significant step building of a movement in this country to help drive the British out of Whatever the precise political details of Benn's withdrawal from reland, the fact that the leader of the left wing of the Labour Party has now made such a call is further evidence of the growing support in this country for this Hosse.
But that withdrawal will not be secured by speeches. It needs action determination mass campaign in this country calling on Britain to end its Irish war. In this context it would be difficult to overstate the importance of the London demonstration on 15 November forward in the call for called to build by the Withdrawal from reland.
The themes of the demonstration will be 'No Tory Policies on Ireland, End Partition, For a British Withdrawal, For Irish Unity'. Already ten MPs have backed the initiative, as Tony Benn to whether it was right for a British Labour government to get involved in that way.
invo vement — i was ministel of technology - I remember the anxiety. the factor inal mind and, I think, oi ine majonily or tre cable ministers: the feeling that this Committee for have a whole Committee Liberals. speaking at Labour Committee on Ireland fringe meeting to me personally.
IS Although I had no special and I remember no doubt tipped my the minds operations, Catholic the British something that In the event, correct me if there was some their minds for the happen in co into this ever Kingdom. into development of Security there is no as if it Now I must pay tribute to to others visions very and campaigning plutonium anyone's hands. on this issue. has security But I think were necessary surveillance, who lave minister Irish unity, who for years' awalePerhaps I could identify a insignificant to you host of political organisations including the Labour on the Young also be participating and will level to character.
rising ing beginning members economic economic Market.
fluenced CesUr Northern the the nature and volved character of the repression continually, which is inseparable from the policy which is béing pursued: that there are young men, and women too, domestic sent over from this country to Ireland who become absorbed on in a whole pattern of security which degrading for all those involv.
and which provides tol were.
security services I did — I IS 1ª0 not to believe - is, in some discussed, sense, a training ground what might the United country discussed.
I don't want to exaggerate and I don't want it to sound policy is some deep conspiracy, but 1 shall not forget bipartisan one occasion when I was with a meelng or brilsn insicls, about three years ago, and we were aiscussing sccunlty pru- cur.
relating to nuclear chergy, wilce miele ale sollid important civil liberty Intent you can't nave falling into When I outlined all the 0 C0. arrangements that including vetting dogs, and armoured policemen said, 'Well and what's wrong with you, we ve done that in Northern Irland All of a sudden I became forgive me if I give an example which may seem jective that Ireland in there is a process of accombe part of this continent. Within the November Socialist Challenge support Committee for c/O Whitehall Place, 01-839 2727), ment, Za St (Tel 01-267 2004).
modation to the idea that the surveillance and security in Northern Ireland can naturally be transierre( circumstances Britain I'm which are of a whole different In that case it was dealing with nuclear matters, but with unemployment reachlevels which are even to frighten the wase cuculs efces policy in Britain could make Britain into the Northern Ireland of the Common The other factor which inQmv mind was : that having sat in cabinets from to 1970 and 1974 , IC 1979, apart trom the one oc casion I referred to when the troops went in, and another .during Ulster that Workers' strike in 1974, I do not recall, indeed I know, that was discussed in the cabinet. Manifesto There were committees of cabinet which discussed Northern Ireland - and I'm not suggesting for one moment that the ministers inwere 110t engaged, collective discussion on a whole range ot issues — but nere was, ana still is in one sense, the major problem of the United Kingdom, and it was the the cabinet in the wav that european affairs or trouble in the Middle East or South Africa on occasion write a letter asking that it be but it wasn't. Here was that idea that this problem which so obviously directly involves so many people and the future of our whole should When we came to discuss the manifesto, any suggestion that we should deal with the for Northern Irland outside the contines • OT the policy was immediately denounced as being tremendously irresponsible because a loss of life might ocAll these factors lead me to the view that what we have as British socialists, to make a declaration of intent. That intent must be inal we wish to bring about by peaceful means, discussion, agreement united I say agreement but I'm catching myself out on whether there is a veto* or not — I'm talking about the obthal united peace. That objective should be what we are month that is left, every effort should be made to turn into the largest demonstration on Ireland this country has seen for years. All readers of are urged to march on 15 November and to win for the demonstration in their trade unions, Labour Parties, women's and youth organisations. Leaflets, posters, and further information can be obtained from the Withdrawal Youth Office, London SW1 (Tel or Troops Out Move Paul's Rd. London N1 working for.
saying that, there will be a lot of critics, and it may take a lot of time, but what saying that nobody should be diverted from that intention. (Heckler:
don't you join the Provos then?') Well, but you only by their methods but also their intentions.
you have to consider what the objective is - - in my view that there should be brought about a united reland. I can't be diverted by a heckle from that view. Discussions If it were possible for the trade unions, North and South, to come together and try and form a socialist and labour representation systeml be a berinnine.
But believe the Labour Party can organise in Northern Irland.
(Heckler: 'Shame shame') Alright, don't shout at me, I'm giving a British point of view an Irish point of view. , I say that until people credibly_ answer the about the border? in North and Soute the trade cannot in reality face up to the PrODiCI May I say one final word I said I wasn't directly involved in Northern Irland but there was one occasion whent I was on a Commission of enquiry which the Labour Party set up, I believe in 1971, and we tried to get some discussions going between the Nor thern Irland Labour Party an•ne ole = • Gerry Fitt's crowd (the Social Democratic and Labour Party) — and we couldn't get these people to meet in the same room.
Barrier My job was to dance between one room and another.
Then, at the end of the day, those who could not actually meet went oft togetner in a taxi to Heathrow leaving us to work out how we could get them to come together.
believe that the tinued presbnce presence and the of the British as a political and military force in Northern Ireland is the major barriei that stands in the way of trade union and C DOE Party unity and the sooner we withdraw the better. The Gerto atene sed *The 'veto' mentioned by the Loyalist community which would give them -majority "- The right to "veto" North any solution they do not like.
This majority is an artificially created one and stems from the partition of reland.
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Communist League and the Young The Troops Out Movement will