Defend Labour councils Creetings lox 1967 to all those fightng for socialism and freedom in Britaln and Internatienally bom the Campalgn Grosp of Labour MPs. Section • Khan and Scally policy Campaign Group News, January issue features -• Bernie Grant on Labour councils • Merle Amoury on Brent • Mark Wadsworth on Black • Tony Benn on Labour's defence Send for your copy to Bob Clay House of Commons, London SWIA OAA (30p + 13p p&p). THE 12 December Tribune carried a major centre-spread article by John Hume, leader of the Social Democratic Party of the North East six counties of Ireland. The article is a frontal attack on councils and the section of the Labour left which has opened up a dialogue with Sinn Fein's elected representative in Ireland.
Ken Livingstone, the former leader of the GLC who initiated the dialogue between councils in Britain and Sinn Fein representalives, as well as progressive policies wards the Irish ethnic minority of more than four million singled out by Hume for special attack.
In itself Hume's article is unremarkable. Indeed it • on uuc dolle ever ne sordid muck-raking witch hunting that pumped out in the gutter press against Sinn Fein and radical councils which exercise their right to meet them.
More significant is the the Kinnockite anioune.
The article is introduced: 'In the wake of the invitation recently ex tended by number of LaDOU COlAC representatives of Sinn Fein, John Hume the leader of the Social Democratic and circulated the following statement for discussion by the Labour Left. Tribune is delighted to reprint it here.' Hume voice to that of Neil nock 'firmly associated' himself with Thatcher in condemnn: the action of those councils which welcomed Sinn Fein representatives in October unis year, ana lo lal front bench spokesperson Clive Soley who circulated branches calling uDUl. them disassociate themselves from the tour.
What is at stake here is the elementary democratic right of the representatives of the labour movement in being done by the British state in Ireland, by talking directly to those who the Irish people elect to represent them.
What the Tory Party, the press and the British state fear is very simple it is the truth The truth about what is done to the Lalulaisl peone in the north of Ireland in order maintain British rule there and the partition of Local councils in this COHLTY Hltava a responlsibility to find out and, indeed expose what done in their name by the British state in witnoul access the facts, as directly related by ece cneeive of the nationalist people, it impossible the labour movement to do its duty towards That is to formulate and act upon a policy of self-determination for the Irish people as whole complete British withdrawal from Ireland The actions of abou councils like Hackney, Harıngey, Lambeth anc in meeting Sinn Fein councillors are all the more disturbing to the British establishment Decause these COlICl cover huge Irish communities which al C evidently all the more directly concerned with racist polic! towards Ireland and the Irish.
Furthermore, as local delegations from the Divis Ilats in West Belfast Broadwater ram enare Haringey show, oppressed black communic. inner cities can see some paralels berween the treatment they receive and the repression which is a daily fact of life in the nationalist areas of the North of Ireland Kinnock, Soley Tribune are contesting Ithe right of Labour councils to uci• luc DcDc uncyreor sent to find out the truth about Ireland and act accordingly.
The truth is that Bri tain progressive role to play in Ireland. The only way to open the solution to any of the problems facing Ireland is British withdrawal. Any policy which blocks Labour Parties or Labour councils hearing the views of those in Ireland favouring British withdrawal simply prolongs Ireland's agony and strengthens reaction ir Dlltall At a time when Labour councils are facing a racist assault orchestrated by the Tory Party nationally, it is be hoped that Tribune will be as delighted to oper Ils pages lo repnes by lne councils to Hume's attacks and will itself follow their lead and open up in its representatives ctete ane sar o a ne ple, many Labour Parties would be fascina:ed hear debates 0r22-se between SDLP =* S-a Fein represe i Britich Tribur ie soe = is bc=
Socialist Action 19 Dec 1986
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