IS IRELAND about to become an issue in the Labour Party? Here are the clues: * The home policy sub-committee of the Labour Party national executive is currently taking evidence policy the party should be following on the North of Ireland * Tony Benn, leader of the Labour left, restated his 'own belief in Irish unity at the 'Debate of the Decade' on 17 March. Benn also revealed that he proposed that the NEC formally adopt a pro-Irish * The London regional conference of the Party recently. overwhelmingly a motion calling on Britain to withdraw from Ireland;
On 10 • oi this.
Labour Party members are due to meet in London this Saturday, under the auspices 1575 R7C jetzit atai adi! the party STEE HITT DUDE II DE SISTER CERE OF nas raped as the subsequen Socialst Chafe growth Movement taking on the ASUC the Committee, VIl tot "val developments must should question unity encouraged?
alternative passed heckled and attempted debate. Such about a nunced those Ireland is not ш Labour Jell to take up Ireland.
Al the ocher extreme, that have been is tbe dange alersal rhythms of the party; of and 27 March 1980 Labour Party conference to give space on Troops Dermated come leading figures on the Labour left to take a closer look at what position they should be Labour Co-ordinating agreed speak at a Withdrawal' forum It JEe y staged by those who organised the successful 12 August London demonstration last For those who have been campaigning on the irish issue for several years these Uk we tonel how they be Lall Was offered at the Debate or the Decade by those who disrupt the OCLICCLIV H block protesters at this meeting were not Involved in most of the disruptive sidelines, the record of the Labour left on by itself, likely to persuade because of the Low ray l me last lew monins, Inert T'of focusing all activity on the the noont as vim ing the borde poticy sub-committer to some vague commitment to long-term irish unity. While such a commitment would be a step forward, representing as it would, at least on paper, a break with bypartisanship, the more meanina rest tor tae Labour ten concerns what they are willing to actually do on Ireland, and what precise demands tney will make Ideally the best formulation Saturday's London conference can adopt Party a caucus determined to fight for the withdrawal of Britain from Teamo.oil whatever tae recise woromof the demands adopted, the Committee on Ireland would best advance promoting campaigning strategy, rather than simply seeing itself as a polite pressure group those outside the structure of the Labour most appropriately the Troops call Daisl and it would imply using the Labour Committee on Ireland to take the demand for British withdrawal into the trade union movement.
Most of all the Labour Committee on necus JudD oul a sene activities — from backing demonstrations on such issues as the H blocks to assisting Roy Mason - which help to make Ireland an issue not only in the Labour Party but outside as well.