[cover policy, until the council restores the 15%…]

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cover policy, until the council restores the 15% cuts in staffing. They are also refusing to undertake the many cleaning duties for so long expected of them.

SUSAN CARLYLE WOMEN'S FIGHTBACK tom SUPPORT ST. MARY'S New issue of Women's Fightbac - 10p plus postag from 41 Ellington London N7 THE appointment of a frontbench spokesperson on women's rights is to be welcomed. But the obvious question is: why on earth Joan Lestor?

First, she has never shown the slightest interest in, commitment to, or understanding of, the fight against women's oppression. She isn't, for instance, a member of the NEC Women's Rights Study Group, or of the Women's Sub-committee of the NEC.

The obvious, indeed the only, candidate for the job is Jo Richardson. She has been the point of contact between Labout at that level and the women's movement.

She campaigned tirelessly, in committees and on the streets against the Corrie Bill. Before that, as a new MP, her Private Member's Bill brought the issue of domestic violence into Parliament.

She has fought for every positive change that has been won for women in the Labour Party-including the creation of the post that Joan Lestor has just landed herself out of the blue.

Not only is the appointment of Joan Lestor a slap in the face for Jo Richardson. It actually threatens the work she is trying to do by elbowing her out of the way.

The explanation for the inexplicable is not hard to find. Jo Richardson, though a long-standing associate of Michael Foot, and his campaign organiser in the leadership election a year ago, made the mistake of also campaigning for Tony Benn for Deputy Leader. Joan Lestor got the prize by abstaining in that election.

RACHEL LEVER

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Socialist Organiser, Thursday November 26, 1981 Page 3" _Organise Ersica.