IMGpapers 1980–83

Newspapers of the International Marxist Group and its forerunners, 1980–83

Heseltine forces the left to think again

Socialist Challenge No. 214, 24 September 1981 · p. 13 of the scan · 608 words

The scan: sc-no214.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive, opens at this page)

Uncorrected machine reading. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from a scan of a newspaper page, and the page was cut into articles by machine, at the headlines found by their type size. Nothing has been corrected: expect misread words, text from a neighbouring article, and titles that are the machine reading of the headline, some of them only fragments. Quote from the scan, not from this page.
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page 13 of the scan

By Tessa van Gelderen MOST militants on the left of the Labour Party will tell you that rates are no longer the issue. Heseltine's legislation has seen to that.

Tne ecutive Party the London Labour recoanised. 'rate increases cannot provide a way of replacing the withheld by money government, because ot the harsh effects rate rises have Nially WOrKeTS standards and the new legal •owers me Tories are expected to take.' Unfortunately. some of And, again unfortunately, it's not simply a case of 'told you so' but one where really serious, pernaps irreparable damage has been done Inere is no doubt that ex- the SDP has made gains and will Connue to make callis locally because of the huge have been subjected to with the increased rates, often cuts in council services as well.

It is not enough for the •real lial democrats The way when they still in the Labour things would have great deal worse. be true, but the real problem remains: many are fed Labour and it's not just because of the betrayals of the last Labour government - but because of what local with all the machinations of the union delivering a spot of bother.

When had an ende Labour Party conference ¡au a vole leu to unc layoul of Britain out of Ireland.

timetabled debate; we didn't have the executive running round saying to the trade unions, this, it will be difficult,' and so to and all those appeals to loyalty.

I'm fairly certain that if the Labour Party is allowed a free debate on Ireland and Foot doesn't wander around twisting trade union leaders arms saying, 'this is the one we can't afird to lose, lads, stick with us Labour councils are up to at present.

tion, try to working class trom cuts and othe attacks that the Tory covernment plementing. Such a position DOLI assumes a passive working class.

people rents and Mobilise What was required then and is still required now is these for Labour councils to give a had had lead in taking on the Tory were government. It is the job of Party, Labour councils to mobilise been a working people against the This may Tories, their anti-working working policies.

We have to welcome the lead that has both the Labour GLC and the London Labour Party. As the SA The left only saw one op'save' the Stop were patronising tion to show 'movement strength And Party make that the implement priority. class Labour Party's Wing the final phase come struggle 'Only it Heseltine. caballis. through a show of strength can tae ones se torceo re as the miners and rail workers' victories earlier this year demonstrate.' Let's go from here. Let's use everything in our power to stop Heseltine's legislain Parliament and out. Let's use from now to the local elections next May Tine does have the to bring this government to its knees.

that means all Labour councils and Labour members have LU number one As the London strategy for 1981/82 says: 'We are enterthe Tories.

Either we or Heseltine must eventually lose.' Let's make LoNDON DI0S10N SODE 221S FIGHT What is your to socialist organisations be ing active inside the Labour Party?

My attitude is that I'm in favour of widening that strugI'm in tavour bans and proscriptions and see inen reimposed believe in the right of socialists organise freely within the Labour Party and that right must be defended. Those elements which are now criticising socialist tendencies within the Labour Party need to justify some of their backers and supporters in the Tory

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rant THE CUTS SAVE JOBS FIGHT

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