'LET'S face it - Labour's electoral prospects are now desperate'.
Michael Meacher MP in last week's Labour Weekly, and his view seems to be borne out by the opinion polls - with a Tory lead over Labour of anything from 11 to 21 per cent.
The regional variations in the polls give a clue to South East the Tory lead is a gigantic 31 per cent. But in Scotland Labour have a lead of 16 per cent.
In those areas which have been hard hit by unemployment, with the exception of the West Midlands, Labour support is holding up.
Elsewhere it is collapsing, against everyone's expectations expectaly dwindle as the Fallands factor wore off.
-ERe rory success In through massive deflation is one reason for their buoyancy in the polls. For those people who have a job, living standards have not fallen drastically over the past three and a half vears. This is of course a contrast to the last period of Labour government, when under Healy as drastically three years running.
But there is something more fundamental leadership. The sharp divisions inside the party, or to put it more bluntly the sabotage of the right wing, electoral issues employment. Labour is seen as weak and divided, while the Tories are seen as a 'strong' government.
In 1931 Labour reaped whirlwind for the betrayal of the right wing and the weakness and timidity of the left leadership. The colossal victory of the National Government in 1931 was the product of crisis and the need for a strong lead.
Unemployment doesn't necessarily produce a shift to the left. Workers want a strong determined lead, a leadership which can defend their living standards and interests in a time of trouble. Fewer and fewer people see this in Foot, Healy, Shore and company.
The orice to be maid for another perioc of Tory government will be very high. Then living standards will fall, as wages are forced down and the welfare state torn up. Labour needs to go into the election on the basis of a 3RC5S campaign for the decided at the conferences of the past few years, including nuclear disarmament, a 35 hour week and no incomes policy. To ensure it we need a socialist campaign for a Labour victory. Final issue With next weeks issue, Challenge is ceasing publication. But don't worry!
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Send to: Socialist Challenge, PO Box 50. London N1 2XP Socialist Challenge 25 February 1983 These were the words of the meaning of these polls. In the would curbing inflation Chancellor living standards fell слеласк от crediony orune Lawou have blunted the decisive - nuclear weapons and unthe electoral socialist policies no 283, Socialist Socialist Challenge supporters have unions called their subscriptions 15% OR WE DSHI OUT WATER WORKERS STRIKE LU BATU DON'T PULL THE PLUG ON US JUSTICE WATER WORKERS WE'RE HERE JUST TO • ARE WATER *. FoR! WORKERS GHBATU YOU SHOULD OPEN A SHOP.
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