Star.
This article takes task those the Manchester Labour Party who have been engaged in running battle to force the Labour group, which controis the City Council to carry out party policy of 'No cuts, no rent increases and no loss of job opportuinities'.
The immediate focus of local press attacks, well as that in Morning Star, IS that S1X councillors have not been shortlisted by wards for selection as Labour Party candidates.
Norman Morris, leader of the Labour group, announced he will not stand for elecnon ext ycar.
Hit Socialist Challenge asked Arnold Spencer, a member of the City Council for Mosside ward, to Oll the recent in the local press and on Jim Arnison's attack in the Morning Star.
Arnold Spencer explains: "There has been a hue and cry raised by the press that a left wing clique within the party is putting various councillors on a hit All that has happened is that the wards these councillors represent have the panel of candidates to the City party.
'What is really involved is that activists at the grassroots are saying they want to be represented by people who carry out party policy after they are elected.
Rediscover "There nothing peculiar about this situation over the country. It iș a rediscovery suciansill within the Labour Party.' Manchester the Labour group has been divided for two and a half years. As Arnold Spencer puts it: "The roots of this contict lie in an argument about policy. Should we a recent article by Jim Arnison in the Morning more or less totally comply with government requests tor culs in services and resulting job loss or should in concert with other Labour councils, make a stand to defend the services for the people of the city?
Cuts 'At both the 1979 and the 1980 conferences of the Citv Labour Party a policy of "No cuts, no rent Increases ana no loss of job opportunities" was adopted.
'Nevertheless, the majority the Labour group, have pushed through major packages of cuts then, raised rents and eliminated something the order of 600 jobs, direct defiance of party policy.' The Morning Star article concludes by saying: "Surely there is a case to be argued that disagreement with such people ought to be dealt with in a spirit of comradeship and unity, and not by adopting the right-wing tactics of the Expelled This may sound reasonable but when the left wing minority of the Labour followed party policy and voted March councillors were expelled by the right wing from the Labour group.
Arnold Spencer records the reaction of a section of the local Communist Party at that time: 'Following our expulsion Luc trades concu. which seemed to be heavily influenced by the CP, passed a motion of confidence in the Labour group leader and his policies.
'So, despite the fact that seven of gur eight constituencies were backing us and the Labour executive eventually upheld our appeal against expulsion, it appeared to us that wwur movement shouls ctions _oliother wielher they in this regard movement Ine choice is not supple make Manchester, kers nad lo decide cuts opting native. vith of those, that rely part of the counchlor nor CUon positive shy in But features, there are least Laurence Scott occupation supported Manchester's Labour left.
the leadership of the trades council endorsed the expulsion.
Jim Arnison, in the Morning Star, criticises the Left for going out on a limb from the local trade union movement.
But while it is true that the lett have not built sufficiently strong links with the industrial unions locally, they have distinguished themselves from the majority Labour group by supporting virtually the aise examine nave done enough absence such mass opposition tacing the some people who hate. said: out.' councillor like • her et counor defy the tor the first alterbrought includiing some left move casues cay aig account10] chester feature this movement of it has who for years have Salon v client political acti lace tni it down. of which is legative There is in saying that such every working class stuggle in Manchester:
'When the workers in the housing department took strike action, basical Arnold Spencer points out, 'they were violently attacked by the Labour group, fully backed, as is usual by the Tories.
'On the other hand the City Labour Party supported that strike and has since supported Royal Pride, Mosedales and most recently the Laurence Scott sit-in.' Lead Arnold Spencer sums up the row: There is an influx of people into the party who want to change it in a socialist direction. gives me nightmares is the thought that in 30 years time l'Il be like the present majority leaders. the aim of democratising the party is also to make sure Lilal When the. Lett wins leadership there enough checks to make sure we don't get power mad 'In that sense there is no Manchester peculiarity; in essence what's going on here is nothing more then a local reflection of the national struggle within the Party around tability and democracy.
ultra-left tendency ' to virtu would enemy and « narrow movement. weaken working One of the Labour councillors morcuital ment come Labour attals cat that be for voted for rent increases, panel naving but the claim 100,000 hous une. union c Tory goye nment commissioner.' them hande, (nal kers nub of the question dehance demanded led, to Man. would hav people acting ultra - left element which have the government and bringing of taking not much point now & movement trades council.
Alex Kitson, over Ireland.
Unions have of council defia in sun few Werd the arguIn the Party and only the people through the media. reachec , the debate has failed ment powertul and otherconfederation Morris. unportant manual worunions Wor Pickconvinced tha clique within the city Party definitely in this, Klein de unionie arr trade union sections people more Nobody of the manual unions a re illusion their are having an smallest unions.
As to son, tion attacking conference chester who attacked Benn Socialist Challenge ning is made kers and dateriners bs for social delegates fro wor anti-intellectual way there is an imbalance, and pear their March to pro protest a Labour published leader inter Norn tor the lobby: intat Norma largen obviously Marxisn than should lual thi left ultra-left element Labolr part this narrow THE divisions in the Labour Par:
effect in even th This was illustrated at the recent! held conference of the metal mechanic at which delegates voted in favour of it Labour Party retaining the electoral co lege system for the election of the lead and deputy of the party.
who the deputy should be. proposal for the union to back Tor. Benn was unsuccessful. Instead, the issa was reterred to the union's executive In the course of the debate Alex Ki from the party's national executiv did his best to thwart support for Ber.? He launched an attack on those whor he said, broke the unity of the party b speaking out on reland.
But it was significant that a minori: at the conference did support a resoi the Tory/Labour bipa tisan approach to Ireland.
In the shadow of these divisions at ir there WUn overwhelmir. backing for the fightback on jobs. TJor an emergency resolution backın occupation at Laurence Scott ir "conference to campaign jor ire étéra.. Benn at the Labour Party conference 18 June 1981 Page
WHEN it to something is Bristol.
On the May Day march in Bristol Irish solidarity activists 24 foot banner roacing.
Sands, MP'. A good initiative but, in itself, nothing.
But then, the march Communist TONG Brian Underwood, organisers, demanded that the banner be removed from the was forced to put the issue to the vote - and lost by about two to one.
The Irish solidarity movement has expanded in the wake of the hunger strike. But the issue of small incident moving in carried 'Bobby in Bristol. demands rally after the pontical status.
mendoer one of the main Party hall. He Benn's Bristol The GMC importantly, this Ireland can be won in the labour movement By Bristol supporters of the H Block prisoners that the chances of winning support in the labour movement tor ine irisn strug gle have greatly increased.
And this was not the first success , In April, the trades council and demand The local Labour Committee on Ireland has spoken at several Labour meetings, including Tony South-east general management committee.
in Bristol North-east passed a motion on the prisoners, while the West constituency called for an end to bipartisanship with the iceberg Tories. And all this before Tony Benn made his recent remarks on Ireland.
Nor have there only cesses in Labour parties. This month the Transport Union branch Lucas, Kingswood - one of the best organised factories in ared • passed a motion in favour of 'troops out'. had argued for the motion for severa weeks on the factory floor All of which shows that provided the made, significant sections labour movement can be won to progressive positions on Ireland. been suc and TF the Bristol of the PISH PEOPLE 61 The Bobby Sands Banner carried on Bristol's May Day march.
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