Of course these struggles have happened before. Every Labour Party leaves office there is a furious post-mortem. there are important differences.
The capitalist COSES sharper. There is less reform'. Working pressure for radical change is much greater, and is coupled to a mood of struggle. Workers are not prepared to accept left reformist excuses for a lack of action.
Until 1974, opposition forces were led by the Lialson Defence of Trade Unions, which built an alliance of left parliamentarians, left bureaucrals, and rank and ne trades unionists. But this opposition never broke free of the political hold of the left leaders.
When the PLP-left fell in behind the social contract, no movement exthat could - challenge betrayal.
But by 1978, many workers were fighting Labour's austerity policies regardless of the lack of leadership from either the 'lefts' or the Communist Party. This was particularly the case in the public sector, which has a big impact on the Labour Party because of its connection to both central and local government.
This effect has been heightened by the cuts. Local Labour Parties face the awkward fact that they can only against central government. ting minor concessions from the local state by winning council posts is less and less effective. Cuts committees are taking ever promising stand towards Discipline But does this mean that we should fight only in the unions, and not try to discipline the LP? This is the perspective of our comrades in the Socialist Workers Party.
The error of this policy is clear once we ask ourselves what is needed in the unions. The urgent need of the hour is a massive, united left in the HIS - • a new vimonty Movemenl. The scabbing of Duffy, Evans makes this an absolute priority.
Such a elt. especially organised presence, would not fall prey to the manouevres of the reformists if it was based on a commitment to struggle and equipped with policies to defeat the Tories. The SWP recognise this itself in its approach to unity with the CP in the unions.
But such a left cannot afford to ignore the Labour Party! Isn't social democracy just as important as the CP, and in fact more important given its size, the decline of the CP, and the CP only acts as Labour Party's 'industrial organiser' in any case?
But if rank and file democratic workers are to take part in union resistance, essential to draw the Labour Party into the work of organising unions. Trades unionists must try to Socialist Challenge 8 May 1980 Page 10