achon, only candidate worth the black socialist Mel Mason who is running for the Socialist Workers Party..
But the main product of' the campaign is rising cynicism about the whole •a Does a lie nice States. In 1974 72 per cent ot the electorate voted ir the presidential elections. In 1980 it was 56 per cent. Reagan was elected by just 26 per cent of America's electorate.
If this year's result is no different, it is because the other 74 per cent at the moment nave voice to speak for them. LAST SATURDAY, in Cook MP — explain Labour's new strategy.
Ron Huzzard, speaking tor Ladour Acuon 10l Peace, criticised the document's emphasis NATO and, . specifically, reservations about reducing defence spending. 'Ah, but,' replied Mr Cook, 'you can't alter just paragraph the document Is a coneren whole. that precisely the problem.
It is coherently committed maintaining NATO membership non-nuclear strategy for Britain which Birmingham's Digbeth Civic Hall, Labour's Defence and Security for Britain document was given its first public airing. Around 100 party members gathered to hear Robin - one of the document's main architects doesn't threaten that commitment. That's why non-nuclear defence à la party leadership will mean increased spending on conventional British forces which Interr NATO's war-fighting strategies in Europe.
This was clearer still in the morning's workshop on Speaker after speaker piled in to sing the praises policy changing within, including Malcolm Chalmers and others from Bradtord Peace Studies.
Whilst each asserted this case, not one was ape even onla how this would be done.
Reservations expressed in the morning proved well-founded in the afternoon, when defence spokesperson Denzil Davies outlined the leadership's discussion on the document.
Successive party conferences,' he said, 'showed substantial support for re public.
There is no question that we should stay in NATO.
Joan Ruddock, , speaking for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, was the only one to draw attention the ICeU to put nuclear disarwithin the overall framework of foreign policy, and the onplatform speaker to point out that NATO is quite clearly nuclear dominated by the United States who 'currently engaged in imperialist wars throughout the world' The at spoiled his her somewhat spoiled by continual insistence not everyone agreed with its policies!
The question of NATO cleariy emerged as the achilles heel of the Labour left. Many the conhad reservation. about the document, few appreciated the tance of Mr Cook's opening remarks about it. coherent approach to defence In the months to come, all will learn.
Placing any defence policy of the Labour Party in the context of a socialist foreign policy, free of the overriding commitment to NATO will Without this debate the document will be used by Labour's right and centre to draw back on As Robin Cook said, five years ago we were a - if the left don't stand guard over disarmament policies, we will be so again.
Socialist Action 21 September 1984