LABOUR has suffered a body blow in the local elections last week. In the middle of the most unpopular government Labour Party was unable to win back control of councils it had lost to the Tories four years ago.
Undoubtedly. the Malvinas-Falklands crisis played a major part in the resuits but that is no consolation for Labour. it nas been the treacherous role of the Labour leaders who have ended Tories* policies the that boosted hy vote to une port. vote for when VOTE elect the organ grinder?
In fact, simply from an electoral point Labour's position on the been disastrous. First supports the sending of the task force, then it raises its hands in at gettine hurt Did Foot and co think it just game?
This TRICE hypocrisy has done nothing. 1s oF BATTE working people Fine. follow a jingoistic LIVERPOOL was the Liberals took over. The results are the beginning of the and of the road. The Liberals had embarked on a Tory budget. through if it hadn't been for that. It was a reflection of how jingoism was used.
John McCabe Merseyside County Councillor But the Falklands iscue is not the factor for Labour's back the Labour failed make gains even marginal areas like WandSouth the 1130 rought 1o the fore and local government WorKers were involved in industrial COLOR.
the same time Labour can have CrUMOS OL COmTOrE "LIC results were not uniformly Ted Knight, leader of Lambeth council. the results for Labour are not so cheerful decades. the depressing. Labour did better traditional strongholds.
The north of England and SCOUT TESTS SHOW CHAE ven in those arcas wher LOODI WE LIOL LEGACIE gains it had expected to, Labour's vote stood up and even increased in the working class wards.
VIcIOus campaign against him and the loss of overall control in Lambeth, Ted Knight personally received magnificent vote. And of course Labour achieved an outstanding victory in its almost complete annihilation of the SDP in Islington.
All this indicates that kept its tradithe DEBASE SEC general election, par ticular winning back the Tories. Tory first area where the Many people the campaign of vilification Labour left and voted for those candidates supporting socialist policies. The Falklands issue was in people's mind; Labour would have won two more seats in the Wirral votes now seem to be at the expense of the SDP, rather than Labour.
But the results in left like Walsall, Lothian and Lambeth oftcr the left. These councils have held back directly confronting government. Their inability to do 30 12: DECE TO TUTCU the right inside the party who have consistently refused conterence decisions and have led a witch hunt in the party wawonany They have been aided and abetted by the right wing trade union leaders who have been unable to aciene me Job: and living standards of thei The left's ability to confront both the right wing inside the will cut jobs, that the Labour Claire Short, prospective didate for Handsworth, Birmingham labour movement and the Tories has led local councils to retreat in the face of Heseltine's attacks Rates have gone up while services cut and jobs have been lost. It is perhans not a coincidence that where the Alliance did the Tories Labour. Labour was able even THEI to make significant gains.
The SDP was virtually annihilated in the London Islington. while Labour became the largest party on Liverpoo council, delivering a blow to the Liberals. Where the tested, the electors don't want to know But that is little consolation for Labour Party their wounds all over the country. here is an ever /slington's council workers action against the SDP-led council helped in Labour's victory (insert: Margaret Hodge, newly elected council leader)
that the victories it has made so This be prevented.
It will be the consolidation of those gains that will lay the only basis for the working class once more NOW the Tories have taken control of Birminghan City Council they will be vicious. They introduce privatisation and so on. The results show that the Falklands are about a lot more than an island in the South It diso undermines the argument Party should be ultra moderate to be successful at the polls. Birmingham City Council has been the most ultra moderate council and it lost to the Tories.
parliamentary can placing about. Tony Bin sum faith NICO TATE situation Labour faces over the next few months at last week's confidence. vindication that SDP is not wanted.
has no right to be there.
Margaret Hodge, leader, Islington council Felled, ' he predicted. 'Tat hell won't endorsed and Michael Foot will try to get Labour's policy document delayed.' Benn went on to argue that the best way for the left fight -EUN around campaigning document that took up the CELLICE ES3UCS labour movement: Falklands, unemploymon Market and Tebbit. acience. the ComTony Benn might not be right in his predictions Militant will and Peter Tatchell. But his message is to lose and everything to gain by advancine dowr the road it has set out on. undoubtedly do then Labour has to be ready to present itself as a credible alternative That means fighting for socialist policies now deeper than simply the Falklands issue.
That means continuing the fight witch hunt and for Labour's clection manifesto to in clude those policies passed conterence. means Labour standing four unilaterial for withdrawal from the COHHCRVACKEE CLAIRS any incomes policy and for an end to Britain's imperialist roles.
Wher Labour has managed to keep. or it used to defeat and this will destroy the band. wagon effect. But it is extremely worrying that the Tory vote held up. The reasons go far Nigel Williamson, London Labour Briefing has gained control. socal councils there s now the opportunity to show the working class that the Tories can be brought to its knees.
The right inside the party will try to advance its position. The left has to stand tim and mgne toi the party to adopt and impretent sovietst poncics
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THERE is some consolation for Labour in the way the SDP has been demolished. It's not
Socialist Challenge and the Fourth in the revival of remembered from his youth.
SOCCES
wanted the major far-left groups in He left either.
He - was always head and sulders socialists w less so on action.
is shared by us all. JOHN STRAUTHER, a Trotskyist for over twenty years, died in tragic circumstances in Liverpool last month. He was a supporter oi | Interna tional and was active in the Labour Party and NALGO. Most recently he had been involved CND, a movement he John joined the International Socialists in the early 1960's at a time when Britain was coming out of the Cold War period but when werE still tiny minority in the labour movement. This played an important part on nis pontical tninking. ne Britain that had grown rapidly in the late 60's to fuse the IMG after four years membership and could not remain in the SWP active in supporting workers strungles in Liverpool. This set him above many other were always keen on talk but John was principled and fought for his view even when this left him isolated. His loss 1st Prize - £15 Credit at The Other Bookshop 2nd Prize - E5 Credit at The Other Bookshop 3rd Prize — Large size 'Reds' poster Tickets only 10 pence each or a book of ten tickets for 70 pence To be drawn on 7 June, 1982 Socialist Challenge 13 May 1982 page 7
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ANTI-REAGAN RAFFLE