times from the Labour Group for voting against spending cuts; as the JP bounced off the magistrate's bench for an arrest on a 1980 steel strike picket line; and as a leading member of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation who has fought for democracy in his own union and for resistance to job losses at the Llanwern steel plant where he works.
TV film 'A Question of Leadership' Ray is likely to get national media coverage again.
This time it is his challenge to Bedwellty MP Neil Kinnock at the reselection conference in March. Ray has received backing from an ISTC branch in Llanwern and is canvassing for more nominations in the coming week.
left in the labour movement. 3: welliy constituency has # supported the idea • e¡election so it will de a they ioni accept right to chalienge Kinnock and instead, go for a short stand will • apreseni the positions of the constituency. I feel my defends aucuull:ability that we fought for a the last few years. Tatchell The constituency party voted TOT Benn and the local general management committee volca lo acicia Tatchell's right to stand tor parlanient. To follow his appearance in the Ken Loach He explains to Socialist Challenge why he It was Neil's vote that went against Tatchell the national organisation sub-committee ana ll was his vote that pushed ahead the inquiry into Militant that Neil actively campaigned to deleat Benn at the lasi conference.
extremely angry to hear Neil's statement azallisi cxlla vallallicill ary action when he opposed Peter Tatchell.
Neil Kinnock chairs the Chartist rally Wales every year. Doesn't realise the South CHAISE welt thousands of working peoWEU marched KUCC' deep in muck on macked roads from the tops vauevs Newport to be massacred that people like him can sit in parliament?
Wasn't this extra-parliamentary activity?
I also to campa really committed to really committed aspects of the alternative strategy like unilateral and drawal from the EEC. Vehicle Part of my challenge is to weld together the trade unions and the Labour Party into one vehicle That can only be done by far democranc, noi as sonie suggest by giving the trade unions less ot a sav in Labour Party policy and fewer votes Labour Party ference need to work out ways to make the casting of the trade union vote at more cratic would around the trade union orancle. level the active members of our movement meet. Decisions should be given back to them.
I don't think the rank and file can let unelected leaders determine the role and positions of the trade unions on the Labour Party or any other issue All too often the trade union leaders have conceded everything. . Because the trade union leaders Ray Davies seeks to weld together unions and have conceded to Labour leaders in the past, we've ended up with things like Wilson's 'In Place Strife This has laid the way to Tory. anti-union LUday. When I look back at the last two years it is with sadness.
The trade union movement was warned in advance that the government would take political action to diminish their rights.
The Tories put this plan into action at first at Leyland's in steel The steel strike had strong politica implications. The trade unior leaders bent over backwards to being political strike, there ever Was strong feeling on the ground about the need to bring down the Tories.
Change I joined the Labour Co-ordinating Committee because we need a vehicle lo gel a change or icauel Roy Jenkins - could win by detault government would feel little threat from this direction and wourd begin mne orebaranol for Labour victory at the next Neil Kinnock - a prime mover in witch-hunt against left ship which will implement DONCIC. like unilateralism and withdrawal from the EEC The message that now seems to be coming tron the LCC is that we should be butting ine vehicle in the garage for the next two Or if we take it out we should only go at 20 miles an hour.
We're not going to ge verv tar this way and we end up with engine failure If the LCC is going to be a vehicle change then its got to challenge all the way along the line or be replaced by something else. Perhaps Labour Liaison '82 can fit the bill.
We must challenge for the deputy ¡cauersie else we will condemn peo.
dose of stop-go.
The only part of the alternative strategy the labour leadership will imParty which refuses to face up țo the real plement will be forms of wage restraint and import • controls which are to the detriment of working people. Dropped The issue of control over the commanding heights oI ine economy will be dropped like a hot potato think there is little value in what took place al Bishop Stortford. anything, it has placed a barrier in the thrust for change.
This can only work against us in the long run selling ourselves short if we don't continue Bishop Stortford has given the right wing the opportunity SLOD progress that has taken place in the last five years to reform our party.
are facing and attempts to hold back their struggles till a General Electior 1984 is preparig hs own acical.
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RAY DAVIES is a well known figure in the South Wales labour movement. His activities span over 20 years. He has sprung to Glamorgan county councillor expelled three
's standing against Neil Kinnock and explains how he sees some of the issues facing the