TO COINCIDE WITH the 18 August demonstration, marking the 15th anniversary of British troops being sent into Ireland, TONY BENN has published a draft private member's bill on British withdrawal from Northern Ireland. him about his bill.
Tell me you're introducing a parliamentary bill on British withdrawal Northern and what it's about.
I drafted the bill some time ago, based on the 1948 which Dro vided the legal cover for what was called a termination of jurisdiction. It was the only parallel I could think of.
The bill establishes clear intent to withdraw with a date - at the moment, not written in.
We've reached a new situation in attitudes The argument is not completely won, but opinion has shifted very substantially.
The bill is intended to focus people's minds on British withdrawal.
would appear to me that the government preparing a move. I think Toe none or be decor prime minister has in mind wolfe ot would withdraw from the North if the Republic can be suaded to join CAROL TURNER asked That confirms the point that our prime motive for being there now is defensive, because united with neutral constitution, would be a threat to NATO.
And it explains why the Americans, who have no love TOT • 160perialism, should still be supporting British policy.
think the cabinet would be prepared to drop their 'protection oI ine loyalists the South relationship with the Eurobear octence svsicu.
Labour Party:
tion in Ireland is a soundly based movement.
long time, an inettective. lovalist rumo.
ment.
I don't from the nationalists movement in the north and in the south. The primary reason their members.
cemented into an integrationist position, that the situation has got to end.
exist, like pretending doesn't exist or pretending the will your own views.
Do you think that would be adequate then?
No, don't misunderstand me. the Poll view of the Irish, they would simply be substituting American control of the whole of Ireland for British control of part.
Not that I'm another British politician with policy on Ireland, think that reunited neutral Ireland would give the Irish people as a whole LUCi Ical chance blems on the basis of pass tackling their own politics, not sectarian or British imperial politics. une success tionalist campaign North has shifted British public opinion.
Socialist Action asked Tony Benn if Northern Irish people should be allowed to join the British I don't think the campaign for Labour representaWe have had a Northern Ireland Labour Party for a which was linked to the British party and a member of the Socialist International. It was it had absolutelv no place in Irish politics and is an integrationist movepersonally believe there is a majority for it, and if there were it would be going absolutely the opposite way that we have to go. It would involve us more deeply in the affairs of Northern eno create arenate ls more comocie and the socialists in the north. It would widen the gulf between the labour the labour movement hasn't been able to shift is those trade unions who have membership in Northern Ireland. They don't want the border issue raised, because it divides ana so you gel the unions whereas the political people in the CLPs see quite clearly It Is an aberration. I know lere are peopie I left groups who. are in favour, but it is an illusion. It is pretending that the national question doesn't the Gustion black question doesn't exist. You can't pretend that people's experience doesn't exist for political purposes just because those assumptions don't entirely fit in miners' strike has had a big effect too A lot of people, particularly the mining a cas name social their TV screens the police in riot gear going in against these 'criminas NOW they're seeing the same thin happen to the in Many people, for years that what's hap pening in Ireland was preparation for similar police tactics in Britain. We are now clean. The see that very clearly. criminalisation of the min ing community has begun In tne meala and wrough government statements.
Will your bill be debated in parliament?
I want to make it absoluteIv clear that this type of legislation designed tocus public attention the practicalities of policies - not with a view to winning a parliamentary majority under the Inal you would never do.
What will be the effect of this in the party? Will it put the pressure on?
I think it would. Take the Prevention of Terrorism Act. In the last couple of years front bench has spoken agains it. We have also had discussions on the national executive about the need look at Ireland Ivi alich because the contradiction about maintaining the veto and working for tion is too glaring to make our policy credible.
A couple of years back you were calling for withdrawal followed by United Nations peacekeeping force. Is that still your view?
That the tory end deal with argument that we'd like to get out but mere ose a blood-bath. My own candid opinion is clear that we were going this would release a whole range of arguments discussions within the whole of the Irish labour I'm not wedded to the idea of UN peace. keeping force. But you've position line follows an appeal the Committee Labour's national women's has already opposed strip searches.
The LCI will be seeking separate composites on this issue, on Diplock nogot to find ways of dealing with the arguments that are put by those who are in favour of us remaining in The purpose of my bill is to get away from a fixation on the problems of violent sectarian confrontation, the problem of feeling that if you keep up the violence you succeed in retaining the British jury courts (five resolutions) and on troop withdrawal (six resolutions). It will fight the three Militant sponsored resolutions calling for a Northern Ireland Labour Party, which are close to the nositions of g number of prominent right AUEW, GMBATU troops.
think that things would begin to change once it became clear thai an SAS or paramilitary in Cole! triggered off simply b! driving the Catholic com munity in the North into desperation violence - that you couldn't just defy that community and when they resisted, bring in more troops APEX who back the Representation Committee's call for the British Labour organise in the North of • See p10 for the LCI's tringe meetings