Op' Black people: a survival vote

Scan page 5

at the t for Barking.

I find it very difficult to reconcile the reaction we've had on the doorsteps, and the fact that we've got more party workers than ever before, with the opinion polls. Labour voters seem more enthusiastic than ever before.

Disarmament is obviously causing question marks in people's minds, but when we've explained that it is not a. total giving up of all weapons - as they seem to have been conned into thinking - then they've been OK. "Oh yes, I'm all against nuclear weapons."

Anti-Tory

On unemployment, reactions are very anti-Tory. I think there is something in the theory that some people are so stunned by Thatcher that they think it is all because of the world recession and no party can do anything different. But that's a minority of cases. Andy Harris, joint secretary Socialists for a Labour Victory. People on the ground have been working hard, putting out imaginative, hard-hitting stuff, only to have it cut away every time they turn on the television, or open a newspaper, and find out what the Vidya Anand, London Region London June 9 must be victory day for a Labour Party unequivocally committed to conference decisions on peace, jobs and the socialist reconstruction of our society. We who represent the ethnic minorities cannot afford another term for Thatcher and her counter-revolutionary politics.

Ethnic minorities have no illusions. They have not been mesmerised by the 'Falklands Factor' and have seen through Mrs. Thatcher's designs. They realise that in some constituencies they are in a position to swing the pendulum in favour of Labour Party candidates.

And while thete may be apathy among some sections of the white working class on June 9. there will be no abdication of their responsibilities by the ethnic minorities. The overwhelming majority of their vote throughout the country must and will go to the Labour Party.

If there is a greater sense of urgency among Asian and West Indian voters about the need to throw out the Tories, it is because they sense that if-a new Tory government came to power, it will be the most extreme ever. They are well acquainted with the historical parallels.

They know too well what fate befalls racial minorities in societies economically wrecked by the militarists, and minorities who are ethnically and racially identifiable at that!

Racial, religious, and ethnic minorities have always been made a scapegoat, with fascist thugs capitalising on discontent of the workers. History may repeat itself if the monetansts are allowed a further term of office to continue their havoc in Britain.

When on June 9 the ethnic communities cast their biggest ever vote for the Labour Party, it will not just be voting for more leadership doing.

The campaig very good indee estates are plaster But everything being undercut at jobs, for better education. for better housing, for a stronger National Health Service, and compassionate and caring society, but it will also be voting for its very survival in this society.

Asians and West Indians. alarmed by the racist Nationality Act 1983, the Police Bill, which will surely be revived whenever Tories come to power, and the cavalier and contemptuous treatment of the trade unions, are convinced that the signs unmistakeably point in the direction of greater totalitarianism if the Tories win on June 9.

Mick Woods, Brent East Labour In Brent East we've had a candidate imposed by the National Executive Committee and an agent appointed by the candidate who doesn't enjoy the confidence of the party. The reaction of the Left has been very varied. Some are refusing to work in Brent East and going to marginals elsewhere, suit ene're working ward core running the campaign through the ward structure as much as possible.

We have got 15,000 of the London Labour Party's women's leaflet out. In our ward we've flyposted a lot of People's March posters, and we're going to do CND posters.

Obviously the attack

Freeson recommences on 10. Callaghan are • in Putney is d. The council ed with posters. we're doing the top.

on June Joy Hurcombe, secretary of Labour CND and Labour candidate for Shoreham.

Callaghan's speech has been a big blow. I think it was built into the campaign document. It was ambiguous on Polaris. We said at the time that every opposition speaker would use it to claim that Labour's policy is not a non-nuclear policy. I didn't expect the opposition speakers to be from our own party!

Many candidates have had a very straight, clear commitment on unilateral nuclear disarmament - and then we have all this nonsense at the top.

In a sense Polaris is a red herring. Unless you put money into it. it's going to be obsolete. So the real issue is Cruise, Trident, and nuclear bases: But the current position makes the Labour Party look stupid. The issue of disarmament is completely glossed over now, and we're all talking about defence.

The only thing is to keep battling on, and hope that we can recover in the next ten days. We'll have to say that the Labour policy is the conference policy. Callaghan and faded politicians can do what they, like, but they're speaking as individuals, not for the party.

I don't know why Michael Foot can't say that. Why doesn't he call their bluff? A lot of people admire Thatcher for her resolution and determination - not what she says - and he could have laken a leaf out of her book.

We've got to be more straightforward in future. It's like the issue of where do you get the moncy from. The strongest thing to say is that there are huge profits being made at the expense of ordinary people, and we will take those profits into the public sector to use for the community. That is far better than saying we're going to borrow it.

Callaghan meetings, very good response.

Ricky Houston, POEU Edinburgh External branch.

We're doing a leaflet, and circulating it through the branch machinery, calling on members not only to vote Labour but to join the Labour Party and hold their MPs to account. The leaflet has been sponsored by the District Labour Party.

Tory strategy and privatisation is a big issue for POEU members, and we've tried to put the election in the context of that fight:

James McAllister, Labour candidate for Basingstoke.

On nuclear disarmament, the response is generally good, but understanding has been dulled by Fleet Street and the media.

Those who have lived through the 1930s are rock solid Labour voters. The young are not as solid as they should be.

The campaign is drawing in new people, and one of the tasks of the constituency parties after Labour vote in the local elections. At that point it looked as if ou: vote was firming up.

Since then we've been moving into the middle areas, and we are finding some resistance, particularly on the nuclear disarmamen: issue. It could be that some of the traditional areas of Labour support are going weak on us on the same issue.

When we push it further. we find that people don't want to see Trident bought. They don : want to see American-controlled Cruise here. Cutting out the American bases doesn't get tos bad a response. Going furthe: than that and cutting out Polaris - dropping our so-called independent so-called deterrent -seems to scare them.

One of the troubles is that E we convince them that it b credible just to stop Trident. ic: instance, and to stop Cruise, then there's hot much difference between us and the Alliance.

A IGWU steward, BL Cowley Assembly Plant, Oxford.

For the first time nuclear disarmament has been a big issue of discussion in the factory, anc that's been quite useful. I think there'll be a very big Labour vote from the factory. The main discussion now is how the hell car the Tories have such a big majority.

We put a 'Vote Labour' lealle: in on Tuesday (24th) and had s factory gate meeting with the local candidates and a speake: from the local women's peace committee. On Thursday. nigh: and Friday morning we put in another Vote Labour' leafle: with a bit on privatisation of BL. which went down very well.