of the rank and file of the Labour Party. Local elections, the most important in years, have absorbed its energies and most branches have suspended regular meetings.
1о ock uo vores in ones a ves cabour s iroll bench has been throwing them away by tens of thousands.
When Socialist Challenge first began contacting MPs to mobilise opposition to the war, one after the other told us that speaking out against the war would lose votes for Labour.
Yet Thatcher's showing in the opinion polls has risen to its highest in years. As we go to press it is too early to tell whether this will be reflected in the local elections.
But one thing is sure: no povernmeni will carry out socialist while its ¡cauciship follows Foot's jingoism.
Labour cannot but lose out. If the war goes well for her, Thatcher will take the credit; and if it goes badly Foot will be unable make her take the blame.
The front bench's stand greatly increases the prospects for coalition.
for refusing to attend all party talks!
Ralph Simmons. But while the activists slog away on the doorstep In spite of its much valled retusal to the government blank cheaue'. front bench spokespeople have supevery DUIICU military action so far undertaken.
Within the Labour Party the spectrum has been shifted dramatically the right. Benn and Hart's motion at the NEC. printed on this page, received only eight votes against fifteen. Backbench Mrs nave gone so tar as 1o put down an early day motion attacking Benu in the Commons.
This attack, presented as 'humorous dig', shows exactly Labour's right and soft centre now stand. beside the Tories and the SDP and Liberals against the DarLy.
This drift to the right can and should be halted when Labour activists return from campaign to May's constiOVER 400 people marched through Manchester last Saturday calling for 'no war with Argentina, bring back the fleet'.
speaking on behalf of the CP. announced that an ad hoc committee against the war would tuency and branch meetings. 2. party leader put it 'after 6 May Bishop's Stortford sticking plaster will come off' The pretence of party unity has ceased to exist. Reporting Labour Party reaction, the media Healey and Foot, and from Hart and Benn, as if they were speaking for two different parties.
Yet 'party unity' has served yet again as the reason for avoiding a clear break with Foot's stand. At the NEC Eric Heffer abstained on Benn's motion in the interests of party unity; and the supporters of Benn's motion voted for Foot's motion More dangerous still, Judith Hart and Tony Benn accepted an amendment to their own motion so that, instead of calling for the total withdrawal of the fleet, it called for withdrawal to South Georgia.
This change neuters the motion. the presence of the fleet in the South Atlantic any shape or form, that is the cause of the present conflict. The war will go on until not a single British be set up during leafletting next Challenge and Revolution Youth. navy vessel remains south of the equator.
The opportunity now exists for the left to take the offensive Foot JOS credibility. His wornout reputation as 'pacifist' of the sixties has been discarded; polls show that he cannot even bring about a labour victory.
next conference should be the arena for a settling of accounts. Even at this late stage the Labour should consider standing a candidate against Foot for the thai are leadership, SO the IssuC debated out as were the of democracy unilateralism and economic strategy year.
The NEC should be bombarded with motions calling for a Labour commitment T01 Lota withdrawal of the fleet, Foot and commending Benn and calling Labour to organise a mass campaign to get the fleet out of the South Atlantic.
The true voice of the party has been silenced by Labour's front bench: now is the time for it to be heard. the weekend, and a proposal for mass Saturday in Piccadilly accepted after being put forward by supporters of Socialist Revolution Youth played a major role in building the 9R OVER THE SYKLAND ISLANDS Gardens was march, particularly among students and black youth on Moss Side youth who declared war on the British state last summer, said a spokesperson for Revolution Youth.
Socialist Challenge 'The clearest opponents of the war are the black 6 May 1982
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CONT YOUR JOBS UMBS CND
MISSILES NO
REFUSE to FIGHT
May Day marches against war LAKER AIRWAYS