The real campaign is in the ! working class

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MPs have now finally established new caucus the left of tr Tribune group. Ron Brown MP (Leith) told Socialist Organiser about the plans and perspectives of the 'Campaign Group SO Why did you come to the conclusion that the Tribune group was no longer sufficient?

RB: The Tribune group hasn't really fought for a principled position against the Tories, it hasn't stood up for socialist policies. It's even made excuses for Michael Foot and the others who have let us down quite badly.

SO. Does the group have any plans for linking up the left in the Constituency Labour Parties and in the RB: Yes. As left MPs we have to link up with the left outside, in the movement, in the trade unions.

When we talk about building up leadership, we're talking about building up. a political understanding, so that the working class can fight back.

think wing ir That's cause have a role to play on industrial issues, like the fight against the Tebbit Law now? RB: Certainly, the new group has a role to play. It's vitally important that they are seen to be street corner and factory gate agitators -in the best sense of the word. In periods of struggle, left-wing. MPs can encourage workers to fight back.

In these difficult times MPs are missing at the sharp end, where it actually matters. I hope that this new group will actively campaign in the working class, urging them to fight back, to get organised, to link up with the employed and the unemployed - all sections of the working class - to provide a united • front against the Tories.

Right against the right arty. lost importa: • beright virtually acting as a fifth column for the capitalist system. We've got to muster a challenge, through the working class, and fight back. SO. It's taken quite a long time, since the first announcement at Conference, for the group to get itself finally established. What was the problem?

RB: The new group didn't want to seem to be splitting the movement, or the left. But the so-called traditional elements within the Tribune Group have in effect split from us by their actions.

If they want to honour Conference decisions, if they want to fight for socialist policies and challenge the right wing, then fne - we'll welcome them. But the fact is that they have covered up for the right wing in the Party.

Also they don't believe in challenging the authorities through extra-parliamentary activity. That is anathema to them. We've got to face up to this fact in our new group, small though we are.

We appreciate that there will be many problems, but we know the potential support is there. The working class are looking for a lead.

SO. Do you think that the group can play any role in the coming General Election?

RB: Without extra-parliamentary activity, without a movement that's mobilised, Labour is unlikely to win the next General Election. It's only when you have a fighting campaigning party that you get the working class coming out to vote for you.

Feet It you look at recent by-elections you see that many workers voted with their feet - they didn't vote at all. That proves we have a crisis of leadership.

It's all very MPs with Michael Foot to do their thing in Westminster - and I'm not knocking that entirely - but the real campaign can only be developed in the working class. We've got to prove that we are a party that is willing to challenge the Tories, take them on. We must challenge them through the trade union movement, using our strength to show that we won't accept the destruction of jobs and living standards; and we won't accept Tebbit's laws.

I'm optimistic for the future. Obviously, it'll take a lot of hard work to get things moving and we'll probably have the trade union bureaucrats breathing down our necks, but really we've got nothing to fear, provided we've got the courage to stick by our principles. reen in force since 1969 and eflects NUJ policy on indusrial democracy and workers' articipation...

Messages of support for he Tribune staff from Labour Party and trade union especially TGWU) branches hould be sent to them at 108 Grays Inn Road, Lonlon wc1, with copies to ohn Silkin MP, House of Commons, London SWI.

What happened New Leyland Action Committee pamphlet, 10p plus postage from LAC, 194 Dawlish Road, Birmingham 29

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Socialist Organiser no.113 December 16 1982 Page 3 December 1982 Page