THE LABOUR movement has been stunned by the collapse in the Labour Party's support since Its 1986 conference — and above all in the last weeks. From being four per cent ahead of the Torles in September 1986 slumped to being third in the polls. The latest Gallup 9000 poll put Labour two per cent behind the Alliance and nine per cent behind the Torles. The MORI poll in the last Sunday Times put Labour 11 per serlousness of what is at stake in this. The Labour Party was created in the first place Labour will mean a continuously escalating assault on the unions — a real attempt by the bourgeoisle to drive down the trade unions perhaps only six to seven million.
An equal assault would be launched by a third Thatcher administration on local governLabour movement in terms of provision of sorvices for the working class, political support, the Inner cities, local councils provision of working class services will be cut drastically This is the responsibility which faces the left. For literally millions of people a third Thatcher victory, worse still Labour being in would be, a disaster. It would mean an assault military bulld up by Britain. The ramifications Alliance-Labour bloc. David Owen, and David strengthen but to weaken all the organisaThe tasks that confront the loft in that situation are simple. The left doos not bear the responsibility for gotting the labour movement into this mess. But It is going to have to take the responsibility of leading the labour The tasks which are to be confronted are very much loss glamorous than those that one profor 'bullding the anti-Kinnock loft', power, 'fighting for workers government' or any other of the nostrums fashionable on the left. It is the brutal painstaking task of detending the trad rebullding Labour's support. The loft has to take the nslbility for rebuilding the labour movement in every way.
What truth is becoming an historical role of the bureaucracy is to de the bourgeolsie movement. I was the role o isolating the miners, Dean in sabotaging the Wapping struggle, Go NCÚ dispute, that gles that could have government and in c toral support.
porters these struggles and from the policies, above won the new s class, and Its allles, to support Labour. The bureaucracy the Labour's electoral chances.
That It has to Thatcher and vital, policie It is only bourgoolsio and its dovolon policies which can rebulld Labour's support and Its organisational connection to the working class. It must bo the loft that loads that long hard struggle to defend and rebulld the labour movement against the attacks that are launched on It.
has now It is impossible to defend trade out of that situation, as For an 'proparing for Ons, defonding the services, yes, defending and Is that an historical mediate truth. The fend and sabotage the strugIt was Kinnock and which both distanced Labour women and black people, which could Actions of the working sabotaged not only the direct working class but even the left now has to overcome. every struggle against the ocause no matter can defeat the ent. It has to ON WEDNESDAY 25 March the Labour Party national executive committee embarked on witch hunt, with the most unpleasant racist overtones. Under the terms of the resolution reprinted below any Black Section supporter or prospective parliamentary candidate could be up for the chop if they so much as put one foot out of line with the party leadership. The ink was hardly dry before deputy leader Roy Hattersley launched the first attack, by attempting to stop Bernie Grant and Linda Bellos attending a Birmingham Black Section meeting. This witch hunt is potentially the most serious of all that the Labour leadership has yet launched. It must be rebuffed — now, and by every party member.
In its four-year history, the Labour Black Section has won widespread recognition as the black voice within the party. I has done so against great odds and despite repeated attempts by the leadership to thwart its development.
As far as Britain's black communities are ed, an attack on Black Section is seen as an attack on them. They are quite right.
since is mccollull the Labour leadership has done its best to head off the NEC resolution ON WEDNESDAY 25 March, by 19 votes to 9, the Labour Party national executive committee passed the resolution reprinted below. Оп a recorded vote, only the following NEC members opposed the witch hunt launched by Neil Kinnock and Roy Hattersley: Tony Benn, David Blunkett, Eric Clarke, Tam Dalyell, Linda Douglas, Joan Maynard, Jo Richardson, Dennis Skinner, and Audrey Wise The NEC deplores reports emanating from the unofficial conference of Labour Party Black Section held in Nottingham 14-15 March and condemns tne statements allnpuled to lilal meeting that imply separatist organisations and caucuses in a way that is both divisive and contrary to the central principles and constitution We further resolve that any decision to undertake separatist action with regard to selective support for candidates or statements or 'manifestos' will result in action being taken under the party constitution against any party members endorsing or acting upon such decisions.
The best interests of the black and Asian communities are served by everyone in the party, white and black, recognising the need for positive action and more substantial representation of the interests of ethnic minorities in the party and in society, but continuing to resist firmly divisive calls for separatist organisations.
To this end the NEC endorses the positive work of the party's Black and Asian Committee whose status and resources have now been enhanced.
Tony Benn THE decision taken by the national executive comthreatens disciplinary action - and possible expusion - for those who advocate Black Sections is the latest in a long line of attacks upon free speech and free debate within the Labour Party.
Opinions differ, even development of the Labour Party Black Section as an voice within the party. They knew that organisation Black members would demand a serious struggle by the Labour Party against The first attack by the party leadership was the setting up of the Black and Asian Advisory Committee — now the Black and Asian the Black comalllull.
munity, as to whether Sections the BaCK right way of y, and ins within the party, and it easy casuments on understand the both sides.
But quit thing to hreaten those who do support them with expulsion, even if they are aiming to secure a reversal of present policy which does not supthe issue well taken everybody Liverpool Lambeth picketing, denunciation of so-called Committee. This was presented as a response to the demand of Black party members for action against for equality within tne party's owil structures. But it denied Black members the right to elect the committee that was supposed to represen them. It naturally didn't WUIK The Section's Black selfThis meant the party towards Black to hunt itself to fighter Black U1.
Dall the main precisely SUCI Star as the leadership concerned.
Neil Kinnock, Black leaders The and Linda forefront of kinds, Black Uk com"looney left' councils, and the disgraceful attack up-:
on the advocates of party policy discrimination against lesbians and gay this latest NEC decision should be a warnto everyone that the NEC wants total obedience to its dictats.
members will also notice that this plied to those eht of our OT OW policies on defence and disarmament or to others who are seeking to reverse our position on reselection.
Peter Hain IN THIS pre-election period there should be self-discipline shown by all sections of the party, star with the national leadership and the NEC.
While I don't think that some of the reported statements from the Black Black Sections 'have the Black communities behind us hunted to deny people their The that the has tion,' officer 'will not We do not have separate or All for into people leadership tions aid allow us organise within the 'Black organisations leadership Section were tactically • wise, that is , no excuse attack representatives within the Par NEC apparenty acted which on media reports alone 1s particularly disturbing We ought to be campaigning on an anti-racist programme and ensuring civil liberties are put at the top ol lie agenda, not al tacks on Black members of the party.
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SOCiAList ACTiON