ON February. the Labour Committee on (LCI) holds annua! conference in Birmingham. The LCl is The nation group in the LADONE for British withdrawal from Challenge asked Martin, an one neena worker Mankind of issues will be discussThe LCI was formed two Dul already 1 has over 500 members and is growing. All the time we are gaining wences or cama The big question is always working out the best way to achieve our goal of bringing aoour withdrawal from Ireland. The troops are most in portant, but we want to end the imperialist domination.
Party members and trade WHOSE WEATE KUCHED change the policies of and pledge future government to get out. Bút the high-ups in the party would never go along with that, so we have to oune a protest movement that can force the issue.
At the moment, we are only just beginning The funeral of Bobby Sands - his election opened up the Irish debate in the even the left in the part duck the Irish issue if the are given the chance. All the opinion polls say that majority of people want the troops one or one resson or another. the left was prepared to take up this policy it could be a real election winner, Do you think the Labour Party Conference went some way to meet vour demands? Things have moved in the party in response enormous support for the and internationally. The election of Bobby Sands MP proved the English press lied about the port prisoners had. The callous reaction Labour opposition to the strikes and tragic deaths brought to the conference flood of resolutions demanding a break from Torte Lcidid a great job in bringing these together, but the eventual decisions of conference are little more than a start in committing the Labour Party to getting the troops out and letting the Irish run their country. e It is wrong LO allow Unionist politicians to veto British withdrawal. It is wrong to make any conditions upon There are plenty of people around who support Irish self-government if they make the Loyalists remain ir they NATO, fits in with want.
There are movement, like the MiliTONE that British troops should stay until it goe socialist! Our campaign will HAVELO SULL SULLIS sense out on all this.
So what will LCI be do ing over the next year?
Although we recognise the stimulation massive movement for withdrawal will come tron Ireland, there is still loads of work to be done here and now. We have to try to organise all those who supported withdrawal at Party conference. We have to increase our attention working in the unions where the block votes at conference went against withdrawal.
There is room for growth of support among voung people particularl LPYS and would be useful to see how much help having Youth CND for building CND's activities and maybe do the same with a youth wing of the LCI.
In all these areas I think we will grow. But just as important is makporters don't fall for the ing sure that ES CHIL trade union leaders who say we should be persuading the government to work out a solution which will be 'argued for' with plastic truncheons and the like.
At conference, resolution which called for a special policy conference to take a deeper look at the Irish situation was referred to the Executive for further consideration. If we could help to get this of the ground, it would be a great opportunity to put forward our views Socialist Challenge 4 February 1982
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IRELAND: TIME FOR TORY POLICIES TO GO LABOUR MOVEMENT CONFERENCE ON IRELAND SATURDAY 27th FEBRUARY 1982. THE THEATRE, 309 REGENT ST LONDON W1.