Campaign bust

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THE TWISTS and turns of the leadership debate and campaign are in danger of becoming a referendum on policy. In the Channel 4 debate the four contenders were supposed to be showing the Labour public what their iceals were and how they In the case of Hattersley and Shore we had an amazing series of 'new' policy initiatives which, coming so soon after the election, would have had Houdini puzzled.

But in Kinnock's case he seemed to be set on the path of a continued witch-hunt against socialists in the Party and thus trying to make his leadership one of appeasement of the med who have consistently tried to denigrate activists of the Party We seem to be entering a strange paradox that the Trade Unions are turning to the left (NUR, POEU) yet we are being told by some of the leadership contenders that the only way forward for the Party is some form of 'accommodation' to It must be brought home to everyone in the Party that we did very seriously lose support on June 9, and that we did not pick up support where we should have done, but that the way forward is not to retreat to the right, but consider the Four million are out of work now, for many of them there is no prospect of any work; school leavers suffer indignities that were not even surpassed in the thirties; and living standards are being continuously depressed. The problem for the Labol Party is not to describe the problems that are faced, or even tr express solidarity with those suffering, it is to lead a way The debate around the election results so far has been a bit shallow and has not really questioned the role that the Party has taken in campaigning since 1981, or what plans there are The Tories can be defeated, they are not invincible, they represent class privilege, greed — and poverty for the masses and they are not in the least bit perturbed by whatever is said on the Labour benches in the House of Commons; but they would be very alarmed if they were faced daily with industrial strife that was then articulated on the benches opposite.

Since the election the Campaign Group of MPs has grown in size and activity, with weekly meetings and sharp discussions on the main disputes on the horizon.

There has also been an advance in extending links with the movement outside Parliament. Meetings have now been called for between the Campaign Group and the Broad Lefts Organising Committee, and then between them and the •Privatisation of British Telecommunications is actually at the cornerstone of the defence we have to mount.

Thousands of jobs are at stake in the most blatant Governnent handover to private enterprise since Ronald Reagan started to sell the Federal Lands. The POEU is well organiser and prepared, but they need the maximum possible support It is the job of every Party member to join the campaign by contacting the local POEU branches and forming the local campaigns. The Health Service dispute suffered from inertia at the TUC level, this battle must be strong at the base.

The only future for the Party is for the Parliamentary Party to leave the portals of Westminster and get out and fight in the community, in a way that it never has before. The Campaign Group have started and shown their determination; we now need a leadership that will do the same. •Our total for July was £681.45 - £318.55 short of our £1000 target. We can't afford to repeat that shortfall. We're asking all groups to draw up a three-month schedule of fund-raising between now and October 31, and to start getting their plans into operation now.

One of the groups that showed a blank on fund-raising in July Basingstoke - has told us that it is planning a 'car boot' sale in August.

Islington is planning a further jumble sale, and a sponsored cycle ride through the Lea Valley Park on August 21.

No space this week to publish the full tally for July: it will appear Thanks to: Neil Cobbett $2, Oxtord SO supporters £25, Brent £33.91, York £10 (Carolyn & Dave, £5, Richard Bayley_£5), Tom •Lashman ts, Shettield supporters t20, Gerry Byrne £50, Cheung Siu Ming £50, Lambeth supporters £1.50 donation and £20 social, Harrogate £3, John MacDonald £10, London supporters £46.89, Hackney social £20, Islington social £12, Glasgow extra paper sales £40, Stoke extra paper sales £20, Birmingham social £20, Godfrey Webster Send donations to: The Treasurer, 214 Sickert Court, London N1 By Jeremy Corbyn MP would fight for the Party policy. win back votes lost to the SDP or Tories.

alternatives.

Dear Friends, I could not agree more forward. with your editorial regarding the need for Mr.

Arthur Scargill to "come clean" on the issue of for the future. "Solidarność" and the Soviet bloc in general.

The continuous repression of Polish workers and — specifically - miners certainly should be the subject of an energetic protest action. Yet, whilt going out of his way to defend trade union rights in Britain, Mr Scargill is noticeorganised left in the CLPs. ably silent on the issue of Poland.

Slavery Unfortunately, he and people like him are willing to "buy" any from the Party.

justification given by General Jaruzelski -something they would never accept from Mrs Thatcher. How else could he remain totally indifferent to the virtual slavery in "militarised" pits, where leaving one's job carries the penalty of a threeFUND year prison sentence, or it can be treated as desertion, in which case the nenaltv is death.

The management, however, is free to sack workers at will or force them to work six or even seven days & week. DisWhat about the others? obeying superior's instruction means the same as refusing to caryy next time. out an order.

The only change that the lift- much-heralded 11#ing of martial law has brought is that control of the mines has shiftand Lynn Gregory £30, Phil Hardy £25. ed from military commander General Piotrowski 2SY. Cheques payable to Socialist Organiser. to the Minister of the Namerual Published by Furt Piotrowski. The old restrictions remain in The list of crimes committed by the military commissars in the mining region of Silesia is almost endless: causing a grave ecological threat to the whole area beto break thi by importin from Polar communist were more to sel it. well come come a time = NUM strike g cheap coal authorities than willing There may a time when you need the solidarity of Polish workers!

Yours sincerely, Marek Garztecki Spokesman, Solidarność Working Group