major victory for democracy.
They claim they are attacking "extremism". That is a lie. Their attack is directed against working people. The idea that ordinary workers in the unions and party branches - and not just a few MPs - should take part in electing the leader sends shivers up and down their spines.
They can see that, for the first time, there is a chance than an incoming Labour government might actually be forced to implement policies in the interests of the people who put them in power.
CONTEMPT Up to now, whatever was decided at party conferences, big business always had a safeguard. A barrage of lies and smears in the Tory press has greeted the outcome of Labour's special conference, last month. Boosting the "gang of four", the Fleet Street barons have directed all their efforts at discrediting this It could always rely on the fact that Labour leaders could ride rough-shod over policies democratically decided by the labour movement.
It knew that it could always rely on its chums - the David Owens and Shirley Williams of this world - to contemptuously dismiss conference decisions and carry out pro-capitalist policies. This is, after all, what happened with the last Labour government.
Although conference voted against any idea of a wage freeze - that is, against attacks on workers' living standards - the labour leaders pushed ahead. Backed up by the Tory press, they tried to impose a 5% wage BERNADETTE McALISKEY On January 18 Bernadette McAliskey and her husband Michael were attacked at their home in Derrylaughlin, near Coalisland, County Tyrone.
They were shot several times - in the chest, arms and legs - by thugs of the ultra-right wing Loyalist organisation, the UDA.
As of present, Bernadette and her husband seem out of any immediate danger.
For faller coverage of the assassination attempt -and Bernadette's role in the fight for Irish rights and for socialism - see page four. freeze in the public sector that alienated many Labour supporters and provoked the "winter of discontent".
ed by the rank-and-file - by the process of an electoral college in which 70% of the votes will be - sets up a dangerous precedent in their eyes.
measures, such as the mandatory that workers will actually begin to control their party and demand that it implement policies in their interests when it is elected to power.
Big business now sees this situation being threatened. The fact that a Labour leader will be elect.
cast by union and party members Coupled with other democratic re-selection of MPs, it could mean At a time when Tory policies are pushing ever more workers to adopt a radical stance, this situatContinued on page 2.