name every only Bobby the oversaw PERHAPS the most appropriate comment on the visit of Don Concannon, Labour spokesperson on Ireland, to the Irish hunger strikers last Friday came from Sinn Fein. His visit was 'small beer', they said.
Certainly, compared to the European Rights commissioners Galle also visited was other comrades hunger strike, Concannon cuts a pretty feeble figure.
But for members of the Labour Party, in whose ported to speak, Concannon his DUL- intervention into the hunger strike should in no way be treated as 'small beer'.
For what Concannon had to say when he went to every member on be member the Labour Party which can be eradicated by removing Concannon from his role as the party's orth of Ireland spokes along vith th policy which he represents.
Tory Concannon said he visited Long Kesh in case Sands MP was any illusion' that the Parliamentary Labour Party did not fully support Tory of policy on the H Block and Armagh prisoners.
It is very unlikely that Bobby Sands MP ever had any such illusion, because Concannon and the PLP leadership have made it crystal clear that they will be quite happy to see the political starve to death.
In one way Concannon is a major reason for the H Block crisis: it was he who the criminalisation policy in the Irish part of the campaign in prison camps when it first last Labour government.
Concannon WaN Roy Mason's deputy when he Northern of State Concannon's responsibility from 1976 to 1979 was for prisons. Brutal Indeed, so brutal were the H Block and Armagh policies initiated by Concallul that when Tories came to power prison conditions went a small improveThe Tories made token attempt to have more 'flexible' approach quested by the Europear prison LuCA Commission Human he Labour movernmen Labour had completely ignored.
The tendency of ConCotton to se even more vindictive to the political prisoners than even Hum. phrey Atkins reasserted tself once more at the start second hunger strike.
Liberal When Atkins made his irst statement on DODD Sands in the Commons on the 4 March, Concannon congratulated Atkins, saying that Long Kesh was 'the most modern prison the United Kingdom' and that its 'regime was the most liberal' But Concannon went on to demand that Atkins should StU! statements in the Commons on the condition of Bobby Sands as this would IRA propaganda'.
Atkins gave in to Concannon, and agreca ne saw 'no necessity' to make further statements.
Having successfully pushed the Tories to the right Concannon became more willing to help Atkins face any criticism. In Februar two other MPs he visited the US to put over the 'true facts about the north of The propaganda exer Norther Predand be he cise was paid for Humphrey Atkins, and the two other MPs were a Bobby Sands in Long Kesh when he had political status Liberal and a Tory.
There have been some protests , in. Labour ranks against this ruthless pursuit of bipartisanship. Just • before the end of the first hunger strike the Labour national executive called for Atkins to seek a compromise on the issue Then on 8 April 14 Labour backbenchers, under the auspices of the 'Don't Let Irish Prisoners Die Committee', called for 'a serious move by the end the crisis once and for all' гаріс campaign in the Labour Party is now urgent to back up such adopted by • the Scottish TUC two weeks ago can serve as a model for promotion in Labour Party and •ancier throughout the country of the resolution I al reads: "This congress urges immediate government action ensure that the hunger strike in the Maze prison in Northern Ireland is ended and that the life of Bobby Sands MP is saved An immediate solution is possible based on reaching agreement on the issues of prison clothing and prison work.
forward have wide support among sections of the trade unior and labour movement and of wider sections who see them demands.'