'An MP at every picket line' | Socialist Action 1983

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violence. What a sniveling coward!

Power workers are taking this action despite David Basnett's lead. They HELDU be supported and boosted in their actions by other unionists. Solidarity conferences and meetings should pay special attention to what is going on in the power stations locally and start organise mass picketing now at any stations where TUC guidelines are not being fully implemented.

The have reorganised the DUSSCS working of the power stations to stop the miners' strike biting. The solidarity movement has to re-organise their activities to focus attention on stopping the use of extra oil.

The CEGB must not bs. alowed to get away witn a winter free from serious power cuts. National Coal Board and Tory press.

At the centre of this attack is the he that miners responsible for ordinated violence on the picket lines.

According the Tories, the astnnaoEy of miners still on strike are being kept OIl ov sheer physical intimidation.

Ae osie LiC Cousc sirike Labour of the the Parlamentary Tories and helmedia to set allowed the terms of the debate But the PLP has a duty to carry out and fight foi the official policy of the THE NATIONAL Union of Mineworkers is now facing the most critical period of its nine-month Day by day they are being subjected to a barrage of propaganda from the Thatcher government, the Party, decided on by our Annual Conferenc at Blackpool.

Instead of Labour MPs being dragged into debates about violence, the role of the PLP must be to have an MP on every picket Their job will be to monitor policing methods.

This will enable us to rebut each attack 'picket line violence' with a documented account of police violence in e he see eme the routine abour MP on each pick tine could itself have marked effect on the conduct of the police.

This was the case when ine London Labour Party regional executive sent a delegation including myself - to the picket line at Ollerton, Nottinghamshire excellent "State of Siege' SCI ves show much been done if right from the start of the strike.

MPs had been prepared to lake on tne role of police monitoring Given Caca nature of the miners' strike not iust tor the coa industry but for the whole POOU] movement, there can be no better use of Labour MPs' time The movement must now demand that the PLP immediately allocate our parlamentary representatives so that every I NUM nickermes covercu Dy d least one Labour MP

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* Women march DOL Socialist Action 14 December 1984

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