nocracy the big corporations.
When Callaghan introduced a wage freeze in 1979 - against the wishes of the party and unions -whose interest was that in? Was it the giant monopolies who wanted union rights curtailed and their wages curtailed?
DEMOCRACY When the "gang of three" - and other right-wing MPs - argue for the "freedom" of the Parliamentary Labour Party, they are arguing for its freedom to collaborate with the IMF, Tory-inspired civil servants and big bankers to attack working people.
That is why they have let out a shrill voice of protest over recent developments in the party and have even been driven to threaten a split on the issue. They know that the labour movement, representing millions of workers, is in direct conflict with big business. If they were bound by conference decisions, after all, they wouldn't be free to create millions on the dole, slash the social services and support the arms LaCC The "gang of four"
In defence of their right to pursue these policies, they actually have the nerve to invoke democracy. It is, you see, "undemocratic" for 300odd MPs to implement the wishes of the millions who put them into power. It is so much more democratic for them - collaborating with unelected civil servants and bankers - to ride roughshod over the millions who put them into office in the first place.
EXTREME?
As they make their move to split, the "gang of eleven" (as it now is) have argued that Labour's "extremof concern to all working people.
Already, the conference has drawn the support of industrial unions, such as the sheet metal ist" stance will alienate wide sections of the "middle ground".
an argument is slightly ridiculous.
After five years of the Callaghan government, during which time he in the interests of working people or implemented policies to their liking, the Labour share of the vote was the lowest in the post-war period.
How on earth can socialist policies lose voters when Callaghan's pro-capitalist ones drove away and demoralised so many Labour supporters.
It is not Labour's "extremist stance" that lost the last election. It is the fact that Labour leaders, representing no-one, reneged on the positions of conference and implemented policies not in the interests of workers but of big business.
WILDERNESS At present, the "gang of eleven" is basking in the limelight of the Tory press. They are being wined and dined by all those forces who are attacking working people and who are frightened by the shift left in the Labour Party.
But the limelight will not last for long. As the Tories move further walking away from the Labour Party right to implement their anti-working class offensive, more and more workers will be drawn towards the Labour Party as a fighting party to defend their interests.
The Williamses and Owens of this world might collect around their stale and tired banner a few exLabourites such as Dick Taverne. They might do a deal with the Liberals. They might even draw out a few more Labour MPs frightened at Labour becoming a party representing working people. longer term, they are doomed to be nothing more than a footnote in history. ing that it is not enough just to include abortion rights on the party manifesto but that it is also vital to Such who were and are opposed to the tion; and who have consistently opposed decisions democratically decided upon by party conference.
It is they who are responsible for the splits and divisions within the party. And it is they who can produce the unity referred to, providing that they will stop their sniping and accept the views of ordinary members rather than treat them with contempt.
Rank and file members of the Labour Party are sick and tired of the elitism displayed by MPs who for some inexplicable reason feel themselves superior to ordinary party members.
to be selected at an initial conference of the party, but are almost paranoic about facing a re-selection conference and having to answer for their stewardship during their perl0a or onlice.
period in accordance with the constitution and rules of the party, and carried out the wishes of the constituency, he or she has nothing to fear.
ignore or disregard decisions of their General Management Committees on major issues, then they must expect reaction and possible rejection if and when a re-selection takes place.
These prima donnas in Parliament apparently want the privilege of sponsorship by a trade union and/or the party and at the same time the luxury of independence.
A person who wants to act independently in Parliament should stand as an independent candidate and not But, in the use the Labour Party merely as a vehicle for propelling themselves into an exclusive club in the centre of Westminster.
ensure that MPs are mandated to implement the manifesto. For details of the conference contact. NAC, 374 Grays Inn Rd, London WC1.
CLP)
Tyrone.
legs.
Our party does not belong to a select bunch of MPs. It was created out of the womb of the trade union movement and belongs to all of its The only disagreement that now exists in the party is in the minds of right-wing MPs and their supporters HIT-SQUAD who were and are opposed to extending the franchise for the election of leader and deputy leader of the party;
introduction of mandatory re-selecCOMPLICITY These same MPs were quite content of the UDA.
If an MP has acted throughout that against the UDA.
On the other hand, if MPs blatently SYMBOL ish backers.
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on Abortion Rights der standing that women's rights are Committee (LARC) will be argue-
On January 18, Bernadette (Devlin) McAliskey and her husband Michael were seriously wounded in an attack on their home in Derrylaughlin, near Coalisland, County Three masked men burst their way in and shot Bernadette five times - in her chest, arms and Rushed to hospital by an army patrol - which "happened" to be in the area - her condition appears to be "stable" and there is no immedi ate threat to her life. It looks as if the assassins' attempt has failed.
It is now fairly clear that the assassins were members of the rightwing Loyalist hit-squad, the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). As court convictions show, the UDA has, over the years, been involved in a number of murders and attempted murders of members of the nationalist minority fighting for its rights.
Most recently, it has turned its attention to leading members of the campaign in support of the hungerstrikers. As the statement by the HBlock/Armagh Committee makes clear, prominent activists Miriam Daly and Noel Little have both been assassinated over the past year.
But it is not just the ultra-right UDA which bears responsibility for these crimes. Complicit in the murders and attempted murders are the British army - and its mentors in Downing Street - who have turned a blind eye to the terrorist methods While launching a mass repression against the nationalist minority, they have refused to take any action On the contrary, they have done their best to cover This was nowhere more true than in the campaign on behalf of the hunger strikers. She became the chief spokesperson for the prisoners whose sole crime was daring to stand up to the British rule and fight for their country's freedom.
She toured the world, winning support for them and exposing the brutality of the Tories who had tried tried to physically and morally brea break their spirit. She played a key role in mobilising mass actions that forced the Tories finally to back down and make concessions to the prisoners.
HATRED It is undoubtedly this role that won her the hatred of the Loyalist thugs and their British supporters. And it was because of this hatred that she was singled out by the Loyalist terrorists for special treatment as a target.
But they failed. They Sir: succeed in killing her. Socialist Action - alongside all those supporting her heroic fight over the years - wishes her and Michael a speedy recovery He: determir. ation, courage and commitment to socialism are more needed today than ever Below is an abridged version of the