unity' blush went on to discuss the possibility of his own candidature!
Benn's decision to siand against Healey universally concemned in the parliamen:ary party because it forces the left to fight.
Potentially, the ranks of the party and the unions will be lined up against the parliamentary leadership and important sections of bureaucracy.
Benn's campaign :herefore provides valuable service to those campaigning in the labour novement for democracy and socialist policies. left at rank and file level il correctly rally round Benn's candidature.
The right-wing assault ¿oes arise backlash in the working ciass far from it. comes from the fear of the right wing that many workers 1UI | :adical alternatives to the lory allacks.
Action Sensing that the Tories are on the run, and fearful support for the social emocrals. uuc suo porters of Labour Solidesperate Galil V prove that Labour can be irusted with the mantle of office, and tnat they will make no fundamental challenge to the real rulers of Britain.
Unfortunately, until now the Labour left has remained silent in the face of this right-wing offensive. It has relied on extending gains JILU the parliamentary party through work in the Tribune group and the reselection of the most obnoxious of Labour's sitting tenants.
It has not faced the fact Socialist Challenge 9 April 1981 Glum Heffer opposes Benn that an all-out battle inside the trade unions was and Temalus "cessal y to secure the left's advance.
It is no accident that the trade leaders, Kitson NUPE'S Alan Fisher have weighed in to criticise Benn's candidacy. Like the NUR's Sidney Weighell, they may find that their membership have sone nile sal their attitude finally decided.
Moss Evans and his ilk are well aware that the annual Labour leader puts a time bomb their own feudal fiefdoms. Recent events have shown that the advance of the left can go further without challenging the barons of the trade union move11c1ll.
Unions Benn's fight for deputy leader has the potentidi to put the right wing's campaign into reverse.
vigorous campaign within se unoRs to ors the block vote directly under the control of the membership and for the democratic election of the union leaders would put bureaucrats the defensive.
Benn has correctly delenaca ns candidacy on the basis of the struggle for socialist policies. His fivepoint programme includes support for full employ ment, fare services, getting rid of cavallsull oI wel nuclear weapons, drawal from the EEC and the extension of democratic rights.
Most of these points are worthy of support from any socialist. But the No smiles now as Benn challenges Healey crucial element from his programme is any notion of how • LIC WUIN' ers' movement can achieve these desirable objectives.
Surely very first task is the fight for mass of this hated Tory government which is an obstacle to advance on any front.
Teeth Establishing full employment and an expansion of social services will only be done in the teeth of the most bitter opposition of the capitalists.
The struggle for 35-hour week is from his programme.
This would duce unemployment by 1.om. at a stroke, would entail massive struggle the deeply Will rooted interests British ruling class and its loyal representatives in the corridors of the TUC's Congress House rhe struggle for nev socialist policies for the Labour Party will entail an all-out battle to build a movement that drives straight through the fainthearted and feebleminded current leadership of the Labour Party and The same _people who attack Benn for 'disunity' against left-wingers in the Labour Parti Sidney Weighell has announced a campaign to Capel na s 0] Peter Shore declared that. splitter have gone the key task is 'to get rid of the wreckers' Benn's simple reply to charges of 'divisiveness' is that: It's very dangerous to say that elections are divisive' Discussion the policies the workers' movement that would ge nuinely meet their needs is a vital weapon in the fighi for workers' unity.
Those who are seriously concerned unity can only applaud Benn's decision to stand.
Now the campaign for hearts and minds should be taken with all speed into the industrial unions. The hatte can onli be fought and won in the engine room of the working class.
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A BARRAGE of abuse from the right and the centre of the Labour Party has greeted Tony Benn's decision to stand as deputy leader. ceeds his intelligence, described the decision as 'stupid... a move which will destroy party
John Silkin, whose ambition obviously ex- - and without the slightest hint of a