TORIES like to think of themselves as honourable gentlemen and ladies. Criticising each other in public is not usually the sort of activity that fits in with their public school. ethics.
Far better LU private away from the ears of Joe (and Joan) Public who might get ideas if they hear their masters squabbling with each other. Attack So things must have reached panic stations when, on Wednesday of last week in the House of Commons, one Nicholas Winterton, a rightwing Tory MP launched a blistering attack on his own, 'I say to my party - for heaven's sake wake up before it's too late, was Wienes message. 'Tens of thousands necessarily because of inflexible policies, McLaus complained. 'There is only group of people doing well big business,' observed.
Hardly the sort
criticism to be expected from a right-wing Tory. But then, allakkillg Thatcherism become increasingly favourite pastime allull? those who once popped champagne corks at the mere menon or vargarel Thatcher's name. Change The Confederation Industry, was one of the latest to get in on the act. Its director told the Tardice Beckett, Guardian last Thursday: "A lot of companies are, as you know, closSocialist Challenge: € November 1980 " Page 2 ing plants, sometimes closing all their operations because they can't carry on.
"This is a very serious state of affairs... pathy with the government in its present plight, but it does need a radical change in direction.
Even more outspoken was the ASSUC Economist, a magazine which advocated monetarism betore most people had even heard understood it.
'A miserable 'the government's folly' were two of the descriptions of the Tories' economic supplied from this source. Survey These criticisms backed up with sheets he statistical evidence.
of survey industria reported that only 4 per cent of the 2,000 bosses who had Ilas been said were 'more optimistic' about 'the general business situation in your industry' had been four previously.
The St James forecasting club of industrial, commercial, and companies, predicted that this time next year of unemployment figures will be hovering around million; the balance payments deficit will be four were under the Labour the mind mess' and government.
The cracks in the ranks are good news for all Thatcher-haters policies enemy weakened enemy not aooroonate lo denora as cheerleaders for the CBI, the Economist, Winterton.
WelC Torone tune. lie surated of some of these critics are ad vocating would make things quarterly worse for the rest of us.
trends Both the CBI have called for mass sackings in the public sector, they together with 'the imposition ot a single-tigure limit to wage increases' than they lation is running at twice this rate.
Criticism
financial Indeed the the official criticism from within the Tory and ruling class ranks is connected with the approaching wage round, and the growing cvluckce wal szmicall scu tions of the working class are willing to very different revolt against Joseph Tor!
ONLY one everywhere group is doing divided but its well - big business.
That's the opiNicholas nion of Tory MP Nicholas Winterton (Right). He blames Joseph the economist and and Thathcer for inflexible policies — at a time when in- Thatcher.
The signs among miners, mounting ineffectiveness cherism Ing class.
stage ineir own, Thatcher rejection by BL workers of the insulting wage rise offered to them, the ob.
milland, are just two growing of Thatpolitical Mr economic strategy for the rulBut Tony Benn was correct when he said in parlia ment last week: 'MPs should not devote too much time to the possibility of a U-turn. A life be terminated as soon as possible. Their divisions are our opportunity: needed is a winter of discontent which would make that of 1978-79 look like ingtime romance.
P