Scottish Labour Conference

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on: Saturday June 23 (provisional date) in: London (venue to be confirmed)

Open to: delegates from women's and *women trom arcas not directly affected by the abolition of the metropolitan authorities. In these areas, where the white, male, right wing has ruled for a long time, how can women break through, and direct council services to their needs? *women saying "No!" to the Tory policy of driving women back into the home. Victorian values? No If you'd like to receive notice of our conference or mould like to be involved, contact Women's Fightback, 10b Landseer Road, London N19, or phone Gerry (789 7587) or Mary (263 2073).

THE agenda for the Labour Party Scottish conference on March 9-11 does not promise Labour Party), both of them in the Law and Citizens' Rights a lively weekend.

section. But the Scottish Labour Most resolutions do no more Students resolution on gay and than declare opposition to the lesbian rights is probably one of Turies' policies and advocate an the best on the agenda, calling alternative set of policies, gener- upon the Scottish Executive to ally for implementation by the circulate all affiliated bodies next Labour government. with the policies contained in References to campaigning the resolution and all affiliated are usually very vague and bodies to subscribe to the general. Labour Campaign for Gay A number of important issues Rights. are not taken up at all. For the The Labour Party Urganisafirst time in years there is no tion section contains a variety of resolution on Ireland. generally positive proposals for Poland, and the rest of raising the campaigning proEastern Europe and the Soviet file of the party. This, however, Union do not get a mention. The makes it all the more ironi‹ resolutions submitted on that most of the rest of the international affairs all refer to agenda should be so devoid of a Latin America alone. campaigning approach.

And there is also no reference Two points of controversy in any resolution to the witch- can be expected to emerge when hunt - despite the growing resolutions relating to Defence/ number of Constituency Labour Nuclear Disarmament are Parties in Scotland falling in debated. Fife Regional Labour behnd the NEC's ban on the sale Party calls for Labour-controlled of Militant. local authorities 'to fulfil only Even in the section on local those duties which are statugovernment democracy and tory in relation to civil defence" services there is little to reflect and Edinburgh East CLP seeks the urgency of the situation, to replace that with: 'to refuse despite Glasgow Council having to implement the new Civil opted for no cuts and a rent/ Defence regulations" rates freeze and thus heading The second, much more sigfor ' confrontation with the nificant controversy, is between Tories. general calls for nuclear disarmbaly the resolution from ament and specific calls for uniPollok CLP in this section really lateral disarmament, and also begins to take up the question of over a Hillhead CLP resolution what policies Labour-controlled which argues that "the Party ouncils should be pursuing recognises and publicises the ight now and what kind of cam fact that leaving NATO is not a paign needs to be built. Resolu- prerequisite of British nuclear tions from East Edinburgh CLP disarmament.

Glasgow District Labour In the International Affairs Party advocate that Labour- section of the agenda, over three controlled councils "withdraw pages are taken up with resoluthemselves and their staffs from tions calling for an inquiry into existing areas of co-operation Thatcher's conduct of the Falkwith the Scottish Office and lands war, especially with other government depart- regard to the sinking of the ments." Belgrano, a reflection of the Twelve resolutions have been positive work done by Tam submitted in support of the Dalyell MP around the issue. demand for a Scottish On the EEC there will be a Assembly. straight clash between an East The resolutions reflect three Luthian CLP resolution calling