to Labour Party conference 'WE, the undersigned, believe should have the right to decide when and if she should bear children. We therefore call upon the National Executive Committee and the Shadow Cabinet to ensure that the Labour Party acts upon its commitment to a woman's right to choose about abortion and that an undertaking to liberalise the abortion law and improve NHS abortion services is written into the next manifesto to become part of the programme of the next Labour Government.' petition will be presented to the Labour Party lobby Brighton on 29 September. The National Abortion Campaign the Labour Abortion Rights Campaign drew up the spon1977 conference, the Labour Party has had a clear and comprehensive policy in favour of a woman's right to choose whether or not to bear But, in spite of winning the required two-thirds majority of Come ence on two separate card votes, and in spite support for rights the Parliamentary there is still no guarantee that Labour Party, tral. the next election manifesto will legislation for a woman's right The policy in favour of a woman's right to choose contained in the current 'rolling could easily al the "Clause 5' meeting between the NEC and Cabinet which determines the final form of the if a future Labour government were to introduce legislation, the free vote for NAG/LARC LOBBY OF LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE FOR ABORTION RIGHTS 29 SEPTEMBER 12 TO 2 LARC FRINGE MEETING 29 SEPTEMBER 5.15 ROYAL ALBION HOTEL Speakers will include Jo Richardson MP Both NAC and LARC are desperately short of money.
Are you and your CLP/union branch affiliated?
LARC, PO Box 110, London SE2I 8ND £2 for individuals £s • CLP/TU. NAC 374 Grays Inn Road, (waged) £5 unwaged for individuals £15 for organisations that every woman Labour MPs - condoned by past conterences with the support of the trade union block vote — would permit MPs to vote against it. Thirty four Labour MPs joined the Tories to defeat Jo Ríchardson's abortion facilities bill in July.
Labour Party members argue that the problem of the Labour Party's contradictory policies in favour of abortion rights but against forcing MPs to toe the line on this question - will be resolved through the reselection of MPs.
However, there is no indication that anti-abortion MPs are being rejected, Kevin McNamara, for example, was recently reselected at Hull CenOf the five resolutions on abortion on the conference agenda, some take up the principles involved, others the question of the free vote.
Conference will be asked, yet again, to affirm its commitment to abortion rights, so that pressure is kept up for its inclusion in the manifesto.
A large and vociferous lobby on 29 September will be important in showing the strength of feeling in support of the motions and to ensure that time is allocated for their discussion. Socialist Challenge 27 August 1981