Tribune, associated events at women's conference, and at some of the major trade union conferences, was a major clarification in British labour movement highest quarters - from those around Neil KinSince Neil Kinnock was elected leader of the Labour Party Tribune and the LCC. has been trying to play a dual role. It has claimed that it is possible simultaneously to support the path on which Neil Kinnock is taking the Labour Party people of Ireland, being right at the top of that The left of the party pointed out, with varying degrees of politeness, that such a combination was impossible. Either you supported Kinnock and his path or you supported those whose Subsequent events clarified that choice very Kinnock miners, those in the local government fight, the people of Ireland, and then tried to defuse the wave of protest following the US bombing of But on one area there was an attempted to maintain a left face. This was the question of Tronune and the LCd had dominated left is not going to be a thorough going socialist left - that follows from the nature of But progressively, and much too slowly and weakly, the left of the party has been beginning to move forward. The Arthur Scargill who in the early 1970s had defended pin ups in The Miner in 1984-85 linked up totally with Women Against NUM against the opposition of the Communist Party and Kinnock's supporters in South Wales.
dramatically increased on the left.
The touchstone votes on the question of women and black people within the party are those on the Women's Action Committee and the Black Section's demands for self-organisation within the party. Because an alliance within the labour movement must be based on respect for autonomy and self-decision.
Women do not want men who 'understand' want whites who 'understand' racism because there are no whites who 'understand' racism. Women and black people can only ally with the men in the labour movement on the precondițion they control their own organisations.
The problem for Kinnock et al however is that if women and black people do control their own organisations they will give them a very difterent content and policies to the present ones For a long period Tribune and the LCC kept defend the interests of women and black people And last week Tribune chose. It carried a another organ of Kinnock, The not very coded message was 'black canfailure of the Labour Party to combat racism in an area like Wandsworth — as is pointed out in the Black Section statement on our page 5 this week - that was at stake in the elections was ig nored in favour of the old right wing 'don't select black candidates or we'li lose' line.
And as we all know according to Kinnock 'we must win at all costs', and as, 'black candidates cost votes', there is only one conclusion that can be drawn from that combination.
Equally significantly plece 'Constitutional women's votes' which IS demands of WAC.
Simultaneously at the women's conference resolutions were mover to demands, and the party continued to attempt to boost the 'Black and Asian Advisory Committee against the Black Section.
and the Black Section. careful note.
with the those most under attack by successively attacked
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Only one conclusion can be drawn. Kinnock'$ supporters have decided to move against WAC