women MPs The reason for these obstacles is self-evident: the Any feminist working therein needs first to serve before securing authority to advance Thus most Labour Party feminists subordinate range of issues, followed didates to determine their testing Callsullabilly for support Dy the gor parmend TLG.
LIC 111Iplications are straightforward• we will once again be expected to jump hoops and overcome hurdle in order to prove our acceptability of (mainly) white men - who nave it in their power to organise TOT the candidatures of women. The same will apply to blacks.
It is my conviction that women and blacks will fail these tests; will stumble OVCI hurdles and knock down hoops and that white men will be justified (once again) in maintaining the status quo: the representation of women's and black interests by white men! Clumsy In the selection process candidates undergo gruelling, if clumsy and inept, tests to determine their acceptability to the constituency in question Any person aspiring to a candidature, not carrying the weighty bag gage of labour movement credentials awarded chose who have the time mobility and approval Ol the men that run this ha knows full well gruelling a test the selection process can be add to this ty — Inis ume 1o a sillail group without democratic mandate, can only be described as arrogant.
block and blacks. These groups do not need to overcome any more hurdles to prove themselves acceptable to the white men that control this party.
On the contrary, they need ana nara worked for support to deal with the quite castle. formidable hurdles.
Women quite familiar with the process whereby they create for themselves (through struggle) a small political space.
onised by well-meaning, lett-wing men This will happen in the forthcoming selection process: women nave made an effective case within the party for an increase Ill the representation of women's interests, and blacks who have done same, will over taken by white men who wil nob v volunteer to ad. vance the interests of these groups; who will convince The dream ticket is no dream for Labour women many on the left of their commitment and black ri ights; and furthermore will argue their ability to advance these in-' terests effectively than these groups tense ver be pected to do.
These men will be hard left, theoretically wellleveloped men, but white nen all the same they wil be.
Feminists in the Labour Party, well schooled in subordinating their interests to those of men, should resist these moves. We should, politely, thank those male volunteering their services on our behalf, and refuse their overtures Now is the time for all good feminists to come to Ine ala ol ine Labour Par. ty, organise, autonomously, the sup port candidates Willes need The Labour Women's Action already circulated briefings to its members and is drawing up a list of potential women candidates 101 circulation to parties. We funds for women on the parliamentary need of travel childcare expenses; organise workshops on procedures change best practice.
• Women wishing to support our national cam. paign to advance the candidatures of women, write the Secretary, Judy Sadler, 56 Milton Road, London SE24.