WHATEVER moves to the left are now themselves.
That was one of the conclusions reached by four trades Coventry, Liverpool, Newcastle, and North wiren iney conducted a workers' inquiry. into Ine policies of the last Labour government.
this conclusion which lies decision to •a conference on the theme of 'Building working class power' to be held on 28 'ebruary. ilke a tap li ever a leit Labour Party gets into government.
Yet that is what is implied by formulations oi ine Alternative Economic Strategy. not a strategy for building working class power, starting now. Il ls a sel ol policies for Labour government to implement on the assumption that by becoming a parliamentary majority it would thereby nave lie power.
The purpose.of the trades council conference Is not lo rejeci lne Aos as a whole its stress, for instance. on increased public spending, and government Newcastle Trades Council demonstration blocking of capital transfers, of The alm ls to discuss the policies and ol calllsatiulla steps necessary build and rebuild working class organisations as the basis of political power.
This means, for example, discussing how trades shop stewards committees and community-based arouos calucyclub blarli pased on the resources and social needs of their localis, ty. By linking up with naZanu needs as appropriate, such would both strengthen campaigns ane struggles against Tory policies. and prepare for a future Labour governHilary Wainwright begun to formulate alterHalives m uner muusuric and sectors. This would enable them to make links with groups. who would have a shared interest in their alternative plans and who could therefore fight together for these plans in the lace or leaundancies and cuts. Tories The unifying theme of all struggles which will be represented conference — whether against creases, or for higher wage the Tories. But at the same time we need te be discussing and formulating our alternatives.
Unless we discuss these policies, defensive campaigns will lose their impetus, and a future Labour will founder on the same rocks as week s special thousands of Labour acthe possibil victory tion. E looks econom solving
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taking place within the Labour Party, it will make little difference to a future Labour government unless working class organisations in industry and in the com- munity are prepared to take power for