'NO TURNING back — we're unilateralist and proud of it, said Bernadette Hillon, delegate for Lancs West CLP, defence debate at 1987 Labour Party annual conference. She was posite 34, 'the only proposition that clearly reaffirms our total unilateral nuclear show of hands conference overwhelmingly supported those sentiments. But another composite was also passed which creates ambiguity. And there is equally no room to doubt that unilateralism is again under attack from Labour's right wing. TURNER reports from Brighton.
moving Comcommitment to disarmament'. On a CAROL within the Labour Party,' said its editorial.
clear shift away Likewise. • Joan Rudtribution to quote fence tribution defence debate was clearly designed to open up a way for a shitt In policy. It must be made clear that we will Trident, she said. sulau 'But that does not stop using Trident politically' concluded Ruddock.
speech was described by the Guardian redue as. 'the dismal attempts of some of lic cangnca centre to ly to make two and two make five, exemplified in Virs Joan Ruddock's speech and in the optimistic struction put officials on the meaning of NOLORS WICH were passed.' It was in this context that Ken Livingstone's remarks that any attempt unilateral nuclear disarmament would lead to civil war within the were greeted with outrage by the Labour establishment. Denis Healey appeared especially make his contribution in une cene ucoale. LOSI of which was devoted to attacking •the Brent representative'.
Clarke, summing up his fire on Livingstone the MUCO press pointed out the ingstone's remarks caused following Liv.such precisely alikel because they were true.
was clear the CLP delegates who took the rostrum during the •erence deode co cemac that any review must leave the principles of unilateral nuclear disarmament alone period the rank and file not just of the CLPs but also of the trade unions must reassert determination fend unilateral nuclear disarmamen policy. No turning back!
Jnilateralist and proud of "ITS FOR WHEN WE DO ACTUALLY REVIEW OUR DEFENCE POLICY.
How the Independent saw Labour's defence debate: 'Ken Livingstone was stating no more than the truth when he warned that an attempt to abandon the policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament would lead to something approaching civil war TGWU leader Ron Todd has called on the Labour Party to stand firm on its nuclear disarmament policy.
Speaking at the South East the weekend after Labour met in Brighton, Todd said defence policy couldn't be blamed for the party's general defeat.
How can we believe that people who live in the south found defence a decisive issue while those in the north did not, he asked?
Todd went on: "What have got to look at is the Way We DISCIL UNC DOLICY •Ron Todd's statement is a welcoilt reattirmation ol the TGWU's commitment been the forefront of pioneering the Alle the transport workers contribunon to ine aclence acbalt al Labour Party conference it welconc TGWU delegate Jack Dromey was the first on his • feet after the movers and seconders the composites. He came to une reaffirm the TOWEs commitment non-nuclar defence policy, said Dromey, supporting to the need to strengthen conventiona defences, stressing the redundancies facing defence workers at Enfield Davenport. Dromey's Tanure to lake up any olnel aspect of unilateralist policy did not unremarked by Neither did his silence on Composite 34. This resolution was the only one which unambiguously reaffirmed the party's commitment to unilateral nuclear disarmament.
1987 was the first time tor many yeals thal geneta! secretary Ron Todd did not lake • 10 Lauvul cull ference rostrum to confirm the TGWU's unilateral nuclear disarmament. His weekend speech, however makes clear his position After Brighton the attack on nuclear disarmament from Labour's right wing is out in the open. It Is more important that ever make clear once again their nutea: disarmameni
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H.Q Garland
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