ALL RESOLUTIONS on women's rights were passed. But the NEC successfully opposed all resolutions calling for a change in the Labour Party's own practice in relation to women. The * For the Labour Party women's conference to have the right to put five resolutions, as of right, on the agenda of Party conference. * For the NEC members in the women's secTerence instead, as at present, by a vote from * For the Women's Executive Committee to be elected from the women's conference. * For the short list of prospective parliamentary candidates in each constituency to include at least one women, if a woman has been positive discrimination in women in party appointments, ticular for women's organisers to be women. NEC and ensuring section of the NEC women who wanted Why did this hapdominated. But it is E Women taking a lead in struggle must also be brought into leadership in the Labour Party and trede unions portray the defeat of ference proposals as a trade union/CLP unions and the unions to put their
demonstratively against.
issue, McAliskey at its 2,000-strong fringe meeting on Wednesday night. also spoke at a well-attended meeting organised by the Labour Committee on Ireland, what she thought the British Labour Irish people.
I'VE BEEN To Labour conference several times and 2ILS DOVIOUS there have been changes.
One change is that Ireland is being recognised as an issue for the labour movement. This is the first time I've been sponsored by a part of the labour movement - the Co-operative Party - and this shows the issue of Northern Ireland is being seriously discussFront bench opposition has. and that is why, thirteen years after a gigantic upheaval in wnat is supposed to be a part the United Kingdom, are still fighting for a hearing.
But there is an obvious move torward, particulatin the Constituencies.
There is a gut feeling that the only realistic policy is a United Ireland.
The problem is that as there has been realistic discussion of the working class will achieve process which this age-old dream which, after all. we've been after for 900 years.
Can you say what the effect of the new Assembly will be on Northern Irish people? Socialist Challenge asked Bernadette, who movement's response to the demands of the It will launch a further cycle of frustration. Participation Northern Irish clections is normally very high 80 to 90 per cent. But this time have never seen less enthusiasm. People feel they are being used in a game by Prior to put a facade of normality over what is going on. The level of violence - and 1 mean state violence raised daily.
There is a deterioration 'A United Ireland by consent is like of any standard of justice or fair play. For example the police have. without retribution, taken into custody and "persuade" them. by threat and indren - to turn Queen's ducement really evidence.
They remove them crucifixion' from the community for months one man has been under house arrest in Guildford for a year with two RUC men in the police cadet barracks. A hundred and seventy people have spent twelve months in custody on the evidence of twelve people under this kind of house arrest. NO returned, the refused to testify and in the sixth CeSC the cops refused produce evidence until the day of the trial, with the result that 60 lawyers have now threatened to withdraw *People in West the PLO from the courts.
This is just one example.
The facts are that to protect the peace' civilians lose their rights and kids are shot up in the streets with plastic bullets.
And this isn't driving people away the Republicans. You see, only in West Belfast was the murder of 1,700 Palestinians greeted without surprise. With horror, yes.
but no surprise. People say, simply. •What would happen to the us without the IRA is what happened to the Palestinians without the PLO A United Ireland by consent' is no excuse. This is like saying abolish aparincia Dy consc.. No-one will consent give up mrivileges. Therefore the labour movement has understand that the border issue is the vital issue.
Now, this is essential because you must convince catnolics who now think there is no difference DEIWCCE the STITIS Labour and the British ruling class. At present, next to Margaret Thatcher, the most hated person in Northern Ireland is Don Concannon. He is seen as the man who offered vinegar the crucifixion.
came to Bobby Sands deathbed to say he doesn't support him.
CAROL ANN KELLY TEPHEN
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freedom were scored at conference. First, composite 52 opposing the use of plastic bullets was passed by an overwhelming ma- jority, with a small group of bureaucrats - notably Terry Duffy of the Engineering Union and Frank Chapple's Electricians - voting
Second, the debate on Labour's Irish policy was given a huge boost when Tribune, recognising the strength of feeling on the
BAN PLASTIC gave a platform to Bernadette Devlin
abolishing Apartheid by consent. No- one will consent to give up privilege'
'Don Concannon is seen in Ireland as the man who offered vinegar at the