THE pro-Loyalists in the Labour Party have been forced to make a number of concessions in the recommendations to be submitted to the national executive on the future Irish policy of the party.
The Labour Party study group, which was set up nearly two years ago, completed its report last week. It proposes that the party should commit itselt to a long. term policy of irish unity.
The study group against the Labour Party organisation to the north of Ireland, on the grounds that this would be seen as an endorsement presence in Ireland.
But the sub-committee has reiected a variety of calls for the granting of political status to prisoners.
Full details of the 29-page document are yet publicly available, Loyalists have reacted some of the reported Molyneux, leader of the Official Unionist Party, terrorists to believe that violence paid'.
The membership of the study group emerge.
Roy 'troops has also come out extendina its permanent withdrawal of and it is opposed to the the Irish small but already hysterically to findings. James said the policy would 'encourage Tony suggested, until very recently, that it was unlikely that a unanimous report would It includes pro-Loyalists such as Mason and Don Concannon out" supporters such Maynard Up to three or four weeks ago the pro Loyalists were planning a report whic would have been unequivocai in its support for British presence in Ireland and partition. A majority was also believed to be in favour of the Labour Party organising in the north of ireland. Concessions They have been forced to make concessions to the 'pro-unity' lobby for a number of reasons. First, the majority of the submissions to the study group from consti tuency parties was in favour of Irish unity. for the withdrawal of troops and against the Labour Party organising in the north. A majority was also pontical status.
This meant that the bulk of the proposed report would be in direct defiance of the submissions from the CLPs. This was one Benn, who called withdrawal.
It and and as Joan non, during Bobby Sands' to change its line opposed tisanship on Ireland.
Nevertheless, troop that Benn's suggestions found an enthusiastic response in the rank file of the party, study group, while not supporting Benn, felt the need to make some concessions.
Finally the widespread evidence of disgust among the party membership at the pro-Thatcher antics of Don ConcanLabour's sookesperson on ireland hunger strike, provided another reason for the study group It remains unclear as to how exactly the study group sees iris unity being achieved. On the one hand there is an apparent emphasis that this should only be 'by consent; yet, it seems the study group is sympathetic to the idea of abolishing the right of the Loyalist majority in the north of Ireland to veto possible unification.
There is no doubt that, in terms of what •the study group seemed likely to come up with just a month ago, substantial progress has been made by those who have fought Tory/Labour pro-Loyalists biparif the commitment to Irish unity remains a vague principle then it will not, in practice, change very much.
That is why the left in Tne party those who support the right of all the Irish to self-determination now need to concenJoan Maynard: Troops Out supporter trate their will be put into practice, ference spell out such a policy.
the supporters and ditional support nation and British withdrawal.
attention on winning firm guarantees that the pro-unity sentiment and that proposals to be debated at the party conA small victory has been gained against of the Loyalists in the Labour Party. That victory should be seen as a reason for pressing forward to unconfor Irish self-determi-
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pressure on the study group to change its proposals. Another was the statements of