Sections That's true. The other point Benn makes the need for parliamentary activity. If we rely on parliament to change things, we'll end up will exactly Ine sale ord status eu0. But the argument in the labour movement after the miners' strike is about recomposing the left around Kinnock, rather than around the class struggle principles that Tony Benn and Arthur Scargill represent. What's your position?
I have strong views about Kinnock. He doesn't strike me as the leadership figure that many within the party think him to be. I remain unimpressed by his efforts to come to grips with the central issues facing the labour movement. In terms of understanding the forces at you were in parliament today.
and civil liberties port via positive sign extraand Latin America.
American missiles
ticularly the use of nuclear power say 1 Let's come back then to what you were saying earlier. Be specific about the sort of policies you would be fighting for if I've been involved in various civil rights campaigns, so I'd what to do that. I also believe we need to break down the barriers to involvement on a local and national level. So I'd be seeking better representation of women and black people in various decision-making forums in the country.
I support the campaign for a united Ireland, and welcome Sinn Fein's supthe ballot box. That is for the future of that country. I also support proposals to reinvest in building Britain up again, to create jobs and better social services.
would also be associated with campaigns designed to get Britain away from the coat-tails of Reagan, and for a fairer share for third world countries. Labour should certainly be speaking out against what Reagan 1s doing in Nicaragua and Central America. The party has the most appalling record of speaking out Ior the rights of those countries fighting for freedom and self-government. It would be important to ensure not just that Labour spoke out, but made ene mnks wil struggles Tor mdependence and freedom in Central I would happily vote for Britain to withdraw from NATO, and to send the back and to renounce the need tor nuclear weapons And I would want to see the party more conscious of environmental issues, parThose are the sorts of issues I'd be taking up in parliament. That's not to think you get those sorts of THE BLACK sections national committee has criticised 'provocative' the recent statement foreign affairs spokesperson, that our actions could cost Labour the next general election.
The current row over black seetion involvement in selection and reselection of Labour candidates is yet another example of the party leadership shooting themselves in the foot on the race issue and then scape-goating black people.
Referring to the decision of Constituency Labour Parties who support us to include black section delegates in their selection-reselection process, even though the party constitution forbids this, the black sections national committee said: It is the abour Partv na tional executive committee who hell-bent confrontation issue, not us. What difference will the addition of two black delegates make?' Let us not forget there are at least 50 Labour MPs who owe their seats to black voters in their constituency who hold the balance of power. As black section activists we have proved by our actions our commitment to Labour victories. In the past year we have helped increase the amount of black councillors in London from 70 to more than as 80.
Bernie Grant, black become Britain's first black leader of a council in Haringey, buretana nas been pickea, black section involvement, to fight the forthcoming GLC by-election in Vauxhall. When she is elected in July, Lorna will become the first black woman GLC member.
ted to the return of a Labour government at the next general election, but party leaders must be reminded this will not happen without the black people -supporters.
Confidence this communities in Labour is understandably low as a result of the party's past policing, employment equality. been made worse lately by the Labour leadership's open hostility to the fundamenta issue representation raised by black activists in the party.
George Foulkes when they black people is patronising. longer prepared to be treated as voting fodder by white, male MPs. more, the Labour Party cannot preach about racial equality without first sorting out its own house.
Mr Foulkes and party leader Neil Kinnock have themselves out ot touch with grassroots black opinion. It is no good them saying they black rights the because conference voted against black That chair of Tottenham section, has Lorna support ford currently Black section activists are commit- reselection support of Labour's most loyal South, and Poplar.
delegates The confidence of Britain's black like immigration, racial This worrying situation has has had an sections. black The language of Labour leaders like refer to We are no Furtherrepeatedly proved The are powerless to deliver up within supporters. whelmingly white like the union bosse who wield the big block votes. This sor of reasoning is contemptuous of th black communities.
The black sections national com mittee applauds the brave stands Not recently Lewisham East Labour Party, Dept Norwoo Labour Party. We have agreed to asl Constituency Labour Party supporter involved in selection without black delegates on their management com mittees to defer the process. This wil immediately affect nine CLPs Nor wood, Deptford, Hornsey and Woor Tottenham Southall Bren Westminster North and Bor Norwood and Deptfor have already voted to defer.
The extra CLPs who are intending to go ahead with their black sectior Vauxhall, Streatham Nottingham East, Lewisham East anc Newham North West. The nationa committee unanimously agreed to pres for selection-reselection processes no to go ahead until after Labour Party conference in Bournemouth this yea opportunity to agree blacl We are confident the NEC' positive discrimination working party will recommend acceptance.
The NEC must allow their report to go belore conference We are urging deferment of selection-reselection pro cesses in CLPs where black sections ex ist but, for various local reasons have so far been left out of the process, in the interest of party unity. After all, believe that without this involvement ol black people in a number of key seats. the process can only further entrench black community lack of confidence in the Labour Party.
Labour leadership have their power to call off the threatened action against black section They should do sO imSocialst Action