WESTLAND IS one of those events which throws into the sharpest light not only the situation within the ruling class but also the tasks which face developments are clear.
two weeks two of her most senior ministers had to resign. Thatcher was brought to the point of humiliation. Serious conflicts which had built up within the ruling class exploded. No matter what problems this government can be fought the against. It is not invulnerably strong.
That is the first characteristic which must be built today. foremost not an Thatcher, anti-capitalist left. class requires is defence of its interests against Secondly this left must be an anti-coalitionist left. The Westland crisis shows that there are serious alternative forces, support for Thatcher - subordinate ones in rul- strategies, ing class terms but nevertheless powerful.
The SDP-Liberal Alliance reinforced by the crisis. With Thatcher weakened more ruling class resources will certainly go into support for Owen. The left, and the labour movement, operation with the SDP-Liberal Alliance.
In fact the line for Labour in the crisis should have been simple. Labour should have put down a vote of 'no confidence' in the government. They should have demanded an immediate general election. This should have been coupled with a declaration that Labour would enter into coalition with no party with the discredited Tory rump if he so wished.
This was not done but the left must keep hammering away at the danger of coalitionism -by politicians, but the deep and powertur supAUEW, and other right wing unions.
working class and oppressed.
Labour has suffered among any group since the The most catastrophic 1960s is among manual workers.
drastically failed to women.
alienated from activity in policies of successive Labour governments and politicians.
If there is going to be an alternative way forward against Thatcher and the threat of coalition, the Labour Party has got to transform both its relation to the working class and its own internal party organisation.
ing class in struggle, to build on the success in activity of the democratic accountable women's organisation in the party, to build black sections, to create a mass campaigning youth organisation, simply an 'internal" party task but a decisive part of creating a majority for Labour against the Tories and Alliance.
party has to be united against Thatcher by ending the witch hunt.
'internal' matter. It is going to be diversionary and damaging when the Liverpool enquiry comes through after the Westland affair.
fight has to go on for the type of policies that are an alternative both to Thatcher and the Alliance.
That argument has started with the publication of A Million Jobs A Year, with the document produced on 'Aims and Objectives' by the Chesterfield Labour Mineworkers Bill and other questions.
unable, to lead the fight against Thatcher.
is the fight which has to be led by the left. If Kinnock gets in the way of that fight that is his choice. Because Westland has shown he canhot lead the fight against Thatcher. Only the class struggle left wing of the labour movement can.
left. The chief of the left is first and 'anti-Kinnock' but an antiWhat the working tactics, within the ruling class to straight has been further
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First the Westland crisis has confirmed that the Thatcher government is vulnerable. Within
the assaults of the Thatcher government. That is the first task which must be understaken.
and not simply coalitionism in its simple form of direct cooperation with the SDP-Liberal Alliance
port for future coalition with the Alliance which is building up in the leadership of the EETPU,
Thirdly, if it is to have an alternative way to win a majority to coalition with the Alliance, Labour has to totally reorient its relation to the