John: To modern politicians Northern is an fashionable subject because it is not susceptible to lazy solunons, whelner uney are inose already tried, or those not tried so far.
SC: It certainly fashionable for the leaders of. the Labour Party. At last year's party conference both parliamentary leadership the national executive fought tooth and nail to stop Ireland being debated.
It was only after a petition demanding such a debate had attracted Over 400 signatures and the issue was taken to the conference floor that the NEC agreed to a half-hour debate.
As to 'lazy solutions', the Jast labour government never tried any others; it never attempted to try and end the Irish war by any other means than Roy Mason's 'military solution'.
John: The difficulties will only be solved when you have induced the communities to devise an acceptable solution by they can live in peace. I hat is as much, or more a matter of persuading human beings as it is of devising institutions.
That is what many in the Labour • Party They are the ones who call for an end to bi-partisanship.
Let it be clear what bipartisanship is in this context. It is only an agreement to share certain aims, namely restoration of peace and a constitutional settlement to which both communities can adhere.
statement anyone: would think that the war in the North of Ireland is between and the only way it can be end- LWU 'communities' ed is when the two communities agree.
There is, of course, a third party — the British government and its army. For many in the Norill of Ieland tne best way to restore peace would be to withdraw that army.
John: Recent speeches Labour members seem to mean declaration for united That seems to thinking up the question to fit the answer.
Such a declaration would nave - as would an outright declaration in favour of complete integration of Northern Ireland in the UK, on the other side the effect of alienating one of the two communities.
You cannot in policy statement treat one or other of the communities as being of no
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spokesperson the North of Ireland. which the by be consequence, and then expect a Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to go out and bring the two sides together.
SC: The record Labour government Irish war is there for all to see. Because ot Its policies, Labour government secured in Parliament the co-operation of the Unionists. IN A sparsely reported speech delivered on 14 June to Fabian Society, the on Northern Ireland, defended the Labour and Tory bi-partisan approach to They gave in, for example, to the Unionists' more seats which in itself was a step to complete integration. on the On Catholic community regarded the Secretary of State Roy Mason with undiluted hatred, not just because of his support for the Unionists but because of his Brynmor John, Socialist Challenge. demand for Westminster, hand.
That John felt obliged to stage this defence was an indication of the mounting criticism within the Labour Party of its leadership's attitude to Ireland. Extracts from John's speech are reprinted below, with comments from taking the side of the tre.
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