SocialistAction 1983–88

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

Why Kinnock was humiliated

Socialist Action No. 129, 31 January 1986 · p. 3 of the scan · 339 words

The scan: 129-jan-31-1986-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.
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page 3 of the scan

BY TUESDAY evening the concerted onslaught of the ruling class to protect Thatcher, even while bringing her under tighter control, had almost succeeded in reversing roles in politics. It was Kinnock who was put on trial for total inadequacy.

In fact this was largely merited. Kinnock's speech in the House of Commons on Monday was catastrophe. The insult ' windbag' was never more justly earned this despite concerted bourgeois campaign against him.

But it is a complete misunderstanding to think that total failure was due to an individual bad speech. KinMOCK had absolutely no content MIs speech because he had absolutely no political line. Labour has had no policy toward Thatcher in the Westland crisis whatever.

This was a crisis in prime minister had been caught concealing and involved in leaking classified documents. She had lost two cabinet ministers in as many weeks. The first opinion poll showed 61 per cent did not believe hatcher.

Government But what on earth was demanding?

Labour leadership which wanted to fight Thatcher government removed.

With lead credit bench.

Merlyn viewed on for cher.

serious cher.

Dalyell Colette letter tion.

Monday's without should be giving no Rees, intereven give an merely said ThatThatwas Tam he named the thereby that explanation For the not Westland crisis. We were told that Kinnock was be-ing so clever by adopting a "softly, softly' approach This would allow the Tory contradictions (OLE GUL.

Well on Monday the •Tories closed ranks and savaged Kinnock. It was Owen who walked off with what honours were going opposing Thatcher. Kinnock was humiliated Labour damaged with him.

Kinnock is a prisoner of forces vastly stronger than himself - the forces of the British ruling class. They have already assign. ed him his political role.

Thatcher's Tories

to be the strongest party -walle she brought into occasionally, as over Westland, she is not to be challenged on her central policies Owen and the SDP are to be the recognised 'respectable' opposition. Kinbecause Kinnock, movement VULt the Tory demand declare that

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