Changing EEC line-up
Socialist Organiser1983 1983-07-21Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 4 →
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Join the Labour Committee on Ireland. when the right launch a counter-offensive. Golding"s outburst about Trotskyists running the POEU is a small taste of what's to come.
The POEU Broad Left is made up of quite diverse political currents. How do you account What possibilities do you see for united action?
The record so far is not particularly inspiring but that's because, apart from one or two small-scale actions, there has been no decisive confrontation over privatisation.
I think also the changes in those two unions show the absolutely critical importance for the future of the Labour Party of the left organising in the unions as well as the constituencies.
A STRAW in the wind? Last Wednesday, 13th, Islington South Labour Party voted against withdrawal from the EEC.
Until very recently left-wing opponents of EEC withdrawal have been a tiny minority in the labour movement - very much overshadowed by the mainstream anti-EEC left and even by the pro-EEC Right of Roy Hattersley.
But this was a left-wing shift against the withdrawal policy. Moving the resolution, Paul Mullin put two arguments: on the level of general principle, there is no case for preferring Britain out of the EEC to Britain in the EEC - rather the contrary.
-As for the case that EEC membership would prevent left-wing policies in 'Britain - the policies in question are those of the Alternative Economic Strategy, Keynesian, not socialist.
We should look towards genuine socialist policies, which can only be international. The EEC. structure will be the least of the obstacles they The argument for sticking to the withdrawal policy was also put by a left-winger, Di Udall (a Socialist Action supporter): the EEC is constructed to strengthen. West European capital.
In the vote - 34 to 25 -both Left and Right were divided. The Right in Islington Labour Party is very weak now, following numerous defections to the SDP, so it was certainly left-wing votes that carried the dav .--- 4--- pasy I-ORka•••-…ı dismissan BM Box 5355, London WCIN 3XX against withdrawal.
The efforts of those of us who have argued for years that withdrawal is not a socialist policy, but a diversion, had some influence in the vote. But we can't claim to have been decisive.
The EEC Parliament election next year sems to have concentrated comrades' minds. And perhaps not only in Islington South.
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by Martin Thomas