decide this week to trample the decisions of the party conference in Blackpool and proceed with the election of a new leader the January special conference decides on a new procedure to broaden the franchise.
Michael Foot's belated decision to stand, after much arm twisting, is mainly due to divisions among trade union leaders.
Many union leaders feel pressure to take public stand on the direction of a future government and party leadership that will distance them from the record of the last one.
They are concerned, too, to have a Labour leadership whom they can col laborate in a new 'social contract'.
For many of them Denis Healey is no such candidate. He was the Harrap most responsible for the 5 per cent pay norm which put the lorry drivers and the public sector workers on the picket lines in the winter of 1978-79.
The union leaders knew that after sion not to call a general elecLOE in the of 1978, the flood tide could not be contamed. The resuit was the so-called 'winter discontent'. Courage Foot's attraction is that he an avowed compromiser with close links with the trade umons. He would be more responsive to their problems.
are Foot's real politics? government of 19749, he was the Leader of the House of Commons, an important position in the cabinet. leading advocate of the Social Con-trick, Foot moved rapidly to the right.
There is no evidence that he ever opposed the rightwing politics of Callaghan and Heale It was Foot who aldly told his constituents i Socialist Challenge 30 October 1980 Page 6. plant, that they had to show 'courage' rather than back.
It was Michael Foot who was put up at Labour Party conferences defend Social Contract, and dress up defence of right-wing policies with talk of the 'red flame of socialist courage'. In Foot acted as a creature of the Callaghan-Healey leadership, defending their every move.
In office he sold his left credentials.
should be no prise. Despite his announcement on the weekend to oppose Cruise missiles, wno reads rool s wrilings or hears him speak will preciate complete tification of socialism namentary his slavish respect for onusa consutuuon Michael Foot remains the choice of many centre-Labour MPs they think he will be a candidate who can unite the party and marginalise Benn. believe that Healey provocation to the left, and more trouble than he's worth. Giant Since they also know that Benn would be utterly unacceptable to the bourgeoisie and precipitate political crisis if elected to the Labour leadership, of tion mat Foot rather than tion that Healey presents the best line of defence against Benn and him.
The pundits still mainly support Foot. Healey is more ruthless than the indecisive Callaghan, and the most ready to impose his will on the party and pura tiready the media policies. are building him up as some michellal glan ana stales• man.
Leaving aside the stitutional issues this fraudulent PLP election, Foot cannot beseen as a canthe special conference.
the short, SULT alluse apidensovereignty;
the 'moderate', because They will be a huge many rather than support rather than class coninvolved in This that the left, must not makę:..' role in the last Labour government Michael.Foot: a comment on his
MAURA McKearney told a packed press conference at the Commons on Monday:
'My son is a victim of desperate circumstances in our country. I suppose they have existed for 800 years, but certainly for the last ten years.
'He is a well-educated young man. Someone: who has no right in our country. him to where he is today. i'm proud that ne has the guts to be prepared to die for his beliefs and his country.' House of drove *AVEL