Jellyfish meet the mad axeman

Scan page 5

Just picture the scene at last week's encounter between Labour's National Executive and Jim Callaghan.

The newly reelected NEC. sporting a couple of shining new lefts'. , turned up at 10. Downing Street.

Arrogant

The! were hoping desperately that Callaghan would offer them something in the General Election manifesto that could be claimed to represent if not a socialist, at least a 'progresPHOTO: John Sturrock, Report sive policy.

They didn't ask for much -a hint of a wealth tax or an animal welfare bill would have sent them away smiling.

But Callaghan and his gang were not only adamant -they were arrogant: they were insulting. Far from building up the 'left' image of the NEC, they shot it full of holes.

No concessions on the 5% pay limit; workers really like it, Callaghan declared.

No concessions on unemployment-it has fallen to only 1½ million already, Callaghan announced Not even side-kick the Lucas Aerospace stewards retormist plan to switch from arms production to peaceful products got off to a hearing: as henchman Eric Varley brushed it aside.

Then things really got nasty for the 'lefts' Callaghan announced that he was pressing ahead to an election on his package of anti-working class policies, and if the NEC wanted to change them, then they had to remove him from office! audience of US Republican Party supporters-some of whom no doubt make even Callaghan seem left wingcabinet 'left' Tony Benn last week spelled out his vision of 'socialism' Eulogy Matching the diehard anti-communism of his listeners point-for-point he launched into a eulogy of Labour's class collaborationist policy on "Democratic socialism,". he declared, "which combines direct public investment in industry and expanded public expenditure with self management, does offer a real prospect of resolving the present deadlock and protecting personal freedom." 'Left' new boy Neil Kinnock You can well imagine the pink colour draining from the scrubbed faces of Labour's timid 'lefts' the nervous silence someone anxiously clearing his throat... how embarassing! New boy Dennis usually nimble tongue. This wasn't what he expected at all!

Callaghan went on to sugg 'OpP take take List that those onents' who refused to up such a fight should a running jump.

Highlighted

None of them seem to have taken up this invitation. But the lefts' refusal to fight Callaghan has now been highlighted twice in only a few weeks -once last Monday and once in the pre-conference NEC meeting where 'Jim' threatened to resign if they pressed ahead with opposition to the 5% pay limit.

uS. REPUB members should take not of such collapses. They nvariably occur when a stand is needed.

The collapses give the full measure of the real fighting capacity of these self-styled "socialist" opponents of Callaghan.

And workers should also take note of Callaghan's advice which struck such a chill into the hearts of che NEC-the only way 10 defeat his policies is remove him.

The campaign should start right away!

----- pull-quotes -----

BENN WO Speaking to a congenial

Skinner, the 'Bolsover Bol- shevik" , apparently lost his