[TORY/LIBERAL controlled Bradford : Council last week became…]

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TORY/LIBERAL controlled Bradford : Council last week became the first of 152 nuclear free authorities to reverse its decision.

The Tories blocked with two of the Liberals to produce a 4340 vote to. disband the zone and scrap the Peace Action Group.

Heseltine was quick to respond, stating his appreciation for local Tory efforts and that "any use of rate payers money for propaganda and party gesturing on defence policy is wasteful and irrelevant."

Controversy at the meeting centred around remarks by Councillor Barry Turner, an SO supporter, who during the debate accused British troops of beating down the Catholic nationalist population in Northern Ireland.

The comments came as part of a speech, replying to a Tory "VOICE OF SOLIDARNOSC' is the fortnightly bulletin of the Solidarnosc information office in London. It includes English translations of many statements and leaflets put out by Solidarnosc in Support its work, subscribe: £8 for 6 months to Solidarnosc Information London WC1X 8DP (01-837 9464). motion falsely claiming that the nuclear deterrent was responsible for "the longest period of peace that this country has enjoyed this century"

Councillor Turner catalogued a list of wars in which British troops had been involved since 1945, including Palestine, Greece, Malaya, Kenya, , Suez, ! Cyprus, Aden, the Malvinas and, of course, Ireland.

The role of British troops, like that of US forces, was cited to illustrate the oppressive nature of imperialism, and counter the lies that the Eastern bloc is the major threat to world peace.

Roar

Following these remarks, the meeting voted and broke down in uproar, with the Tories and Liberais baying their support for the troops.

Much to the delight of the Tocal press, the leader of the Peace Action Group, ex-Councillor Colin Hunter, accused Councillor Turner of being responsible for losing the vote.

This wild accusation was immediately refuted in a letter to the Telegraph and Argus by eleven Labour left councillors.

The Labour Leader, Danny Coughlin, buckled in the face of mounting media pressure and disowned and attacked Councilor Turner's speech, agreeing in the Guardian (28 April) with the Liberal leader saying "I am inclined to agree with him, we were appalled at Councillor Turner's remarks."

Needless to say, Coughlin had no mandate from the group to make such remarks. Councillor Turner will doubtless be asking at thine a peboo bus socially, attack upon an imperialist army of occupation were so "appalling to the group leader.

MAI

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