Published by Hodder and Stoughton, price f6.95 WHEN THE EDITOR of Tribune writes a novel about crisis-torn Britain, in the year 1989, I have to be interested. And, I must admit that Chris Mullin's novel: 'A Very British Coup', is interesting. In fact I read it cover to cover at the first reading.
Mullin describes the victory of a left Labour government lead by Harry Perkins, an ex-steel worker from Sheffield. But this is a very different Labour ed to get rid of the US bases in Britain; it intends to get out of the EEC and favours abolishing the House of Lords, the honours list and public schools. The government also intends bringing the pension and insurance funds under public control so they can be used for industrial investment.
more socialist programme than any of their predecessors, about the capitalist state.
Perkins says: "To win real power we have first to break the stronghold exerted by the ruling class on all the important institutions of our country. that, I thought - that's not bad for starters!
Right from the beginning the people who control all the important institutions, in collusion with their American allies, get to work on the new government. A run on sterling is organised. The air force bosses plot and scheme with the US top brass to stop the bases being dismantled. A trade union leader, who has connections with US intelligence, calls a go-slow, normally this leader is about as keen on strikes as Frank Chapple. The cabinet are spied on by the intelligence service. Their sex lives are investigated by means of phone taps, tailing, and by ordering the prime minister's police body guard to burgle his home. The media, including the Beeb and ITV, unite as one against the government, even supporting the go-slow!
Finally the government is brought to its knees. Perkins is framed by the head of D15 because of a past love affair and is forced to resign. He is replaced by his chancellor of the exchequer, a 'safe' man on D15's payroll - strange how in life as well as fiction, the exchequer.
say: 'Everyone should feel proud...There had been no tanks on the streets. No one had gone to the firing squad...lt was a very British coup.
Up to here Mullins has done a good job as a novelist. Without preaching a political sermon he has given the reader a real insight into the power and the ruthlessness of the British establishment. But I must confess I do get worried when he writes about the Labour lefts. In this book they are the fated rabbits to the weasels of the establishment. As the state tightens its grip the lefts obligingly roll over. Nobody seems to have any idea of how to fight the state, and what is even worse nobody tries.
I am not asking for some fairy tale ending like:
do think Mullin might have shown that there are always some people prepared to fight back. Surely such a radical Labour government would never have been elected in the first place unless it had the backing of powerful social forces and leaders who enjoyed a mass base - where were they at the time of the debacle?
Now such people do not always win, but they leave some important lessons for the future. Unforhis cabinet is that Bennism got caught with its pants down! - not exactly an inspiring message for the next generation of socialists.
Socialist Challango 11 September 1962 page 6 the election of a Bennite-type Labour government in a government than you and I have ever seen. It is pledgNot only does Harry Perkins and his cabinet have a but they appear to have few illusions In his election speech, Reading But knowing about the power of the establishment and being able to deal with it is quite a different thing. Labour has a habit of getting right-wing chancellors of A self-satisfied Director General of D15 is able to 'Socialist Challenge supporters overthrow state in last desperate charge and rescue spineless Bennites'. But I tunately all we will remember about Harry Perkins and
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Challenge Scotland ABERDEEN: SC available at Boomtown books, King St. For more info 4. 55, ISni Bus Stalion.
sold or Waverly Hamilton.
Wales Salisbury Roa available 1-0-8 300KS, NEWPORT: every Sat in town centre SWANSEA: SC sales outside Co-op, Oxford St, Ilam-Ipm, Saturdays. England London Soad, and Sturdays 20ks. NEWCASTLE: SC on sale every lad ShoDDing centre outside •Sat OLDHAM: SC Fi local ac 061-682 5151 SC on sale Thursday.
Saturday, SOUTHAMPTON 10am-12 noon at Above Bar Post Of SC sold every Satur ne 483 8905 London Kaplan and myself in which we argued that the PLO should not abandon West Beirut (SC 257).
Some of the arguments were serious, notably from comrades Kelly and O'Brien - were just abusive nonsense.
of ocai SOLIC LIC nonsense first.
Rich Palser and Bisi Williams say that my time 'would be better spent attacking the counterrevolution of Israel and Unall the PLO'. In fact, week after week we have done ist that, including in iss tunately but they don't seem able to. To argue that the crushing defeat of the Palestinians at the hands of an ascendent Zionism is merely 'set-back' is to understate it. Since this touches on a crucial difference of ing into The the through the the bulk of the Palestinian population on the East Bank of the Jordar Jordan itself.
This involves bringing all the Arab regimes in the ICTION heel Lebanon into a puppet regime and generally forcing a Pax Israel on the whole of the Arab , East.
This project profound implications for genocidal attack on the whole Palestinian popula,tion of Lebanon to expel them from the country, and the destruction of the leftist militias by the Phalangists in alliance obvious. They have been scattered throughout the East, will be dependent on the Arab nationalist regimes, will attemot to COntrol them. They will be unable to launch militari operations (from Tunisia, South Yemen?) Their central co-ordination and command structure are shattered.
Now of course this doesn't mean a final, total defeat. But rather than LIU1C US SCL back' The long term reason for this situation is well explained Martin Meteyard. PLO's strategy has been reliance But war is the exten sion of politics by other military decisions are not just 'tacOUTl crucial political importance Lebanon was not just the fate of the fighters in Beirut. but of the whole Palestinian population and the leftist militias the remaining Palestinian fighters Tripoli Bekaa valley. Martin says 'a retreat is only justified as a way of preparing a Maybe I'm wrong , but just now I'm not entirely sure that this present retreat can be
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A NUMBER of comrades responded sharply to the position put forward in the articles by Ros