Isn t inere a orcerur argument that being nuclear part of NATO means that you base yourself on the nuclear part of NATO for Britain's defence in ef fect, on the United States?
The Mirroi mented on the Labour Party decision that it made sense; nar Once or onor don nuclear policy, on the abanaon ine basis NATO alliance.
Rubbish. You could put it to the If OHHCI Wav.
Will in favour of high plosives which kill thousands of people? That's another argument that's used; that anything short of pacifism is illogical.
We have to try to work out what is the most sensible way of resolving the choices open 1o us. I am in favour of defence and of the idea of collective defence. I am not in favour of a nuclear defence strategy, and I'm certainly not in favour of • the United States power system converting us into a colonial airbase.
I think a lot of peopic are now coming to this view. If we move towards d zone in Eurone we reaily could would otherwise lead to nuclear ivar.
In Britain and internationally over past tew vedrs we've seen a series от attacks on abortion rights. What can SLOO these attacks?
Do you think that Labour MPS should have an individual right of conscience on the issue, should they be obliged to support Labour Party policy, which is for free abortion on demand?
support the conference policy. I think the women's movement quite rightly puts control of their own bodies very high on their list, and not being dominated by a male parliament on issues which are fc. ...em.
I'm not in favour of expelling MPs because they may on individual matters find it hard to go along with party poncy. The great characteristic of the as compared to the right lellis that it's not always out for blood if everyone doesn't come into line.
I have an element of per sonal tolerance in these matters towards others with whom I disagree. Ultimatelv. everything else, you've 201 lo win the support of people. The Italian referendum shows that's possible. Among others, the for Labour Democracy argues that in any reselection list a woman and black should be included among to those put forward; there should be discrimination. What is your position on this?
it's a ditticult one. l am in terested in socialism and if l were obliged to put a right-wing black and a right-wing woman and select them on ine against lent-wing would find that difficult.
The women's and the black should affiliate to the Labour Party and have people at every selection conference. should see that the rights of women and of the black communities are represented in the party when the selection macie.
i think affiliation is what we miners are afrated Madanie should go for have quota for Miners are there in parliament because in on miners are strongest and they have a strong delegation on the general committee they put a miner in. in areas where ine blacks are strongest you'd expect a black to come in, and in areas where the women's group Cam is strongly oranised you'd exParty pect a woman to come in.
! don't rule out a quota, but I think it's a by-passing of the candidate 'If I were obliged to that put a right-wing positive black and a rightagainst a lett-wing man, I would find that difficult' real issue, which is how to get a man, class and socialist movement to movement through a single political party, movement linked to the House of elsewhere.
They Do you think should be affiliated to the Labour Partv there any practical possibility that this could occur? the miners.
They can join the party dividually, tilt you can affiliare a group that puts up candidates. You can't have people who are in the party but at the same time, if the! don't like a person who has fight an election. rule Labour Party and problem about it.
Jane Cante Many of strength manifest failure socialist Party, unions, of revisionism Commons and the far left and if so, is of doing it.
inbut I don't think the prisoners thing they say are engaged struggle LIUC always going to see regime. the a political Never Photo: Dave hampshire been put up as a candidate. so it wasn't in When group. candidatures is an important one, but there are a mass groups and tendencies in the there s nu There's not united even a problem about their having their own papers. Look at favour of the ILP; once they abandoned their role as a political party (the Labour publications, they reaffiliated NEC) came into being and grew the far left groups because IRA nonyears of the Labour 1951. was Counties judgement by a generation ot violence -socialists on the Parliamentary Labour Party during the years I think it's significant now l've that there is a coming together.
If the left joins the Labour Par- too narrow. ly, as it were, then the influence of the left for socialism within the Labour Party is stronger. and i think that is the right way to Why haven't you come out in support of the struggle of Block?
that they in a political manifestly doesn't serve agree the methods they use What do vou think of Don Concannon's action in sing abandon is hungo! to tell I won't comment on another colleague. My argument on the prison issue is that it is a way of narrowing the argument.
If all that we are allowed 1o discuss on Northern Ireland at moment supposition is that the future of Northern Ireland will continue to be one where the prison population wil! continue in its present form, and they dress and what their status My own opinion is that it's question and that one of the incredible tragedies of the present situation is that the labour movement has not really been allowed to vote on The Labour Cabinet hardly discussed think it discussed it during the Ulster workers' strike. I tried to get a discussion on Ireland in Cabinet. including the question without success. When we discussed the pie manitesto we were told i was •The Labour Cabinet hardly ever discuss ed Ireland' too late tor us to sav anvinine set up a study had small preliminary group of members jective was to bring about a and independent Ireland. That was ruled out in whole range of solutions. When Tony Saunois Labour Party Young Socialists representative on the brought his resolutions conditions, which were not limited simply to the prisoners, it was defeated I think we now nave to go for the whole thing; that the Six were of elected in 1918 were in favour of independence, and partition was brought about by violence.
always concentrated this aspect. I think the rest is It doesn't get to the real guts of the problem.
Yet the prison issue is the focal point of the campaign establish that it _ Is a political struggle I understand that, but my job is that message understood did strongly urge the shouldn't stand. and it vou do stand in an election you can't The blanketing out of a political breakthrough was highlighted I pointed out that the whole of British imperial history was littered with people who began in British prisons and ended up The real question is how do you break out of a situation of which at least a major part is caused by the presence of British troops, who are alleged to be there to solve the situation as prime ministers having tea Oueen including Mugabe, the most recent exam. to statesman via an election.
That argument didn't carry much weight with colleague because they didn't want face the real question, which i how do you break out of situation of which at least a ma caused by acii i presence of British troops w!' are alleged to be there to sel the situation.
Perhaps the first step as to s put it, breaking out, to break bipartisanship, at least at the level of suggesting that there alternative policy. The leadership of the Labour Party rapidly moveo to shore up the bi-partisan policy.
I don't want to comment or. other people. Undoubtedly the election of Sands was extremel! significant apart an!thing else because it was in telligible Peo.
saw it as the death of a British MP in protess agains his prison conditions general of the United Nation. Mrs Ghandi, the Pope, and the European Commission Human Righis came in begat the process. I think my interVICH. my speeches and the Labour Committee on Ireland meeting helped to break the shell.
One can see the whole thing on the move. It takes a little time for that deep feeling to express itself, only in the Labour Party. You mustn't think nothing is happening is happening By the end of the year, you'll find Labour Party policy totally different.
The which has gone on in the Labour Party has made positive advances and looks like making more But surely in the end that depends on the organisation ano support of millions Those fighting for democracy have reach and identity themselves with the strug gles going on.
If you put it like that, I'm with you 100 per cent of the way.
I don't want my argument about revolutionary language against reformist language to confuse the fact; we cannot build socialism In Britain without the solid support of When have nothing on earth can stop us Socialist Challenge 4 June 1981 Page 9
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE supports | championed Tony deputy leadership of the Labour Party.
quite inadequate, long-term plan for achieving socialism.
in-hand criticisms gramme.
reformism and any socialist politics.
The role of working class leadership Benn explains that in his view the role of Labour leaders is to 'support struggle', but not to 'order or call' it. Leaders of the movement, he says, should and Benn's campaign As he rightly points out in the interview, the campaign has opened up a debate on policy and democracy in the Labour Party, and especially in the trade unions. This can only be welcomed.
But we believe that Benn's programme is either as an immediate way forward for the British workers' movement in the struggle against the Tory government, or as a Support for Benn's campaign has to go handof his political The interview makes clear the deep gulf which exists between Benn's brand of left form of revolutionary for change', implying a more gradual strategy Previously Benn has beer associated with the notion of planning agreements with the big monopolies. This would inLabour working with firms to plan inbut would short of full nationalisation.
has prowould To create
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wing woman on the list and select them
of the NEC, and 1 and oihers got an agreement that the ob-
to transmit that message; not to get involved in the trigger to get