tell us thought it important to make the speech you did last Thursday on the question of a general strike?
Because I wanted to put the question on the agenda for discussion in the labour movement. The Labour Party the movement democratic and sometimes cumbersome. Therefore I think we have is place the question on the agenda tor every CLP for two reasons.
Firstly we have to discuss how we will respond to specific events — such as the use of troops or the declaration of a state ot emergencv. just abstract. It is to the degree that we make our position clear that the government will back off.
Thatcher is not an iron lady. She is a paper tigress.
Secondly we have to discuss what type of general strike we want. There are many ways of doing it. The best is not necessarily a general strike of the old type. It may be better to run the trains and buses free - give people a taste of socialism.
Also we are beginning to see the then Councils of Action which appeared in 1926 only 110W they're the miners support groups. All this needs coordination.
Finally this question needs to be on the agenda because people need to be challenged - what are you doing. It is not enough simply to give money important as that is. There must be industrial support for the NUM.
There much more industrial support than is generally realised. The why you This is not called coal despite 2500 miners called the There for example, picket lines.
Anvwat the courts are not 1926 general strike — army on the streets railworkers in Leicestershire for example have not moved a single ton of working in Ilas huge solidarity by the seafarers union. But this must now be extended. I believe, that the TUC should issue instructions not to cross NUM There is no moral obligation on us, or on the TUC, to obey a bad law.
come and arrest Norman Willis - WC would see the response to that. Why should Arthur Scargill be left to face these threats alone?
The reality is that the miners have far more support than the press will allow to be shown. I found at my meeting that evel stronghold such as Huntingdon over £4000 had been raised for the miners. After difficult month coalfields morale is now very high again.
We are engaged in an ongoing campaign. I think we must discuss every issue which may confront us. these toys a miner's