THIS YEAR'S Blackpool on 17-20 April, takes place in the run up to a general election. The key task facing the Young Socialists is to decide a strategy capable of mobilising the maximum number of the 6.2 million voters between 18 and 25 to turn out for Labour. everything is on course to re-enact the familiar ritual of voting chauvinistic policies which have separated the LPYS from those thousands of young people brought into• struggle over the last four years of Tory rule.
This course has reduced the LPYS to an irrelevance.
Its main claim to tame is the rotten attacks its members against the left, like Frances - urran's against Black Sections at last year's Labour Party COLICICICe Once again a majority of the 152 resolutions submitted to 1987 conference are full of platitudes and calls to the faithful. They contain no commitment to campaigning action.
Of South Africa, only twoNewark Horsforth LPYSs _advocate action. Particularly important is the call for the LPYS to support and build the anti-apartheid ment's youth sections and national network.
Carefully separating the those on Black Séctions has ensured yet another debate on racism devoid of any discussion on a strategy for fighting it which involves black self-organisation. The LPYS's total failure to fight racism has been a focus of allenuon unis year aue to its role in attacking the Black occuurs allu lncu uchanc for constitutional recognition.
Wine Sections have spent this year giving a to the struggles of Black peopie. une cryo rebreser tative on Labour's national Cavoucas. has involved herself in the table Black and Asian Advisory Committee. Not sur prisingly conference calls for her resignation not as body.
Nonetheless, it is likely that yet again LPYS connational LPYS conference in Instead narrow, economistic ference will see Black Sections denounced and, as at recent London LPYS racism prettified as simo v a too of the bosses' rather than something with a material basis in the working class which pervades the whole British labour movement.
At the end of an historic year which has seen NUS, the NUM, the consultative conference of the LCC all adopting policies in support of British withdrawal from Ireland, of unconditionally support British withdrawal action to stop, such abuses as strip-searching. ference is likely to be na National LPYS Model resolution on the Sawyer proposals the be received by Walworth Road by 22 May.
This (insert name of organisation) notes with to the party's youth organisation. In particular, this (name of organisation) believes that the consultation period is too short, especially as it constituencies, and possibly a general election.
opportunity to discuss the proposals.
(name of organisation) believes that: (a) youth campaign committees would have a valuable role in coordinating campaigning, but members are below 26 and are accountable to their organisations, and that youth campaign committees do not become a substitute for a strong and independent LPYS, nor the LPYS national committee.
recent toner mento and recent round tin dispirited regional YS con ferences. Nowhere was this clearer than in London After a year of undaunted often isolated campaigning by the Black com munity, which makes up 16 Coll population, London YS conference refused to even discuss resolutions on Black Sections.
This course, advocated as 'bold socialist policies' is not only deeply anti-socialist, it is also hopeless nom une pomt or view ol winning , young people to It puts the LYS against, or at best apathetic to, some of the policies most demanded by young people, such as suptor the struggles Black people, for unilateral nuclear aisarmament. for women's self-organisation, for campaigning action against apartheid, and for British withdrawal tron As a result the LPYS represents no positive alternative the electoral damage the right in the party as a whole is doing by atlacking and underallng THIS model submission by CLPs has been endorsed by the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy, Black Section, the Labour Women's Action Committee, Socialist Organiser and Socialist Action. All submissions from CLPs must alarm the NEC consultation on proposed changes The consultation should be deferred until after the next general election, to give organisations a real Regarding the NEC's specific proposals, this their composition and remits must ensure that all left policies.
Two alternatives to this will be clear at LPYS con. ference. The first is to adopt widening Labour's and the LPYS's popular base through the campaigning policies and alliances fough for by Labour Left Liaison the Campaign Group.
Left Liaison will be campaign up las year's campaign the Black Section on the election of the LPYS place on the NEC by supporting this year's Black Section can didate, sieve Jomoa LLL's fringe meeting on Saturday evening will bring together speakers from the Black Sections the Women's Action Committee, Broadwater Farm Defence Campaign, the Campaign for Labour Par the Committee on Ireland. It marks a big step forward in left unity to build the youth section.
It is marred by Fightback's (Socialist Organiser) sectarian decision to run a candidate for the NEU place on the grounds that i Steve Jomoa did not pass their positive (b) (i) trade union youth sections should be encouraged to send delegates to LPYS conference and take a full part in decision making; (it) it is inappropriate for the National Organisation of Labour Students to have an input into the election of the LPYS representative on' the NEC (c) an 'annual youth conference' could be useful in bringing youth issues to the attention of the wider movement, but it is crucial that the independent policy-making powers of the LPYS Conference be preserved. (d) reducing the age limit to 21 would have a disastrous effect on LPYS activity.
This (name of organisation) further believes that: (i) LPYS Conference, as well as continuing to elect the NEC representative, should elect the LPYS National Committee, which should include reserved places for young black and women tempes ent (ii) the lower age limit for LPYS membership should be removed.
In conclusion, while Party interest in youth is long overdue, this (name of organisation) believes thai the NEC's proposals could remove from the youth section its right to a political voice. Labour should be increasing the influence of young people in the Party, not reducing it. vetting. This is another ex ample Fightback is increasingly in distinguishable from tant. Youth Action wilak this up with the argument for 'why socialists should support self-determination at their Sunday fringe meeting The other alternative facing the LPYS represented by the Sawyer proposals. Ihese are an at tempt to destroy the independence of youth section and strike a blow against the whole left.
While must vigorously oppose them + conference delegates to vote against them - any obbost tion which implies support for the record of the LPYS woma be doomed to tantre The model resolution set out below not only argues for opposition to Sawyer., more thoroughly than the LPYS itself, but also for the DUSILIVO proposal necessary to make the LPYS more representative, such as reserved national committee places for Black youth and young women.