THE Women's Action Committee (WAC) AGM meeting in Manchester on 6 February decided to launch a campaign for the deselection of all those MPs who either voted abortion Bill or abstained at the second reading.
A dossier of material has already been sent to every CLP involved, and contact has been made with supporters of WAC in number of constituencies in order to raise the issue.
The vasilyalll is obviously already causing concern to the party leadership. Apart picked up by the nationa with articles in the Guardian, also Walworth Rd, and some of been noted the MPs involved have felt stung into responding.
The press in Scotland has been particularly quick to pick up the implications of WAC's campaign, Scottish male MPs. have 'defend themselves.
WAC is realistic about the slim chances of success in actually deselecting MPs, but the campaign will bring home the seriousness of the es overn has already been deselection provoked George Galloway into abs. taining rather than voting or the Alton Bill. Hopeful WAS campaign will have a similar effect in forfor Alton's anticing other MPs to consider their voting position.
WAC's main concern is the defeat of Alton's Bill at its third reading. However the opportunity is also be ing taken to point out that none rue women favor MPs voted for Alton, and that selecting more women for safe seats is the surest way the policy on abortion rights is carried out.
Perhaps not surprisingly, considering the vested interests Labour MPs, WACsupporters of the FAB campaign in the Labour Party have tound themselves ac cused of 'intolerance for campaigning to ensure that arty policy is implemented by the entire PLP However what perhaps shocking to some is that this accusation has not been confined to the ranks of the right wing. even Of the left there are those who understood that abortion rights are as a picket line is to a strike, or as solidarity to a trade u. The accusation of intolerance is raised because women are told that what we are dealing with is a matter of 'conscience for the MPs. who vote with Alton.
But if religious belief is an excuse tor • Cele women their rights, then presumably the same token it is excusable that there against Catholics in the North of Ireland by fundamentalist protestants who believe the Pope is the anti-Christ, or by the state of Israel against Palestias 'right return' is justified an . or support for Clause 28 of the Local Government Bill b those who believe homosexuality is a perversion. Or indeed perhaps those have argued that nurses have no right to go on strike are justified as it 'might endanger nte and this Is ar issue of conscience.
Individuals are indeed entitled to hold such views, we can be very tolerant of a of Views held by individuals. But if someone elected parliament, and then claims that this gives them a right everyone else, to ignore the rights of women the decisions of Labour conference, then it is clear who 'intolerant. If religious belief means tha an MP is not prepared defend women's rights, then clearly they should not be an MP.* However the majority of those who voted with Alton, or abstained, did not do so even on the basis of profound consistent religious belief and do noi even have a tig leat to covel their attack on rights.
The Women's Action Committee campaign will also tie into the reselection process which was suppos ed to begin in June of this agreed at last year's con ference have been circulated. WAC will be campaigning for more women 'selected tor Labour seats, particularly targeting those MPs who refuse to defend abortion rights This campaign will obviously have to focus on Scotland where Labour's good results have only produced one woman Labour MP, with a very high proportion of Scottish male Labour MPs voting against ADOR YUEN WAC . will continue to make a high priority of involvement not only in call ing for deselection but in all aspects of the FAB campaign. WAC members have played a leading role establishing FAB nationally from the outset.
The long. drawn out consultation on the women's organisation also due to end this vear with constitutional amend ments being tabled at annual conference Margaret Prosser, TGWU national official, recently reported to the Greater London that she favoured a division of the votes at national women's La 45:45:10 basis (45 per cent for the unions, 45 per cent for the constituency organisations and 10 cent the socialist societies) and the creation hational women's bödy rather than the cumbersome NEC women's committee National Women's Committee.
While these proposals do not include the key one of women's conference electing the women's places on the NEC, they are far from the 90 per cent trade union bloc vote that some feared was being prepared by right, reflect the pressure of women on the Creating a clear and consistent constitution for the women's organisation, from its national committees and representation at national conference, down to its structure at a CLP level, is, in WAC's view, a precondition for a powerful organisation of women in the Labour Party.
Margaret Prosser's proposals would not go. Tal enough, but would be a step towards setting the women's organisation more solid foundation to conduct the are neon Action Committee had a difficult year, finding itself the sub. ject sustained from both right and left.
The right and the LCC have tried to break WAC away from its alhances with the Labour Left Liaison deliver anything significant for women in the party, frequently even failslate for the NEC in the CLPs that it influences On the left Briefing opposed the review of the women's organisa tion, accused WAC of selling out to the LCC, and has implicitly opposed the rela ionship between WAC an the LLI But the last year has in fact proved that the cours taken by WAC has been correct Over the last year it has maintained a high profile campaign to strengthen the Labour women's örganisation, had a major presenc in me rig Alton's Bil ampaign, organised a cor on Majority' on policies for women, continued to campaign for unity on the left on the principled basis of support for the demands of women in the abour movement. It re mains easily the most powerful campaign in the Labour Party.
Family and friends carry McAnespie's coffin past the checkpoint from which he was shot Socialist Action March 1988
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of the electoral college STOP THE JALTON PLE