TONY BENN submitting following paper to the NEC of the Labour Party for discussion on 24 July. It outlines their proposals for the key issues to be included in the next Labour Party manifesto.
We are printing it in full as a contribution to the discussion, and Socialist Action will be taking up in future issues our agreements and disagreements with the proposals in it.
A memorandum by Tony Benn and Eric Heffer Introduction AT THE May meeting of the National Executive Committee we submitted a paperPlanning for a Labour Victory in which we recommendations for consideration, and gave notice that we would be putting in another paper DOCV This memorandum, sets out some of the policies which we believe the NEC should discussing as part of its work programme for the future.
A Policy for Victory If the Party is to secure an overall majority at the next general election, for which we are all working, we shall have to have developed, well in advance of the campaien. precise policies to met the situation that will face us when we get into power.
The electorate know very well that a formidable task of reconstruction will need to be undertaken by the next Labour government, and incy want to be sure that we have thought out how we propose to tackle it, and, m particular, now we intend to res pond to, and overcome, the opposition that we are likely to have to face.
The need for a new programme Over the last few years the NEC has presented to conference a series of Labour programmes for and decision, covering the range of policy, and there have formed the basis of our manifestoes.
We believe that the general line taken in those programmes has been correct and should be followed in the future.
But we also recognize that the situation has changed greatly in the meanwhile, that therefore there will be a need to up-date and strengthen our committments to take account of the serious economic and social legacy that we shall inherit when the lories are defeated.
The last programme was published in 1982 and we believe that another ERIC the be prepared that.
The proposals set out some which dealing with after further study therefore, A socialist agenda now be shift of power from clear discussion whole 3. Trade union rights such Labour Programme 1986 should for next years conferance as a basis for our campaign in the general election which will follow made this memorandum are listed as an indication of the general areas of policy we belleve will need to br reconsidered and do not go into any delall, since bal coud ony be done Terence be Our first task will necessarily be to tackle the problem of unemployment and this will involve us in a substantial towards criteria that allow the need shall have to reckon with the opposition of those national and international centres of economic and indust power bar now control Dur control, import control, the direction of investment in the private sector. much more progressive taxation and secure greater equality in our society With this in mind we believe that urgent consideration must be given to forms, of the banks and financial institutions, of a substantial number of major companies to secure the investment we shall need, and of land for housing and development, as well as the re-aquisition of privatized assets The repeal of the anti-trade union legislation, the granting of an amnesty, and its replacement by new laws that encourage trade union memberunions to protect their members and play a full role in all decisions which The enactment of legislation tha: would make provision tor a germice system of self-management entr==ching the ultimate right of employees in public and private industries and SONICA WO elect and remove their managers. 5. The Common Market The immediate restoration — pending our liberation from the Treaty of Rome — of full parliamentary control over legislation ceded by the 1972 Communities Act to the EEC, because:
(a) even our castle economic and industrial policy would be held to illegal by the British responsible as they are, for enforcing Community law in Britain which would create a major constitutional crisis with the courts and the civil ser(b) the current proposals for a move towards a fully federal Europe would be completely unacceptable to the Labour Party, the British people, and would undermine parliamintary democracy in this country.
Labour, being an internationalist across the whole of Europe and far beyond the confines 6. Education and training The provision of a genuine com prehensive system of education and training throughout school and college and in all further education.
This must be linked, in every case, to the provision of real jobs. development of individuals and the meeting of social and economic need. 7. Welfare benefits The rebuilding and reconstruction of the Welfare state by the provision of a whole range of statutory benefits covering all kinds of social need to be available as of right, to replace the present means-tested system. 8. The re-unification of Ireland The violence in Northern Ireland, caused by the partition, can only be resolved by negotiating the termination of British jurisdiction in the six counties, and plans will need to br secure this objective drawn without any unionist veto 9. Foreign Policy The adopties of a =e - = 72 making, supporting economic development in the Third cuts in diture, because we shall not be able to anora c present cost, ler alone al. increase in the conventional budget taking up any savings deriving weapons programme.
Courts, tionship with the Americans it, as is quite possible, they were actually to Machinery of government which have now become instruments of Tory policies staffed, at top levels. with will eed to be reformed and moon period, will certainly do all it can to delay, obstruct and prevent, an elected Labour government from car14. An effective local government ment on a new basis which would give general powers to these authorities to the act in the interest of their constituenoutiaw al forms of discrimination on the grounds of class, sex, race or 16. A democratic and pluralistic safeguard the freedom of the media so that a full range of opinions can be made available to the people Towards a Labour victor The Labour Te: * sera IT: "kEN especially in Europe, and in liberation Our serious OUl socialist WC abolition of the House of deeply they cannot native education, retirement. the colleagues national, that these 1986 to go to ari ta azars dee Eric Heffer . --...C. hone 197 worst results have always been when our manifesto was vague or lacked support from the leadership as in 1951, 1959, 1970, 1979 and 1983.
This time the sheer gravity of the crisis will lead to an expectation from the voters that if they elect a Labour government there will be a real and effort made to advance towards a fairer society.
Socialist policies, of the kind outlined above also have a special relevance now, since the Tory wets, the SDP and the Liberals have already moved mo tae anti- natchene, non - and bitterly anti-socialist — middle ground of politics.
It we were to mode ourselves on their approach the electorate will see no difference and will feel free to support any, or all of those parties and groupings with the likely consequence end ur with a hunt Parliament and a paralyzed governLabour's best chance of victory lies in its appeal to all those, especially the organized working class, , who are opposed to monetarism and militarism, and to millions of others who do not bother to vote because see any difference between the parties Such people would be more likely to respond to a serious socialist alterthat offered jobs, homes, health dignity in prospects of peace. greater human rights and democrac means as well as willing the ends.
Conclusions and recommendations We therefore recommend to our proposals be discussed by the Home Policy, InterLocal Government.
Women's and Youth Committees and committees be asked report back to the NEC as part of the preparation of a Labour Prograt.te Conference ner: ste and to form the core of our Maritar:
Torahe next general elemie