A Blow to Ballot Box Politics

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|THE HOUSE of Lords will consider the Labour ance from the permanent, unelected state And the whole massive permanent state machGreater London Council's appeal on its cheap machine! What then would be the fate of any ine - which is not elected, and which generally has a great deal more influence on the actual — THE Guinness Book of Recfares policy starting next Tuesday, 24th. Wheth- attempts at serious anti-capitalist measures by er or not it reverses the ruling of Lord Denning running of the government than the elected parl- on eating bicycles. Howand the Appeal Court that the cheap fares are Denning has already proposed that the courts talist class, not only through the personal conn- ever fast you eat your bi- iament — is a bastion for the defence of the capi• illegal, its decision will be entirely political. should block any effort by a Labour government ections, interests and views of its personnel, 'cycle now you won't get an council defied the government's orders to raise Under the last Tory government, Clay Cross to abolish the House of Lords. Imagine what would happen if a Labour government attempted but also by its hierarchical structure and the 'entry in the august tome. , rents. Lord Denning ordered that the councillors more serious measures - the sort of measures That permanent state machine can be defeat-l ressins - bicycle-eating needed to deal with unemployment, like wideBut when, in 1976, Tameside Tory council re- spread nationalisations with minimal compens- ed. It is a foolish picket organiser who reckons can damage your health.

on the police being impartial towards the picket But we know different. for comprehensive education, the judges found fused to implement Labour government policy The courts would declare them illegal. The lines; but a hopelessly timid one who does not! •This horrifyisg new craze that the councillors were within their rights! Queen would refuse Royal Assent. The civil anisation on the picket lines can overwhelm the sniffing as the No.1 hazard see that sufficient numbers, militancy, and org- that has replaced lueHow the cheap fares case will go we can't pre- service top brass would block implementation. dict. Thatcher has made her preferences clear: Capitalists would refuse to hand over. And if the she told Parliament that Denning's ruling "will Labour government fought that sabotage, then The workers can win - provided that we nave been greeted with great relief" , and 'con- the Army would step in, saying no doubt that it not cowed by the 'majesty of the law', and we gratulated' Bromley council, who brought the wanted to defend the traditional safeguards of the British Constitution and install a government But this has important implications for every But fear of the labour movement's anger, and militant who wants to make sure the next Labour the damage that declaring the cheap fares illegal Early this year Field Marshal Carver, former government is not like the last one. The options could do to people's faith in British constitution- chief of the British Army, admitted in a debate for a future Labour government are very limited. alism, may lead the Lords to overrule Denning. with Pat Arrowsmith that in 1974, ''fairly senior It can remain within the boundaries of what the The labour movement must start mobilising officers were ill-advised enough to make sugg- permanent state machine finds acceptable -now - putting pressure on the Lords to overrule estions that perhaps, if things got terribly bad, and in the present crisis, that will confine the Denning, and defying their decision if they the army would have to do something about government to a re-run of 1974-9, modified only don't. Socialist Organiser and some supporters it..". In 1974 the top commanders told them to in detail - or it can challenge that state machof London Labour Briefing have made a joint shut up. In a more serious crisis, they wouldn't. ine, and mobilise the working class to smash it appeal to the London labour movement (see back About four out of five jidges are products of public schools, of Oxford and Cambridge, and of Denning today in Britain - and the far more We must also think about the lessons. Here course of one of the tightest closed shops in bitter experience of Chile in 1973 - have shown the role of the courts has clearly been a matter Britain, the legal profession. About 89% of them that if we are out to challenge the system, then not of impartial legality or eternal justice, but come from the 'upper' or 'upper middle' classes; ballot-box politics - majority 'consent' for and the other 11%, by the time they become change - is not enough. Militant, organised Apparently not even a reduction in local bus judges, are solidly established members of the majority activity for change is vital. And for that fares can be won by the normal, peaceful ballot- we have to start now, mobilising in every struggbox procedures of municipal and parliamentary Senior civil servants and top commanders in le and building a leadership to educate the movedemocracy, without coming up against resist- the armed forces are similarly solidly Tory. ment to understand the class nature of the state. should be disqualified. prosecution against the GLC. page).

class against class. ation. of national unity! wealthy classes. an elected Labour government? rules and codes by which it operates.

police.

prepared to answer force with force. and replace it.

Organıser

TIC

are are ords has closed its record They i laim it's for safety ANOTHER gem of clarity and concision from US Secretary of State Alexander Haig.

"I think it behoves the United States, as we have done, to make it clear to all concerned that this kind of activity is a profound danger to world peace and stability. I think it would only be prudent of the United States to view this activity with the utmost concern, as we do"

Translation: Mr Haig is not happy with foreign powers interfering in the internal affairs of Central American states. for jok ess teenagers was all the result of a misunderstanding.

Norman Tebbitt [whose brain dimensions might well qualif, for an entry in the aforesaid Book] has been widely misreported. What he did say to the young jobless is, 'On your bike!' '. He did not, and we must repeat this, he did NOT say 'Let them eat bicycles' Good. In answer to request for assurances that the US 'is not and will not participate in or encourage in any way direct or indirect efforts to overthrow or destabilise the current regime in Nicaragua', , Mr Haig said, with uncharacteristic brevity, "No, I would not give you such an assurance"

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