is summarised by Arthur Scargill's statement that no one is better fitted to represent the labour movement than women.
Whilst this new understanding is a tremendous achievement, obstacles that still exist in the tight for women's rights. The leading role they have played — not just in the miners' strike, but in the anti-missiles movement, in anti-racist and deportation struggles, in the fight for self-determination in Northern Ireland, and in workplace disputes has not been trans ated into anv steps forward tor women's representation in the Labour Party.
There is a lesson here for all Labour women, women's organisation which has done so much in the past around this fight. By failing to base its intervention on the kind of alliances built during the miners' strike, WAC became marginalised at this year's party conference. Its debate and its actions seemed abstracted from the main terrain of the struggle for left policies within the party. That. together with the massive resistance of the Labour establishment -heavy defeat of the resolutions.
Fewer WAC resolutions were submitted this year than in the past, and WAC was unable to present a full slate for the women's section of the national executive elections. shown, as Bristol West delegate Maggie Peterson pointed out, in the fact that only 17 women have so far been chosen as parliamentary candidates in the 200-plus selections that have taken place in safe Labour seats.
The defeat of these resolutions, however, does not reflect a big decline in support for positive action for women. The huge support for a resolution Telluy ton question was Carried mendation of the national executive.
The contradictions in the women's debate at speil out showed and especially for WAC, the Labour was a contributing factor to the But most of all this is MPs' 'conscience clause' on the abor• against the recomchoice facing the Action Committee today. On the one going to live beyond that, and we're going live beyond the election. We have to look ahead.
that in a way controls all Orners. hat's the analytical function: the abrity to understand wnat is really happening. I'm bellever sonalities of any sort of kind, so I will try to use the coolest analytical skill that I have to analyse what acEveryone agreed speech made many references which won the support of delegates. But l can tell you from long experience that speeches of that kind are really plannCO Or LIC Call was prepared for that purpose.
It was I think and I must say this as coolly as I can — to release the anger of the public against a part of the party. It was to conNeil Kinnock:
I'm telling you, people's jobs, with their homes, tial services. They have no time for such posturing or for the generals of gesture or for the tendency tacticians.
that some of our number have become latter-day public-school boys taking their inspiration from Kiplin: 'it matters not whether you won or lost, but how you played the game. ' Those game players get isolated, hammered, blame others, workers, trades unions, some other leadership, the people for their lack of revolutionary vigour — always somebody else. And then they talk of victory.' But tomorrow it's likely that there will be a victory for the miners. movemen: wants lo support them, and quite rightly too because they have inspired hope. But if you can discredit the сопference today, then tomorrow's vote for the miners discredited. definition, destroy the credit oI the Labour conference and its role, it's not only reflected on the leadership given by Peter, Michael Arthur, but it's also shattering the link between the movement and its political voice.
Remember that all the ballots which have taken place this year in the trade unions have been very, important. Many people thought, and I supyou can't play politics with with their essenComrades, it seems to me sometimes blocked off. They try to