Labour Conference 1983 Eyes on the next election?

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COHS looks forward to a new Programme - in 1986!

LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE MEETING Socialist Organiser's Labour Party conference meeting this year will be on building Labour Party workplace branches and the fight against the Tories. Speakers will include activists who have had die set exene ef budding workplace treashrg .... Ian McCalman reports from the Labour Coordinating Committee Conference.

THE LCC General Election post mortem held in Manchester on the weekend of July 23/24 was characterised by a good attendance at, well organised discussion groups and the remarkably right wing policies of a section of the leadership.

There was much talk of 'new vision' 'policy re-appraisals' etc., but the outlines of what was emerging are rather alarming.

There are of course socialists who have consistently opposed an anti-EEC stance but that was not what we were witnessing at Manchester.

This was clearly a move to drop what was regarded as an electorally unpopular stance. Unilateralism will soon follow that out of the window. The LCC election analysis, 'After the Landslide' refers to opposition to Cruise and Trident, deprecates the row over Polaris and contains no hint of removal of American bases.

Opposition to the sale of council houses was the next 'sacred cow' for the slaughterhouse. "An obvious vote loser' '90% of newly married couples would like to own their house' we were told. Well, that's certainly cut the shopping list. "Goodies were handed out on every page' of the manifesto we are told. Perish the thought that socialists should be in the business of making promises.

What then are we left with? The LCC's own sacred cow must be saved. The Alternative Economic Strategy remains sacrosanct. The consideration that workers had no confidence in such a reformist pot-pourri solving their economic crisis is not even entertained.

Anyone, such as Ken Livingstone, who may suggest the need for a more coherent socialist strategy is given the bum's rush. In a keynote speech Peter Hain opened up by lambasting Tony Benn. Livingstone & Arthur Scargill. In characteristic fashion, Hain condemned Scargill's call for extra-parliamentary action, ridiculing the miners' leader for trying 3 times to get industrial action against pit closures and failing. Arrogantly pontificating on the basis of his experience as the Mickey Mouse politics of the Young Liberals, Hain pours scorn on the efforts of a worers' leader strenuously trying to rouse his members in defence of their jobs.

This nauseating spectacle was made complete by the sound of applause he received from his Clause 4 devotees.

In the light of this speech the statement that 'extraparliamentary politics is 80 vital' in the LCC election analysis rings very hollow.

Mike Connarty's rallying call to Peter Hain to do battle with the 'London loony left' is a fair warning that the gloves are off. LABOUR's election defeat and its aftermath dominate the 560 resolutions in the initial agenda book for the 1983 Labour Party Conference. And the overwhelming message from Labour's organisations is the need to • defend existing Party policy; improve Party organisation; make propaganda and even protest at Tory policies. But most of them basically focus on the next election and the return of a Labour government.

This is clear in two of the largest sections in the book - on 'Campaigning Strategy' and 'Party Organisation and Structure' The 61 resolutions are almost wholly on creating a more 'professional' organisation, and spending the next 5 years 'getting the message across' Indeed, no less than 26 organisations in a different section support the call for the establishment of a labour movement daily paper • as part of this general approach.

What is almost completely missing here and elsewhere is even the possibility of direct action to defeat the Tories before their 5 years are up, and the need for Labour to give a lead in this.

The resignation and defeatism is best expressed in the resolution from CoHSE. With the Health Service and its own membership threatened with decimation in the next year or so, this present day Nero puts forward the need for a 'Programme of Action' to be ready for discussion and adoption at the 1986 Labour Party Conference and Trades Union Congress, so that all sections of the movement may unite and campaign together for its acceptance by the people of Britain at the next In the section on 'Campaigning Strategy', some resolutions advocate the Party organising mass 'campaigns' against the Tories but these Militant inspired resolutions confine themselves to propaganda alone.

In fact, the only resolutions that see direct action as the central part of the fightback against the Tories are the 3 based on the model circulated by Socialist Organiser.

The idea of direct action and a real fight against the Tories does appear in one or two other sections. 31 organisations have submitted resolutions opposing the Tories' attack on local government, including the threat to abolish the GLC.

Many of them, however, do no more than just advocate 'defence' that amounts to little more than. propaganda, however often the phrase "actively oppose' is used.

iti= ..1.*• Deadline for Amendments: August 26 1983.. [For model amendments suggested by SO on witch-hunt etc. contact John Bloxam, c/o 28, Middle Lane; London N8, or telephone 01-981 3348].

Deadline for payment of Affiliation Fees:

September 9 1983.

Deadline for Delegations: September 9 1983.

Most of the 10 resolutions on privatisation also focus on the need 'to ensuré all practical aid and support for those workers who engage in industrial action to resist privatisation' (Northampton South).

Most deal with the threat to British Telecoms, and clearly follow the lead of sections of the POEU. That union has submitted a resolution which calls 'for the next Labour Government (to) renationalise without compensation, any part of British Telecom which is privatised ..

Health Service But these examples are exceptions. 30 resolutions have been submitted on defending the Health Service and, while support for workers is mentioned in a tew, the great majority see this as being done through propaganda and waiting for the next Labour government. Similarly with the 42 resolutions on Defence. The action of the Greenham Common women is mentioned in one of the resolutions!

In fact, the 'Defence' resoferences, 20 organisations have submitted the WAC model resolutions demanding in particular that Labour women should elect women's seats on the NEC; should have as of right 5 resolutions on the Labour Party Conference agenda; and have their Conference given proper status and recognition in the Party.

Although split into 3 different sections, there are a similar number of resolutions on the witch-hunt, with the great majority clearly against. 5 resolutions call for the immediate reinstatement of the 5 Militant EB members, and Wallasey calls POSTILE 'for an immediate halt to all witch-hunts'; 2 resolutions support the Greenwich constitutional amendment and 10 follow the CLPD model resolution on 'give and take?

These are rendered relatively safe for socialists in the Party because they say expulsions should only be carried out by Conterence, and do not speli out the kind of "impartial' conditions' the CLPD would like to see imposed on Party members.

9 organisations call for an increase in the CLP's voting share at Conference, but most of the mechanics are referred to the NEC or a working party for report to the 1984 Conference.

The number of resolutions Northern Ireland has increased from last year (from 5 to 13), but there is still nothing on the scale of 1981 following the hunger strikes. 00 come from the LCI or sympathisers; 4 say that existing Party policy establishing a Labour Party in the 6 counties should be carried out.

On gay rights, TAPTE ha been no change, and still there is the solitary resolution on the last sexuality, Page entitled Homosexualt (in this case from NOLS).

Immediate. issues and bates inside the labour movement are also reflected in the DOUK NUPE's resolution is in support of a national minimum ware and there are 13 other resolutions supporting this. 7 resolutions from Scotland call on Labour to support Scottish Assembly. The 5 resolutions on the cies a fight for 'socialist poli EEC call, in different ways, cies' and 'socialist reforms' there, and a shif from the 'withdrawal position' • ]| resolutions deal with uen ovent but all fin- chemployme Militant ones)

focus again 'on propaganda. There is one resolution calling for resolutions specifically deal with the YTS, although the issue is also dealt with under the general heading of 'Youth'.

Most talk about organising on the schemes prior to their replacement; only one (City of Durham) 'resolves and exhorts the Labour Party and affiliated: organisations to: (i) refuse to co-operate with the Manpower Services Commission in the implementation of the youth training scheme..'

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swings sharp right

by John Bloxam

HARRIS JOHN