comes into existence it will be the Liberal Party. Last summer, many short sighted Liberals saw the new party as a Liberal takeover of the SDP. No such thing is going to happen...The Liberals would given up their name, their tradition, their personality, and would have to accept a (Ovenie Se windered policies and a stren leader, would fight for the centre ground against a merged party with ill-defined policies and a leader yet to be elected. In terms of popular appeal, Dr David Owen's SDP would be at least a match for its rival from the start. We would be back to a two-party centre, but with the Liberal Party killed?
Actually Owen has no popular support at all, but what Rees-Mogg meant, accurately, any by-election the press will give all out backing to Owen's SDP. Meanwhile the new centralised conLiberals will be marginalised.
The new party does what it has always intended to do it presents a take racicansm to lake voles from Labour while maintaining a tight grip for capital on its central policies. Steel and Maclennan made a stupid tactical error but their backers, needless to say, have gained their way easily. 'radical' elements do exist among the ported the STUC and cluding delegations from USDAW, FBU and the represented -- many young woreen are involved in the aiso The rally in the City Hall heard Maria Fyfe MP tion. Jo Richardson MP attacked the Alton Bill as the thin end wedge highlighting the breadth of medical and political opposition to it. As she said 'to criminalise abortion as two of the previous attacks James White John Corrie. In 1979 only seven osed John Corri 0 out of the 50 Labou their opposition to Alton so far.
This is a reflection of the work that has been done in building the campaign and winning the arguments Not course, selecting different MPS Prior to 22 January seven Scottish MPs openly state support for Alton, and the others have not uectarcu unen posilion.. - waiting to hear the argument as been a commol response.
Labour MPs do not need to wait any longer there is no doubt that public opinion in Scotland against the Alton Bill, and the 1987 STUC women's conterence womer s ferences unanimously showed their opposition. Labour Party conference in Perth on 11-13 March has a number of resolutions before it on abortion - not simply opposing Alton but also caling tor an extensior of facilities on the NHS and tor sater and earlier provisions for abortion, and for better family planning provisions with more education.
Anti-abortion organisa tions such as SPUC Life traditionally found a lot of support in Scotland, especially in the west of Scotland. But the Fight Alton's Bill campaign has shown that to be minority view Scottish Labour MPs who tie themselves to the posi tions of SPUC will also find: themselves in a minority in movement.
Socialist Action 22 Jan 1988