Left Talk- Right Wing Pol Cies

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The '75 Years of Achieve ment' i banner which hung above this year's Labour Party Conference platform was indeed a testimony and tribute to the part played by social democracy and the Trade Union leadership since 1900. To have enabled British capitalism to continue through two World Wars and a General Strike was indeed an achieve ment. Right and left social democrats and syndicalists have each played their part, united by their anti-Marxism, and deference to the respectable' institutions of the capitalist state and fear of the revolutionary character of the working class.

The assortment of bureaucrats and careerists which make up the body of the conference, met this year under conditions of capitalist crisis not known for a generation; a background not only of international victories for the working class and peasantry and revolutionary struggle in Europe itself, but as a party brought to power by those same class forces.

RESPONSE

It is precisely as a response to that working class movement that the ruling class must turn for assistance to their reformist agents in the Labour government and the TUC' For them, class collaboration is the order of the day, with a common willingness to cut pay and create further unemployment being the 'unity' talked about by Wilson and Benn.

A measure of the importance to the capitalist state of the Labour Party leaders and trade union bureaucracy was shown by the unprecedented security arrangements at the Conference. Uniformed police and Special Branch men were everywhere from the entrance to the conference press gallery, and even on the roottops opposite, with Party hacks eagerly and meticulously searching bags and checking credentials.

Though Wilson had every By Our Correspondent in Blackpool confidence that his policies would be overwhelmingly supported, the government and the union bureaucracy were, after all, on display and it was important that they impressed their capitalist masters. One after another, trade union leaders applauded the government's anti-working class policies, neither they nor the Labour 'lefts' having any perspective whatever for the defence of wages and jobs.

Led by Scanlon, Clive Jenkins and Bassnett, they eagerly took up the demand for import controls, a reactionary, nationalist diversion which can solve nothing for the working class, together with condemnation of the capitalists' refusal to invest and properly maintain their system.

'BREATHING Benn's speech incorporated both these points and compli mented the TUC tor abandonıng the right to collective bargaining on the basis that it provided a policies! His call for unity with Wilson, Healey and the trade union wage cutters was followed by 'left' phrases about the 'unjust and ineffective system' and 'changing society'. Benn and his Tribunite supporters have no difficulty in reconciling the two.

The job of Benn and the Tribune group in covering up for Wilson at the conference by limiting all their criticism to vague calls for "defence of the manifesto" was backed up by Militant supporters who refused to demand that they challenge the right-wing The role of Militant is one of complete subordination to these 'left' talkers and avoidance of the main issues with the utopian demand that the government legislate the nationalisation of 250 monopolies without compensation and under workers control. While in words, like so many so-called 'Marxist' groups, Militant express formal agreement with Trotsky's Transitional Programme, in reality, they are incapable of taking up a struggle for these demands.

At their mid-week Militant meeting none of their three speakers (including Ted Grant) raised a single point of programme for the defence of pay and jobs. From an attendance of over 250, the only contribution to take up the importance of transitional demands was from the WSL.

The main resolutions before the conference were those calling for support for the government's policies of wage cuts and unemployment. Tom Jackson, leader of the Postal Workers' Union, summed up the position of the TUC in arguing the 'higher prices means fewer jobs' line.

His anxiety about the welfare of international bankers was clearly greater than that for his membership, a fact he frankly admitted by saying that the policy he was defending would mean loss of jobs in all sections of the Post Office.

To reply on behalf of the NEC, Wilson produced leading Tribunite Michael Foot as his star turn. Foot, having served his apprenticeship appearing on platforms with Healey, Williams and Wilson defending the government's actions over the last few months, knew this was graduation day. Of course, Wilson has every confidence in the Labour left talkers and Foot's performance richly confirmed his judgement.

CRISIS

After making the obligatory points about the crisis of capitalism' Foot defended classic capitalist solutions, with the right-wing's threat of a Troy government as the "only alternative" and fine . words about 'socialism tomorrow'. Needless to say it was Wilson who led the standing ovation.

Foot's betrayal was consciously covered up by the Stalinists in the next day's Morning Star which buried his speech in their conference report.

The relationship. between the policies which the conference was supporting and the working class was sharply demonstrated early in the week during Healey's speech calling for further cuts in public spending to appease the government's international creditors.

Because of measures already taken, the jobs of workers in Plessey and G.E.C. factories in the North-West are threatened by cuts of 39% in Post Office orders. More than 2000 men and women took part in a protest march through the town and lobbied the conference. The slogans on their banners of "WE WANT PAY, NOT DOLE* and "WE PUT YOU THERE - NOW BACK US" are an indication of the enormous struggles which will erupt between the working class and their reformist leaders.

WEAKNESS

The political weakness which is contained in such spontaneous moves, however powerful, was typified by the lack of any perspective by the leadership which is carrying through the struggle. Sid Rainford, a member of the Plessey Shop Stewards Committee, said that their demands were confined to "pressurising the government into restoring the Post Office contracts"

He advocated no programme for an elected committee of workers to fight for work sharing on full pay in opposition to sackings, or for the opening of the company's books as the basis for the naționalisation of the firm under workers management fo protect jobs within Plessey itself.

A further indication of struggles which are taking place over jobs was the stream of delegations throughout the week asking for government support. Among them was a group from NVT where 1600 jobs are at risk. Ray Durman, secretary of the Action Committee, said it would be "criminal" if the Labour leaders turned their back on them by refusing nationalisation It was significant that the only hint of criticism by the 'left' MPs of the complete abandonment of basic trade union principles which the TUC have carried out in volunteering pay cuts, was outside the while Foot pretends he's not there conference.

Mikardo's mild remarks at the Tribune meeting brought a calculated outburst from former "left' Jack Jones. Saying that Mikardo was "attacking trade unions" and and inferring that he was a Tory, was an indication of the vicious ness with which the class collabor. ating union leaders will react against any opposition from any section of their membership. Jones had the full support of Healey who used almost the same words te attack Mikardo in a speech the same evening.

In fully supporting Mikardo' stand we demand that a fight i! immediately taken up by the 'lefts in his defence and against Jone and the other union leaders whe support him.

With Heffer now elected ontr the NEL, the 'lefts must пон campaign immediately within th Parliamentary Labour Party, i opposition to the government' capitalist policies, at the centre o which must be the removal o Wilson.

The North West area TUC ha called for a lobby of Parliamen against unemployment on Noven ber 26th.

The Workers Socialist Leagu calls on all members and supporter to campaign among the unemploye in union branches, Trades Council and shop stewards committees fo full support fo: this lobby and tr this lobby and to put forward th policies agaiast unemploymen fought for consistently by the WSI *No redundancies - work sharing oi full pay. *Nationalise firms shown to be bar krupt. *Progamme of public works to create jobs paid at trade unio rates, under workers management

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UNEMPLOYM LOBBY