod, in the face of gre
other parts of the Middle Fast?.
But it was when the British Anny went onto the streets of the North of Ireland in August 1969 that Goodhart really came into his own.
In those carly months the Army was being portrayed as the saviour the entire citizenry of the North of reland, the good guys who were there to be friends to everyone.
Goodlart wasn't so sure. In October 1969 he noted that all the poor soldiers had to defend themselves with was CS gas. He demanded to know from the Minister for Defence:
ocialist Challenge 17 May 1979 page 10
The Military Men
THE BRITISH ARMY will welcome Thatcher's | appointments to the Northern Ireland Office. The Army and the gentlemen concerned are old friends.
What plans he has for issuing additional anti-riot equipment for the soldiers carrying out internal security duties in the • North of Ireland.
That set the tone for the next ten years. In December 1969 Goodhart paid what be called "a very special tribute to the B Specials of the Uister Special Constabulary.
In 1974 be called for the introduction of identity cards
the in the North of Ireland and
Great Britain, and repeated the demand two years later. the same demanded that the Defence Regiment be
of full-time basis. He added that if
there might not Willing to serve ment is a great sergeant.
Goodhart's attitude can be summed up by a statement he that made in June 1975:
military pr esence in Northern Ireland will he need for long time. deplore rumours of premature with drawal of the Army from was Northern Ireland.
Apart from Goodhart, the only other Tory allocated to the His
the
Thatcher's Irish Ministers
North of Ireland who has some previous knowledge of the arca is Humphrey Arkins" second-in-command, Michael Alison,
Alison has a military background. A former officer in the Coldstream Guards, Alison is a member of the Guards Club in London, an exclusive drinking den for the military establish-
During his time in Parliament, Alison has gone out of his way to endorse the views of toe most extreme Lovalst MPA | ln a debate on the Prevention of Terrorism Act in November 1975 he said: *The note from the House tonighs is the will to combat time he that kind of criminal gang (the
Ulster (RAJ. belseve that the will has put on a been sounded in the speeches of
the hon. Member De: cRouch North (Paisley) and "unemploy- hen. Member for Down South
(Powell)... the will to criminal gangsterism sent."
Alison has been
'A UK spokesperson for the Tories on
PTA occasions. In the he demanded an increase in its powers, and in January 1976 he called under the Act The new Secretary, Humphrey
has to such
Parliament.
Like Goodhart, Old Etonian
the Admiralty,
naval collegs,
Interestingly,
person Such is Tor Antrim background the + right
combat pre-
The chief Catholic),
number of November 1975 Army major).
for increased penalties possible re-introduction
internment, another Northern Ireland Atkins, cards.
experience As Tory Chief Whip he did not, bs TRIBUNAL tradition, make speeches
Nevertheless Atkins too has an armed forces background. His first post in government was in the Ministry of Defence, where from 1959 to 1962 he was Secretary to the Civil Ford of
Atkins was even educated at which
and his various attachment to the forces was niost notably acknowledged in 1965-7 when he was secretary of the Conservative Parliamentary Defence Committee.
Atkins was civil succeeded in that post by Philip Goodhart, who went on to become the committee's chair-
the military the of the chief members of the Tory adminis- ruled tration in the North of Ireland. The team is made up by Hugh NOTICI Rossi (whose only qualification hearing. seems to be that he is a
former Rowntree director Giles Shaw, and Old Etonian Lord Elton (a former
With rumours sweeping the North of Ireland about the
of military solution appears to be on the
the
SOLIDARITY
NEWS
INTERNATIONAL
INVITATIONS are now being extended for delegutes lo the Internationul Tribunal Britain's Presence in Ireland.
The tribunal will have its ing final hearing on 7/8 July at the Conway Hall, London. The delegates will make up a jury
will adjudicate SHOLE British presence in Ireland.
The final bearing follows s preliminary one in January of this year af which three judges
Elienne Bloch, a judge of
(France), Ron Knowles, national officer of the NUJ and editor of the Journalist, and Philip Flyan, Deputy General Secretary of
Irish Local Government and Public Services Union —
that organisers hud made out
Case for -full
tribunal will hear evidence on a variety of matters
concerning Britain's presenc
• Ireland, incleding Britis attitudes to civil liberties, crimes against women, and the economic consequences.
Delegates are invited from Labour parties, trade union branches, trades councils, and
women's and student movements. A letter inviting delegates for the tribunal is now available from the Listernutomal Tribenal at 47 Wilsham St, London WIl. Entrance wil he El a delegate.
LABOUR MOVEMENT theme CUNFERENCES
A NUMBER of regional labour Ireland are being plansed. The most immediate are ones in Oxford and South London.
The Oxford conference is for
by branch of the National Union
Joumalists and E.
Oxford Trades Council. Speak
ers include Brendun Gallagher.
Tom Litterick, an ex-soldier
and to discuss media
censorship a mumber of
prominent journalists, includ-
the editor of An
Phoblacht/Republican News,
The conference is open to all
trade unionists and admission is 50p. It is being held at Buston
Hall, Walton Street,
Saturday 19 May, starting
10am.
The South London confer cace ls also on 19 May and speakers there will include Michael Farrell of Peoples Democracy. The confercace is sponsored by Lambeth Trades Council and is being held st Goldsmith's College, Lewisham Way, SE14.
MEDIA PAMPHLET LAST week's review of The British Media and Irelund, published by Information on Ireland, omitted mention that it was produced by the Campaign for Free Speech on Ireland. The review also got the postal district wrong: the excellent pamphlet is available from 1 North End Road, London Wi4, price 50p plus 15p pop.
ANTI-ERISH RACISM DEMO
A UNIQUE demonstration Is scheduled for London on 16 June. It will seek to combine anti-racist and Irish solidarity struggles the general
of anti-racism/untiracison agalast the Irish.
The demonstration hus already attracted the sapport of Enst London United Troops Out Movement and branches of
Anti Nazi Lengue. Provisional arrangements are
the demonstration proceed from Speakers Corner. More details later.
Page 11 scan of this page
PR offensive on South African unions
THIS SATURDAY, 19 May.
Embassy in sondarity Movement. Assemble at 2pm.
importance of this Saturday's demo.
KHOMEINI still has the check to pay lip service to the equality of women. But at the same time his other semens are one agan women, like the statement he made about the veil which, by the way, he had to more or less
That was the only issue on which the clergy and Khomeini had to retract. This was after the demonstrations following International Women's Day-
radio and televison discrimination is very explicit. In the first two or three days after the insurrection, women anouncers: After that they normal were told that they should wear ascarf - a sort of modified veil
- and a lot of them disagreed.
One prominent case is of a woman who was in charge of a children's programme. was an interview with her in an issue of Kargar, the paper of the SWP (Iranian Troiskyists).
She said that when she came
days after insurrection, when Gotzabeh was the head of television, he called her into ms office and told her to put a scarf round her head. She refused and couldn't stop her going on the air then. Bur eventually they told ner and we asant wan her services.
By John Blair
THE South African governreper has filly Wichite report Wichahn Commission of Inquiry Into labour legislation. "The goverment has launched a dispensation in the labour
history of South Africa', wecording to the minister responsible, S.P. Botha.
Rumours of the report's
content have been circulating
for more than a year. As widely
predicted, Includes
Intercontinental Pres:
преесся
A MAJK statement on iran
Irom the Uniled Secretariat of
the Fourth Interantional wis
the insin feature of last week's
Press/
Inprecor (Vol 17, No 17). A
new issue is ubso out, featuries
WILD
African black coescionaess
leader.
Individual copies are 30p
Mus postage. Sabscriptions are
19 for one yeur, E5 for sin
munthe or 22.50 for sa latro-
doctory offer issues
Wnt now to latercoatie
Press/Inprecor,
London NI 2XP. Cheques
INTERNATIONAL
Iranian women —
saying no to the veil
there is a national demonstration from Trafalgar Square to the Iranian
with the Iranian Women's
FARIDEH, a member of the Iranian Women's Solidarity Group which is organising the march, has just returned from Iran. She told Socialist Challenge about the current state of the women's movement there and the
In her Interview she said there was a woman there who was a close follower of the Shah. When a lot of radio and television workers had gone on strike she had working.
Now that Gorzabeh came long she put on a great bi carl and she's still doing he job. This is a typical case of tow the old teactionaries can be used by the new regime.
The len-wing parties gener ally support women's demands for equal rights. In programmes they all talk about wanting equal rights and also the abolition of the discrimi-
parties have got that much specific programme.
The party which is bonging
much more is the SWP, but that's COCALL they ve.
them. But they're a very small minority so I don't know how effective they are.
The groups which bring it out far more clearly are the unions the or SOCICHES of women, for
example the women lawyers' union, which bas been taking up the question of women's sosition in law, especially with
They are very discriminated against by strict, Islamic puritanical attitudes. For example they can't practise reseadanon that reservation legislation abolished and that black trade unions be allowed "registered'. To date these have had a twilight existence, not being recognised in law but new nonetheless not being illegal.
Job reservation now covers only 1 per cent of workers For the Important way of preventing blacks uscending the job scale Is the closed shop agreements made by white commission would allow these to remain.
In certain key industries, mines and buildings, separate legislation limits blacks doing certain jobs. *Migrant" workers million out of 7 million black workers and two thirds Soweto's workforce stance - will not be allowed to Join registered unions.
Registration will be entirely the whim of government which will certainly maintain light control over the bodies nial allowed on to the roll. 58.
What then is the purpose of the proposals? There are three main factors.
carried on their
as judges and even as lawyers they are finding it difficult. Bur they have written many articles
demanding that the Ministry of Justice should reverse its policy discriminating
Then there's the National Women's Alliance which in the short terin might bave a better much chance, because although in
their programme they emphasise very much the position of
Job
be to be 150
most
The
1. The increasingly skilled and settled
of significant section for in- Africa's black labour force,
especially that in manulacturing industry. Industry is acutely aware of the power of such workers and hopes to use the registered unions to incorporale them more effectively than has been possible through the present discredited works council urrungements.
2. The political means so fur devised to date for incorporat-
very wide sional women and so on. protest so homogencous against bourgeois women.
increase the women by publications
Bophuthatswana
ÍS DANG
WITH HIGH BUSCO PRESSURE
Wing blacky nature of
of South
black middle class'?
platform. They | literacy classes. include all the other profes
1 don't think their ideology is
- there are but involved in the some quite left-wing women from but there are also some quite
But the thing is that they have a better posability of activity because There they can work more openly.
Their major programme is to
awareness" bringing out and organising tried
was significant
government
defeat.
cully Industry, Lacy dream has
Bantustan
Certains e credible as of Urban Bantu
establish a credible class black collaborators. Could the elevation of at least a minority of skilled black workers in the for Job and income scale be the means to establish that stable
Class;
3. Some sections of industry will be happy to see a partis development of black unions as mination! a counter to the strength of whites. The defeat in Murch of organisation a strike by white miners who and politicall
tion
from
There's the Committee for the Defence of Worrien's Rights
women TABU are mainly the and thcir operation is very limited. They buven't got a paper.
is an unemployed women's group, I don't know how much their activities are or how coherent and organised it is, but quite a few women were show involved in the demonstranon and occupation of the Mibistry
to arrest minor breakdown of job reservation
- the more so becanse, Instead of intervening on the side of the whites,
-stood on the sidelines and allowed their
However politically impor tant it may be, white privilege has always been an economi-
extravagant item for
Myubelo of the Ail.
National Union of Clothing Workers who has been one of the government's most promiment propagandists of collaboration said: We are jubilant al this development. We feel our
come true. (No doubt of a big Increase in her salary and influence).
Fortunately there can be as much hope that South Africa's black workers will react in quite the opposite fashion, by seeing the proposals as a springboard
advancing TUNATELLE democratie demands of the • For as end to all Job reservation agreements and forms of workplace discri
• For absolute freedom of
- trade union
of Justice by the unemployed There was a statement put out by the unemployed women's group demanding cquality in the economy in general: qual pay, better facilities and so on
A SUCCESSFUL conference on Women in Irun was held last Saturday in the City University, London. First Farsi-speaking women and then English speaking weisen discussed papers on the Iranian women's
Another Item the conference agenda was the way In which the British women's
assist their Jrunian sisters. A outlined InC plans women's delegation to go to Iran and the demonstration this Saturday in solidarity with the Iranian women's movement.
This Sacurday's desonstra
is basically against all discrimination against women and the pressures on women
the religious sector, think it's important that people here realise what is going on in Iran. Wedon t want to wake up one day and find a totally reactionary regime consoli dated in power.
At the moment the regime is still not solid, still not formed, and a lot of different forces are
confrontation with cach other. And so there is the chance for , 1rom British women in particular and the British left in general to
women that they're not alone in their right.
IN BRIEF
Bahro meeting
THERE is impressive
line-up of speakers for a public
meeting in London this Friday
on the work of the imprisoned
Fast German Marxist Rudolf
Bahro.
At the meeting will be Turig
editor Socialist
Challenge. David Fernbach,
who translated Bahro's The
Alternative in Eastern Europe
Chris Hurman of the Socialist
Workers Party, Monty John-
sone of the Communist Party,
and Istan Meszures, suthor of
Marx's Theory of Alienation Ton meeting arts a 7 o
Conway Bed Lion
Square, London WCl. Ad-
mission 50p.
The following day at the
Club Room in Conwuy Hall
there will bean all-dar
conference starting at 10.30 on
the present stute of the Bahro
defence campaign
futore activities. All
welcome. Both events are
organised by the Rudolf Bahro Defence Commitice.
Socialist Chullenge 17 May 1979 page 1
Page 12 scan of this page
Tariq Ali—a revolutionary candidate
TARIO ALI will be standing in
European
elections on 7 June as the
candidate of the International
Marxist Group, British section
of the Fourth International, in
the West London constituency
The Fourth International is revolutionar campaign in all nine
countries where the elections
are being held. Its main slogan
can be summarised as Against
the capitalist EEC Icaders of the social-democratic and parties.
Helmut Schmidt, proposals for capitalist million unemployed).
a different solution.
interests of the working class. By Anna Libera
For all their supposed Eurocommunism', the tudes taken toward elections by the VENUES Communist parties show the full extent of their adaptation to the interests of their own national bourgeoisies,
The argument that broke out Last August between Spanish and French regarding Spain's entry into the Common Market was only the tip of the iccherg of differences between these two parties.
Faced with the French CP*s chauvinist campaign in Southwestern France against Spain's entry into the BEC, the leaders of the Spanish CP — who view this entry as the cornerstone of Spain's development nounced French CP. leader Marchais's parochial patriot.
and accused him of 'stirring up reactionary demons among the backward farmers'.
The French CP righteously responded with a paragraph l'Humanite explaining that 'each party had the right to freely determine its own positions?.
In fact, the positions of the various Communist parties go beyond merely being
In July 1978, Marchais wrote in the Caullist magazine Appel:
It is clear that for our part we categorically refuse to tied to any sort of miniinternational or to subordinate our national demands to some Europe-wide party.
with strugeles
billist Challenge: 17 May 1979 page 12
INTERNATIONAL
Europ'.
Strict election laws has
But apart from All's candidature, the FLis running complete siates in Belgium and LuxembourgIn France the hourth International's LCR, Is putting forward a joint slate with another revolutionary organisation, Lutte Our-
CPs have no solution
Is there an
alternative
to the EEC?
THERE WILL be much talk in the Common Market clections about a 'Europe of the workers' from the
But it was the leading light of the social-democrats,
who cooked up the strengthening the institutions Europe (most notable hallmark:
As for the Communist parties, almost every one has
The only thing they common is a refusal to fight for the international
aspirations of the workers, and with the struggle of the Communists of the Nine, atti- we are too conscious of the the national interest to act in this manner. *I should point out that this is not something attitude. The munist deputies who have been members of the the Parliament since 1973, and who Tor organisational belong Communist group, have always stated that their sole function in the ussembly itself was defence of the French national interest.'
Pajella, Icalian de- shadow minister of foreign alfairs, states: "What needed is an organisation that can really act - one that would be based on a transfer of power agreed to by tie governments and parlia ments of the member states and could therefore take up the self- crucial problems that merber states cannot deal with on their own. "The people of the member states will be reassured about this multinational power if it is based firm control directly exercised by the dis- European Parliament much wider powers than it has al present.?
be These differing reflect the national conditions THIRTE are specific country, to which the CPs class-collaborationist
This means that the Spanish
Socialist United States of rière (Workers"
Forty-one of its 81 candidates are women, and the slate will be headed by Arletle Laguiller (LO) and ILCR].
campaign will be a conference of worker militants in Antwerp on 2-3 June. section, the
01 an alternative Europe to the EEC in struggles already taking place today
NICO
Communist
present
seVen
have in
European
WOUL French Com-
European
reasons European Giancarlo
CP'S the and Italian CPs, which espouse interests monopolies of their countries and are lying to establish a policy of national union with democratic the representatives of those
monopolies, are dyed-in-thewith wool Europeans"
1960s the Italian followed policy as the framework for the
positions "Iralian road to socialism',
This road' requires maincaincach ing the que, and one of the existing
policies realitie: that must be taken into
account is Europcan consoli-
Struggle]. motor industry.
Alain Krivine and the kind of A major event in the FT's
It is possible to sow the seeds
workers' strugele
P.C.I.
VOTA VOTA C.J. -OTA the has pro-European
enlarging of the interoational status European universal suffrace, INVEST IN THE FUTURE. FUND YOUR PAPER
for instance, in steel or the
The Antwerp conference will
discuss how such struggles can
be coordinated across Europe,
common demands — such as the 35-hour
week without loss of pay
which can help to unify them.
Another important theme of the FI's campaige will be the
against racism and P. C. VOTA
COMUNSTA COMUNSTA LOS
P.C.I. P.C. VOTA
COMUNISTA COMUNISTA cOMMSTa
P.C.I P.CA VOTA VOTA UNSTA COMUNISTA CONUNST
Moreover, the deepening o he Italian road' that cam with the "historic compromise" proposal and the effort to establish a national union with the Christian Democracy — the party of the Italian monopolies -confirmed and amplified the Halian CP's European policy.
The CP stands not only for the
Common last Market and the clection of the
Parliament by think but also favours a transfer of powers the agenda. trom the national parliaments
datore will in particular be used to highlight the demands of Immigrant workers for full rights as workers and citizens.
The contrast between the supposedly democrutic mature
of the EEC and the actual repression it sanctions will he taken ap with special reference to the war in Ireland.
For Turther details of all these initiatives write lo: IMG
PO Box 50, London N1 2XP.
UNSTA way
to this Europe-wide insticution. such And the CP goes even further accepting the framework of military alliances in Europe — NATO in particular.
The leaders of the Italian CP
leaving misunderstanding regarding their objective in the consolidation of Eurupe.
the
Pajeila brought this to mind
September it a conference in Turin: "I do not ning,
that the socialist transformation of Europe is on
Just as the Iralian CP has
opted for austericy and national union to save Iralian cupitalism, it is lining up behind the consomeanen or curope as ar indispensable conplement to this salvage operation.
The French CP has taken up a very different banner defence of the "French nation". Here the unparalleled depths of chanvinism.
Its policy s spreading nationalist poison in the WOTKINg CASS stimulating divisions and opening the way to racism. Vre are already seeing Communist coming out m Tavour
the immigrant workers in their towns.
This position fulfik several obiectives for the CP
li can use its chauvinist campaign to hide its acceptance
capitalism and the capitalist (non-enlarged) Common Harket and IES inabilily • for the provide any perspective workers who are being bulfeted by the connutic crisis
The EP this campaign to holster is policy of deepening the split with the SP (a European and even a "Cerman" parly par excellence)
clear TERE way establishing a Union of the People France", thus returning to the Gaullists' camp with a defence of the French Mation',
Thus the CP press no loneer speaks of trists er monopolies. instead it me the German word konzern. And when it has
the only names it can think of ace Krippor von Thyssen!
-Arenot to the CP'S September 1978 Central Com matter meeting explained that Germany wanted so use the EEC to win what it couldn't ge through the war!
Bur this claavinist, nation alist outburst over the contradictions in th CP's policy. The CP organise: demonstrations against Spain's entry into the EEC but in no
EDes it oppose capitalist Common Marker as
It leads a bartle againsi increased Europcan integration
the name of defending national capical therefore the national exploiters!
Any campaign against the Common Market that is not accompanied by a radical campaign against capiralism, for
concrete international solidarity of the workers, for international economic plan
and for the Socialist United Stares of Europe car only take the reactionary character of the French CP: policy
Page 13 scan of this page
Where is Rhodesia anyway?
TAN Smith with the former Foreign Secretary, David Owen, who backed the Anglo-American proposals for Zimbabwe. But
Murder hunts Italian style
INTERNATIONALISM — VITAL INGREDIENT GIVE GENEROUSLY
By Richard Carver
BEFORE the election Francis Pym was only vagucly aware that the Labour government's policy on Zimbabwe was also that of the United States, or so Godfrey Hodgson reported in the New Statesman.
If this is to be believed (and it sounds very plausible) it is a
for Margaret TE TELL
hatcher's appointment Lord Carrington to the Foreign Office.
He at least, with his extensive South African and Rhodesian business interests, will be in possession of such vital pieces of information as where the countries in question are and the tact that the Anglo-American settlement proposals
Zimbabwe are Angle American.
So if Carrington lends the British government into direct conflict with its American ally over southern Africa it will at least be consciously. But will he?
A lot of mystification and plain slander surrounds the issue of British policy Zimbabwe. The Anglo-American proposals launched Dy Foreign LOVES
and American Ambassador Andrew Young in September 1977 differ only slightly from the "internal settlement" o1 the Rhodesian regime.
In essence they are the same: police, armed forces, judiciary By Richard Carver
NEXT time you are about to buy a Marxist book, beware. Next time you are invited to give a series of lectures in Paris (unlikely though that may be), refuse. For these are the most
INTERNATIONAL
Tories consider Zimbabwe policy
and the entire settler machinery would remain in power with only the political forms changed. Even thos political forms are not different: 28 Teserved white seats under the settlement, 20 under Owen-Young plan.
The cause of the disagreement is simple: settlement include the Patriotic Front led by Joshua Nkomo and sooch MusaocE En Inc imperialist camp residual racist objections are put because it is recognised that a
and herefore proteste leF
the majority black party is involved.
lan Smith is prepared to take the psychologically important also sinister win turnine minister condition that he can sell this to his white settler supporters. But white farming interests, which stil form the social hase of the Smith regime, gently opposed to any deal with the Patriotic Front.
The Tory dilemma is that every instinct tells them to back Smith while their political sense tells them that the Owen-Young plan is in imperialisa's best UN interests.
The appointment of Carrington is significant because his own personal experience and Interests in southern Africa will tend to make him perfectly attuned to imperialism's needs. He is a cool operator who is |
pieces of offered by the luhan stute ugainst Professer Antonio Negri and 32 others arrested in connection with the killing of Christian Democrat
More hy Brigades.
RED Brigades defendants on trial in Milan when Moro was
state
50 internal
the
should the
aside only
are intransi
unlikely to let solidarity with his 'kith and kin override his duty to his class.
Unless Thatcher want to preside ove the curly disintegration of the Commonwcalth they will not velo probable United Nations economic sanctions imposed on South Africa over Namibia. And they recognise the Smith regime before the August Commonwealth conference. mindful not just of future evidence we'd be verseers to
political smear and personal slander as 'circumstantial'. The BEEN LEAPI hus leader nothing linking the accused to Red Moro's killers.
Sensing that the state is on weak ground, the press has made up for it with speculation. For example, it cinimed that Negri, who it alleges to be the Red Brigades" strategist, santom call to Moro's tamily made
before the killingmanded a voice test. That we Negr
nevision dom broadcast the
telephone voice and Negri's inadvertently that the two were completel different. re all good fiction this c
to have been planned fron Paris. QED. Negri planned the
Whether it might not be goin so far to use books as eviden criminal
Impossible to separate theory and practice!
Pontin em. Many pp
huve drawn comparison with kaown case of Pietro Valpreda un anarchist held for years charged with a
they're not so different from the 'internal settlement".
and Nigeria too;
US Congress and Senate.
will not move to Helms and Sam
have opposed
They are produced quite conscious intellectual freedom.
chief political timsi lions
Immediately The
but
demonstrating the reasons
Operaio members connercharges are made.
intent.
France Communist
bvio course in Paris the well
bombing
economic interests in Zim- | Rhodesian elections. babwe but of present ones in black African countries like
The extent to which this policy changes is likely to depend on the advances made by the racist right wing in the
This group, led by peopic like Jesse
Hayakawa, the Anglo- great American plan all along and have gained ground over the question of recognition of the | political crisis over Zimbabwe. actually carried out by fascists
But this time there are a an accomplice. number of new aspects. Most obviously the use of books as evidence is a far-reaching and
aftuck 011
The charges against the 33 reflect a similar disregand for democratie rights. Only nine of right the accused fuce charges of Christian Hive wensent in Armird sirie de' but all of them are allegedly involved in 'saversive ussocia- porters.
in other words, The organisations of the far left.
purticulur turget is former members of Petere Operaio, an organisation which dissolved in 1973 and of which Toni Negri was a leader. One of
for the Paris investigation was the presence there of three former Potere
parliament,
But perhaps most sinister is the fact that the prime mover in the prosecution has been the Communist Purly (PCH. The marty was supported porce ment "law and order' moses l
he past und even proposed li the
175 amendment to the pen cole under which the present
Bret thirtin the red ever more directly involved. public prosecutor, Calogero, i have • PCI member and the part paper, 'Unita, has joined in the
sterical press campan
There has been help fro Cabezas
List Party where the daily remarked that Negri's teaching coelent Pover gave him t
without mentioning that the course was
rganised by party memb comp ou Althusser who should | methods of finding out th
73443 correspon closely with mainstream Tor thought and if they inflict a serious defeat on the Carter administration Britain and the
could mOVe forward in step towards a compromise with Smith
If this scenario proves wrong
- and it is not predicted with
confidence both British and US administrations face the prospect of a domestic presumably be slung in Jail as
The Plis intentions the transparent. In the run-up to nest month's general election it
make sure or t credentials as a defender of the status quo. At the same lime il will give the lie to those on the
wing of the goverting Benocrat who describe the Red Brigades as "second-generation PCI sup-
arrests have not. however, received total approval inside the party, Intelee- cure. tals in particular are disturbed at the round-up of virtunily the entire teaching staff at the Faculty of Political Science in Padua, where Negri 1s professor. Professor Cacciari. • PCI deputy in the outgoing
has made especially strong denunciation of the arrests, pointing out the
mpossibility, wilh his politici
riews, of Negri beading = underground guerilla groop.
Creclari is right. Apart from
Improbability
Argentinian disappearance THE Argentinian anthorities
reportedly detained member of the Commission al Relatives of the Disappeared. Telma Dorothy Jara
was herself de appeared shortly after leaving the hospital where her husband Is being treated for lung cuncer.
A total of 15,000 Is estimated
huve disappeared Argentina since the military
of 1976. Conventional
Recognition of the racist regime could open up enormous opposition among the black and labour move-
unoterdents on ar international issue since Vietnam. to avoid sac densi Thatcher and Carrington will have to risk the taunts of the loony right inside their own party
Bither. way • Zimbabwe's Rhodesian problem has come home where it belongs. | "terrorist" leader advertising his politics on every bookstall in
Negri's simply do not correspond to those of the Red Brigades Negri the theorist of auto nomy and mass action has lete in common with isolated urned groupies - something he has repeatedly pointed out in his remarks on the Moro kilaupping.
If the Italian thought polle une suddenly so interested in hi bonks they must know this Presumably they Just don't
• The Haly 79 Committee. which is organiing salidarity contacted at Box 13s m with those Free 182 Upper Stree London N1. Statements of sapport from individuals, stodent unions and acadenic institutions should be sent to that address. We think tha
Communist Britain and individusl CP brasches would be particularly appropriale.
whereshouts of friends relatives have failed.
Instead there has been sileat demonstration outside the presidential palace every Thursday by the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo'. Dorothy Jara de Caberas whose own mother is one of the disappeared, was one of that weekly group of demonsiru oThe authorities have denied detaining her.
Socinlise Challenge 17 May 1979 page 13
Page 14 scan of this page
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Page 15 scan of this page
"The Warriors'
banned it.
By Geoff Bell
bourgeoise with the unclean lumpen gangs of New York threatening to take over the whole city from the rich, the powerful, and the cops.
Left
youth
are
right
By Redmond O'Neill
THE attention that the natlonal Revolution rally received from the press was a rare exception fo SHE SALTE Direct tractonane grocts Inc activities of the revolutionary left.
In the run-up to the 5 May rally, (WO cancelled as a result of the noisy cucophony of forebodings in papers like the Sun. Evea the Pinanmal lames conadered Ene Event worin a menon
The tone of the coverage was summed up in the Sun's front рике. arucie: schoolchildren are expected to mass at an astonishing Marxist rally.
UNDER REVIEW
Regroupment
leader shot at
unity meeting
So much so that Leeds city council has already
For a time The Warriors, hearts of Socialist Challenge now on general release, does readers are there at the start -indeed promise to be the the prospect of unity between ultimate disaster movie for the the previously warring gangs;
black, white, -broWD. yellow uniting to fight the establishment.
But such prospects quickly diminish when the regrouper is shot at the unity Underlying this was the same combination of paternalism and fear that has marked press reactions to the schools Nuri Leugue and the National Union of School Stadents.
Paternalism to play on the worries of thos Indoctrination of "their kids": and fear as expressed in the Tory mainteste 'experiment regime as a short, sharp shock for young criminals" lower the responsibility present level of ten.
That this kind of witch-hunt CHU DO CHECHE WAS SHOWN US the cancellations of venues for the rally and the way the press has been able in the past lo mobilise parents against NESS activities in schools.
The emphasis that Richard Gott, were Guardan, wave to ais repor was outercal, Toe Barassent KeVOlUtIn received onior Do the rally was sympathetically and accurately reported. message of his article, however, was that the SCOCTIAPE youth who hit the headlines with the Sex Pistols, Punk, and Ine ANE are harmless crowd, looking aver their shoulders to the "6ls.
meeting, From then on it's downhill all the way.
The ultimate let down i when members of the gang of to face with the rich trendies. The Warriors had previously fought them way opposition gangs, enthusiastically engaged in self-defence against the cops, and "wasted" opponents who dared challenge them.
But then the rich trendies face the gang in a subway train and the gang lift not a finger against them.
The truth is that the movie is not concerned with youthful revolution. It has no messagc or political overtones. What it's really about old-fashioned Western subway trains stead horses In that context the plot is familiar, unjustly and They fight their way back to
their home territory against various tribes of "Indians, and the gang leader fall for the leading saloon girl with the beart of
gold' NATONALISE
AUL THE CLUBS,.
THAT'S MY
SOLUTION.
Sport -
opium
of the
masses ?
approach scems to be more of a cultural
than a political phenomenon? Gott wrote after attending the rully, "It is often more about lifestyles and languge in the here stoplan schemes for the herein
The kernel of truth in this statement is. of course, that the lifestyles of the possible for youth today nor are the utoplan schemes of Rower power, peuce und fove. and to What punk expressed was a criminal new below the
aew ware of politicians turned cabaret artists.
When Pat Watkins, a youth from Cardiff, explained at the rally that he didn't join the anny because Ireland should be free,
WHORE in common with Catholie youth down the Falls Road than we have with downient that keeps thems That is the
The Revolution youth. It is real and
it is socialiss because life on the
of dole is here to stas.
The Revolution rally expres sed after wil, # wish te organise to eradicate it.
That is the nightmare of the Sun. We aim to make their There are times when the leit | nightmare a reality.
through
Many is a good with of
The goodies" are accused of murder.
the gun-hand,
and the rolling
By Ric Sissons
paperback
French Marie Brohm,
new
bourgeois press. theatre. about
6üs wren't and
- tumning he theught his
clear: We've
the
the
politics
of those
There is a final showdown in - Corny. which the chief baddie draws first but the hero outdraws him with a knife and injures him in
makers, Then it's off to the sunset
shoreline.
THE publication of Sport - A Prison of Measured Time
will make this trail-blazing work more widely accessible, Its essays, mainly by decades. Thus
revolutionary. Jeanrepresent the first attempt to examine sport all became from a Marxist standpoint. 4 The British left has been particularly backward on the subject. Glance at the sports coverage of the Morning Star, Newsline, or Socialist Worker. state. It differs little from that of the
can be
In papers such as Socialist equipment. Challenge, sport has been given Most very little space, yet football, fishing, or dans are as much part of working class life under Violence capitalism as the cinema or
Brohm shows that it was no coincidence that sport emerged in an organised and structured
віст са з кобиі вледлан,
even their post.
Shut tant
The only explanation as to why the film has aroused such hostility is that it is all a clever publicity exercise by the film's
Certainly, the much criticised violence is straight out of tom and Jerr
form with imperialism. The masses had to be controlled outside the factory, but with none of the disorder and riots that had often accompanied sporting events in the preceding
within 30 years,leagues, referees, crosshars, whistles, and organised clubs
the norm tn football. Sport imbued disci pline and respect for authority
Within late capitalism, sport has been adapted to meet the needs of big business and the
Every event has its sponsors. Stadiums are plastered with hoardings. Profits
made from sports
importantly, sport reflects and transmits the dominant capitalise ideology.
accepted and encouraged. Women occupy a secondary role. The superstar ethos is all pervasive.
Ia few working people can reach the top via football, + Upper St, London NI. shooker, or tennis then why
repetitive and just not serious
Indeed the whole film is just not serious. Good escapist entertainment maybe, but fantasy. And because the fantasy is obvious the theme of coming disorder is well and truly "wasted"
can't you, your children or the person working next to you?
significance the arguments in this collection of essays cannot be underesti mated, but a structured case is missing
Two omissions stand out. There is very little discussion of women and other oppressed groups within sport, and while stressing that sport must be smashed machinc", Brohm fails 10 quality this remark in any way
Will all sport cease under socialism? That seems unlikely and unnecessary. But what would be the form of sport or Jeisure?
The book is so far a unique contribution to did be on sport, You would advised to read it before the Olympics Dext ycar. *Sport - A Prison of Measured Time ispublished by Ink Links at £2.95 plk. I b available from The Other Bookshop, 328
Add 109% if ordering by mail.
Page 16 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge Come to the TRADE UNION DAY CONFERENCE
WORKERS PLANS AND WORKERS CONTROL
Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper St, London N1. Printed by Feb Edge Liho Lid (TU), Registered with the Post Office as a newspoper. Published by Kelgocrest Ltd. for
By Carl Brocker Hoanslow Hospital Occupation Committee WHEN we were fighting the closure of Hounslow Hospital, one of the arguments used to astily Labour's cutbacks was that our services were must beine transferred to a larger hospital.
We knew better - that the number of hospital beds was Talling whilst waiting lists grew. For all Maggie Thatcher's talk By Curole Regan Vice-President. East London NUT MAGGIE Thatcher's attempt to use moral blackmail to get as to call off our action has made a Hor leuchers STELE more determined to stick out for our pay claim.
Who are the Tories to tall about children's educational needs when they ure intent on cutting public speeding?
I don't think we are doing enough to win our claim - the selective strike action proposed
our union leaders hopeless.
We need all-out national action involving membership.
Nor do I think a percentage rise is what's needed. An across the board sum would better soile our ranks — particularly as most women will otherwise lose out heavily because they
Why we'll be there....
about only cutting ary waste, jobs and services are under threat.
Participating in Fightback, which has tried to link up the the labour movement outside,
have seen defensive action throws up a challenge — not just to defend CALE SCENES PUTTO ICCE LI real need for health care.
I very much want to learn from the Lucas people, because they have tried to meet the same challenge — not only defending jobs, but doing so through a plan for products for which there is a real need.
Even the most control over facilities which we have experienced when carrying out work-ins and occupations has shown us the huge potential of socialist planning and control by workers and consumers.
If we can draw those threads of a socialist alternative out of the struggles we are engaged in, the will strengthen fightback against "remendously. ure on lower paid grades.
But we are not afraid of asking for active support from the rest of the movement, because inflation has cut our real wages juse like those of all other workers.
Len Murray has already had talks with the Tores, though we know that Thaicher only wants to talk us into giving up the hard wen right to picket and a closed shop.
Instead he should organising support for those is those hard won rehts to defend living standards.
Tory governent, labour movement anity based on negotiating away our rights.
That's what I want to discuss at the Socialist Challenge trade
achieve it.
that every minimal
the Thatcher
favours. restore profits,
unionists on 26 May OUR cartoon Cormac, entitled Bad Taste nas won a binancial response
labour from our readership. This week
Charlie van Cielderen sent us a E20 donation from bis first retirement pension payment. *1 am not gecerally an ardent
even admirer of "Bad Taste", which
usually find appropriate to its title', he writes. But this week the message has struck bome.' The SHELLIC be thrown down. We now await a EZ1 donation from someone who is an ardent admirer of 'Bad Taste'.
Another reader, John May We need a fighting unity of of Swindon, has decided to the labour movement to defeat attempt the impossible to aid
not us. He is going on a sponsored dry-out month. You can sponsor him per day or a lump sum for a month — just contact us.
Good news this may be, but how to
there is still far too little coming
UNITE TO FIGHT THE TORIES-
DEFEND BASIC RICHTS
A NEW THREAT now faces trade unionists — a Tory | government. No government by a party financed and supported by big business is going to do us any
But if the Tory government is a new enemy to fight, the problems we will face have not changed.
There is a crisis of profit — a crisis sending firms bankrupt and creating mass unemployment, a crisis which demands that workers take wage cuts in order to
La crisis which requires that new technology cut jobs instead of the working week.
A socialist response to the crisis remains as urgent as it was before the election, and that's why Socialist Challenge has organised a conference for trade
Tories and the socialist alternative we need.
OUR FUND DRIVE
series the HETELLI governrent resolve -
lenge next week.
week's contributors:
John Strauther (in
Harry Wicks SC election book RO'Connor been B. Freeson B'ham IMG teachers P. Hubert Coventry/ Leamington SC Ed Mahood (Canada)
O.I. Elliott Brighton SU supporters no alcohol for a A. Agnew M.B.
Hackney supporter Cup Final wager Total Cumulative Total
Socialist Challenge
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Control'. to discuss how to fight the
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Speakers include (in personal capacity): Pat Hickey, TGWU Deputy Senior Steward Rover
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Saturday 26 May, 11am-5pm.
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