[Less than 150 delegates attended the re-call, conference…]
Socialist Press1975 1975-02-20Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 8 →
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Less than 150 delegates attended the re-call, conference of Liverpool Trades Council on the campaign to free the pickets, as agsinst 800 ai the first conference.
This reflects the bankruptcy of perspective being put by the platform, dominated by Communist Party members and supporters, who seek at all costs to hold back any development towards real action to free the pickets.
At the first conference this was done by turning the attention of militants towards lobbying Parliament rather than industrial action On this occasion, having shown the complete futility of mere protest action, the CP stalinists concentrated on limiting demands to calling on the TUC to organise a one-day strike, and "if this fails" to organise more action.
Naturally they were anxious at all costs to hammer down the idea of a general strike to force the freeing of the pickets and the repeal of anti-working class legislatic which is certainly the only way effective action can proceed. Because none of the dominant forces at the conference had any intention of leading a real fight to free the two, none was able satisfactorily to answer the blatant evasion of responsibility by "left" MP Eddie Loyden, who said at the meeting: "We went to the Law Officers and were unable to get them to change their minds. The hattle must be outside Parliament"
The Lefts want to dodge the responsibility they hold to lead a fight in the Labour Party and decisively within the Parliamentary Labour Party to remove Jenkins as Home Secretary and replace him with one who will defend the interests of the working class by releasing the two and repealing all anti-working class legislation.
A recent motion in the P.L.P calling for the case of the Shrewsbury Two to be debated again in Parliament was defeated by 61 votes to 25. Where were the 77 Tribunite MPs who on this this issue could have voted down the right wing.?
The battle is against class collab ration and Stalinism inside and o side Parliament, and for indepen‹ ent working class action to free the pickets.
Special shop stewards meetings and district committee meetings must be fought for in every area to demand that the TUC call a general strike to force the Labou government to release Warren and Tomlinson.