SocialistAction 1983–88

The paper of the Socialist League, formerly the International Marxist Group, 1983–88

Labour's campaign gets going

· Socialist Action No. 1, 18 March 1983 · p. 4 of the scan · 809 words

The scan: 001-mar-18-1983-SA-UK.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.
How this article was cut and titled: headline found by type size in the OCR geometry (split_tabloid.py); 3-7 of 7; machine-segmented newspaper page; uncorrected Vision OCR.

page 4 of the scan

Labour and nationalist Euro-MPs support the setting up of the European Commission of enquiry into the war in the North of A group of us in the European parliament have from the very the Irish issue. Our line is that it is not just an affair for Britain. A civil war is going on, and that's an issue for people everywhere.

This enquiry itiatives.

H-blocks.

Lady Ellis for the Tories said that this was intruding into 'the internal affairs of our own countrv'. said this was rubbish. because the wuropean parliament was fond of looking into the internal attairs of countries like Poland and El Salvador. and we must now look at our own house.

The resolution was tabled by the Socialist and Christian Democrat groups, the two biggest in the Parliament, which include the Irish Labour Party and fine Gae members. ported it giving it the backing of all the members from the Irish Republic. the British Tories and lan Paisley. No-one else.

We argued the others around on the basis that after thirteen years there is patently no solution, one a cool economic, political and social dimensions of the problem was not unreasonable. knock out the word 'political'. red back, but we have agreed to prepare a report on the economic and social issues -they're all closely related.

It is difficult to see how the Tories can block it. Thatcher has called for a withdrawal of the 60 British Euro-MPs. gets right down the European throat. But I don't see how she can stop an inquiry unless she is going to ban all the European Parliament from flying into Belfast.

I think it would be useful if we held some public hearings Led explains early days to internationalise Cor example on plastic bullets and the several Hal also sun.

it was only opposed by calling tor a report on the Paisley moved to This has been referof course, This is a typical tactic which but whether this happens has yet DAVE CARTER reports on the election campaign in Darlington.

The doors were locked at two by-election meetings in Darlington last week.

At the first 'Norman Tebbit addressed a small audience who nad been locked in by the stewards, who were alarmby a large picket of unionists unemployed cyclists.

Tebbit's arrival between Special Branch notitied the bevy of journalists in the pub next door. They then spent the next ten minutes beating on the door of the hall begging to be let in then retired back to drown their disappointment.

The doors of Darlington's Dolphin Centre were also locked at addressed by Michael Foot and the canO'Brien didate Ossie because three times the anticipated audience turned up. The speakers spoke to the main meeting, overspill meeting and an impromptu gathering on me a Clove!

It was an emotional Darlington LOI activists marking the start of the real campaign by Labour.

Unemplovment is the main theme of Labour's material - which is hardly surprising in a town where at the last election Thatcher said the Tories offered the only hope reducing unemployment.

Disarmament has SO far of OCCI Dall campaign, Ossie O'Brien's longstanding support for which in this campaign has been kept quiet. lowever, the arrival of the caravan next week should change that.

A lack-lustre and lowkey week with real doubts being openly expressed chances by Foot's meeting and the last Saturday shine Wat the closure of Over unionists backed probably the biggest demonstration ever seen in the town to save the workshops and the Wolsingham steel plant.

Suddenly the thusiasm started to flow again as more and more Labour supporters realised Labour could win if it drops its mealy-mouthed compromises cautiously uttered press conferences and takes to the streets with clear policies.

Applauded ment's plans for the area echoed from the marchers centre the the sed tows shoppers stood to watch. Many applauded and joined in the march.

At last Labour was getting some vigour into its campaign. Roland Boyes the Euro MP for Durham summed up the situation at the rally afterwards sayOssie O'Brien - campaign picking up ing; 'It's like a boxer going into the ring.. you have to stand and fight. can win or lose, but there is no middle way.

On Friday Michael Foot visited the works and told the 2000 strong worklorce would But then added 'We can not promise to cvery OU. This nonsense. Every job could be saved if Foot plements the policies of disarmament expropriation which Labour conferences have already agreed.

The rally the weekend is here the enthuse in there The people Darlington are looking for a lead such a lead, the SDP Sive If Foot : fails to didate, and cannot give a political statement without the aid of an auto-cue will be the main beneficiary.

----- pull-quotes -----

spotlight on the North of Ireland

← The battle will go onNorwood expulsions blow up →

Something wrong on this page?