Healey 'A brick wall'
Socialist Organiser1981 1981-09-17Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 9 →
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of the 45,000-strong Division 3 of ASTMS was one of those who supported the successful fight to pledge the union's votes to Benn:
"I think the point is that while Benn's not perfect he is the one who best articulates the policies wanted by the rank and file.
"I wouldn't describe him exactly as an open door. But let's say he's at least a door that's ajar.
"So when there's a door ajar we'd be fools to keep battering away at a brick wall - like Denis Healey - wouldn't we?" "THE best wishes of all the Laurence Scott workers go with Tony Benn in his contest with Healey and Silkin. We fully support the fight for alternative socialist policies in the Labour Irty."
PETE ROWAN, • nairperson, Joint Shop Stewards' Committee. change We REG RACE MP told us:
"Tony Benn must be "pported because he is the enly candidate who supports the • transformation of society.
'He understands clearly that the decay of capitalism in Britain means that concessions, both political and industrial, to the working class, are not on the agenda for the Tories or right wing "Higher real wages, full employment, and expanded social services, can only be won by changing the Labour Party so that it is committed to a socialist strategy:
"Tony Benn's commitment to democracy in the Labour Party is also crucially important. He is the only candidate who supports mandatory re-selection, the control of the Manifesto by the NEC, and the Wembley conference decision on the electoral college.
"We must not allow the next Labour government to be sabotaged by MPs who think more of their independence than they do of the political programme on which they were elected."
Chile
"What slightly worries me is the view he and others put of socialism in Britain is so far in advance of what the Labour Party has been about - at least in my lifetime. I think if they try to put it into practice there will be a physical response.
"Has Benn thought through how they could respond it Labour began passing legıslation which really did begin to shift the balance of power and were met by resistance from the establishment?
"I don't think this country is all that different from countries like Greece or Chile. Statements by some of these Chief Constables in the last few years show the attitude of these people to the authorities which are supposed to control them.
"Some aspects of Benn's record bother me - he's no saint. And I wonder whether he's tough enough: sometimes he seems just too nice.
"But I think these are minor considerations compared to the structural changes he and others have helped bring about in the Flabby 'Of course it could be argued that if Benn had been run down by a bus, these changes would have happened anyway. But Benn is the leader of the Left and
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Scotts back Benn