As a result the left is weaker after this election the Its candidates for the party leadership contest, Eric for Beauer Cane Michael Meacher for deputv. in no wav inspire the same enthusiasm among rank and file activists as did Tony Benn's campaign two years ago.
Indeed while Meacher has an outside chance of winning the deputy leader ship contest, which would be a big blow against the right wing of the movement, Eric Heffer is likely to get a derisory VOLe The impact Labour's election debacle has hastened the recomposition of the Bennite left in the Labour Party and LOWE, the cartoonist used to draw the TUC venerable carAller the debacle of last rear's health workers' dispute their retreats before Thatcherism on unemployment and cuts in the welfare state, even this caricature is too flatlering. Further retreats are planned.
The first feelers have been put out to start talks with Employment Secretary worman Tehbit. Discussions will start funds, but Bill Keyes of union SOGAT who is chairperson of the Il Cemplosment com mittee admitted 'wider Tangig talks were posslble Tebbit Connerences this somenmes against the advice of the right wing leadership, as in the steelworkers' union.
Broad Left currents are now developing in number unions with varying degrees rank file support independence trom bureaucracy. They O calls around TeTT policies, greater democracv and all have a tendency to see their strug gle within the unions as increasingly interlinked with &that of the Labour left.
clear that the labour movement is entering momentous times. The next see prepared to listen and to other ministers he flesible Bill Keves pride: miselt as a left realist pretering cooperation with confrontation with il government hell bent on hreaking the power of But do not get idea that the TUC has gone soft. In fact thes getting really tough with Bill Keyes col leagues in the vationa Graphical Association who will not accept the TUC's formula for selling out their dispute with the Financial Times Nor The TUC leaders going to stand any nonsense Blackpool this They have made in clear Halnone 01 Ine four contestants for the significant tests of strength between the Thatcher government and the working class.
The Tories aim to qualitatively weaken the tinks between the unions and the Labour Party and to further undermine the possibility of Labour forming an alternative government. They aim to increase unemployment lower living standards and undermine the welfare state.
At the same time they plan to reduce democratic rights across the board and to strengthen their powers of repression lo acal will resistance. Failure to roll Labour leadership welcome Their vien round-rable-discussion.
Strangel! enough Mross Evans, another 'lett. their presence 'would distract delegates and the media the important business of conterence' With policies like the TEC is pursuing would have thought that been pleased delegates' minds were distracred elsewatre.
There is i minorit! within The ranks of the leaders who are opposing this disastrou the TIC back these attacks would mean a serious defeat for organised movement of major proThese are the stakes in the conflict.
On the other hand it is likely that the Tories will face mounting unpopularity disastrous state the British economy becomes more transparent. The basis will exist for organising widespread oppositior to the Tories defensive struggles by the labour movement are likely Development years Development solidarity with these struggles will be a decisive facleaders.
Scargill has spotien tor millions of unionists Io oppose coiTories and for a light by TIC Thatcher Workers auste like telecommunications Have voted leaderships defend their jobs and conditions from the Tory offensive.
This minorit! needs to be unified and linked with the left the Labour Party. Then in The course of the coming the Tories there • will be the hasis to build a nes leadership pledged 10) class struggle rather than the shameful class col.
of len yur ras. Moss Evans and Bill Keves.
tor in determining the outcome of the class battles under Thatcher These battles will closely interlink with the debate within the labour ment on the way forward under Thatcher. Millions of workers are asking two questions: can resist Thatcher's attacks and how can we ever get another government to replace the Tories? There coherent answers to these Cuestuls : which form the heart of the debate wracking ine labour movemen from top to bottom. struggle perspective.
Support That means the 'hard left' current l the Party round the Labour Briefing journal which enjoys wide support among constituency activists, the : Broad Lefts their Broad Left Organising Committee within the unions building the Labour Party Young Socialists It means over the next months the left throwing its weight behind each and every industrial struggle which breaks out against • It means backing the Irish liberation struggle, • supporting the black youth fighting for their rights and the CND mass demonstration on 22 October.
means the left organising behind the Hef fer/Meacher ticket in the leadership elections, and organising conferences the movement in the autumn to organise the fight back against the Tories on privatisation, the politica Let and of nell are stre defence of the vices And it will be vital for the left to raise its sights beyond the confines of the British situation and show solidarity with the revolu tions in Central America against the threats of US imperialism and their allies in the region.
Speciticallv the 'Hands Central America - No more Chiles' must be made into a major priority for socialists.