Warmed-over policies

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Still more abstract talk of socialist policies was offered up in the successful motion which reaffirmed the Party's commitment to "Clause 4 socialism"

And a NUPE resolution called on the NEC to draw up a programme for "a socialist transformation of society" including measures:

"to take into public control [?] those industries which are vital to the national economy and extend public ownership under democratic control and management over the major monopolies and financial institutions."

Expand NEB

This "socialist" programme however is apparently to include the expansion of the NEB, whose sole function is to pump state finance into ailing sections of private industry, to assist rationalisation, speed up and increased exploitation.

Also to be included are "compulsory planning agreements" with the major monopolies which this "socialist programme" would clearly leave intact for the foreseeable future.

In other words, under a thin crust of "socialist" rhetoric, the NUPE motion serves up once again the warmed-over remnants of Labour's reactionary 1974-79 government policies of class collaboration and aid to private tm - Opposing nationalisation-Benn A certain 'left' garnish is offered by NUPE's vague talk of a state-owned national health corporation" including the drug indus or. , but yet again the prospects persuading Labour leaders to nationalise the highly profitable pharmaceutical giants in confrontation with the City are, at best, remote.

Indeed the real content of ¡the resolution in relation to nationalisation was indicated by the fact that it was supported by the NEC, while the previous day in his set piece speech Benn on behalf of the NEC had attacked a motion. seeking to commit the Party to the nationalisation under workers' control : of the largest 200 monopolies.

Though the motion carried with it all of the woodenness of the 'Militant' group, it was a specific call on the leadership to enact specific policies when in government. In line with Benn's urging it was firmly rejected by the conference.

The conference made a further left gesture by carrying unanimously a resolution calling for a campaign to repeal the vicious 'SUS' law used for the harassment of black youth. There was a tactful silence from the platform on the Labour government's record of supervising an increase in police harassment of youth, and in use of 'SUS! applause for a demagogic speech on the education