[DISARRAY Anti-H-Block demonstration, Beltust Last week came further…]

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DISARRAY Anti-H-Block demonstration, Beltust Last week came further proviso that the unity of A Labour Party study only by "agreement and group set up 18 months ago consent"- while offering no produced a draft report tangible basis on which such proposing that the objective consent could be secured.

Ireland. Unsuccessful bids An additional proposal- Meanwhile James which may be deleted before Callaghan re-emerged last This time last year Labour's leadership presented a solid wall of opposition to discussion or debate on Ireland.

Their line was fixed and immovable-and indistinguishable from that of the Thatcher government. It was an entrenched, "bi-partisan" defence of the partition of Ireland and the preservation of the six county Orange statelet of Northern Ireland with the assistance of the British army and dictatorial repressive legislation.

Of course many of these political positions still predominate in the Labour leadership. Foot, Concannon and their fellows still vie with right wing Tories in their denunciations of the republicans who resist British rule, and in their praise for the thugs-military and paramilitary-who help preserve it.

United Ireland But the unity of line has been shattered. First to break ranks was Tony Benn (who as a minister under Wilson and Callaghan shared responsibility for the military repression in the North).

He declared for a united Ireland before floating his ridiculous klea that UN troops might be more acceptable than British troops. All of a sudden Ireland became a "legitimate" talking point for Labour left-wingers.

Then we heard former torture chief Merlyn Rees question whether it is right for Labour to maintain the bi-partisan "guarantee" to the Protestant majoritywhich gives them a veto over any moves towards a united cracks in the monolith.

of policy should be a united the document is annroved by LIN MUKU -2 the NEC-discusses the repeal of the emergency powers legislation under which British troops carry out their reign of terror on the streets of the SIN counties.

Meaningless

Another section discusses the repeal of the so-called "Prevention of Terrorism" Act-wnich only a tuy nauu- ..L:-L aul, a ties, hand. ful of Labour MPs have ever bothered to oppose.

All this sounds very radical: it is a far cry from the orthodox "bipartisan" support for imperialist repression that has become the hallmark of Labour policy.

But is rendered virtually meaningless by the Ireland should be achieved week. Martine ....Il far an independent Northern Ireland-d plan warmly welcomed by the extreme Loyalists of the UDA. who have been campaigning for just such a solution for the last two years.

Where does this leave party leader Michael Foot? He is reportedly happy with the vague united Ireland" call from the study group • Loota rebuked he sternly Tony Benn for making equally innocuous stattments a few warks ago.

But last werk foot felt obliged to attempt to damp down debaio on the issers making unsuccessful hids both in prevent & atlachan airing his latest ideas. and to halt the demonsiratan through Mansfield called hs the Labour Committee On Ireland to protest against the statements and actions of Don Concannon.

The confusion now prevailing within the Labour leadership is no accident: it is a reflection of growing concern on the irish issue within the rank and file of the Labour Party. This concern has gathered strength since the H' Block hunger strikes began last autumn, and particularly since the success of the Bobby Sands election campaign and his courageous fast to the death in early May.

overdue The break-up of the old unily by no means suggesis that the new proposals coming forward are neres surily progressive alternalives. On the contrary, many are simply secking to present more economical and effective plan for the preservation of imperialist rule.

But the ferment of disrussion on fretand within the POLITICAL TROOPS IRFLAND! British labour movement is a necessary and long-overdue development: it offers socialists new opportunities to argue for a consistent policy of opposition to British military rule, the immediate withdrawal of British troops, and the right of the Irish people as a whole to self-determination.

Pilloried

And the breach of the bi-partisan block also further weakens the stand of the Thatcher government, now pilloried throughout the world for its barbaric treatment of the 'H' Block prisoners.

Now is the time to go boldly into the i abour Party and fight for a thorough brrak from imperialist policies on Ireland. We urge every reader to join us in this fight.

STATUS NOW!

OUT OF rabbie Demonstrators protesting against the pro-imperialist policies and callous actions of Labour's Northern Ireland spokesman Don Concannon ran into an unholy alliance coalition last weekend.

Concannon's constituency of Mansfield had been the subject of frenzied witch-hunting by the local Tory press; the Labour Party, and extreme right wing groupings. The result was horrifying.

Fascist thugs mingled with racist Labour right wingers and frenzied _eXmilitary types in a seething hostile counter-demonstration, which beseiged the 400 or SO anti-imperialist marchers mobilised by the Labour Committee on Violent attacks were averted only by the energetic activities of a huge squad of police, who marched three abreast alongside the demonstration and used horses and special detachments to corner the reactionaries.

Exercise

Police with dogs patrolled the numerous building sites: overlooking the route of the march, which began at the suicidal time of 3 p.m.-by which time he pro-f-oncannon mob had completed several hours in Incal pubs.

l'or the police Wi exercise in crowd control. For the demonstrators there was the unaccustomed and eerie awareness that without the protection of these state forces they would have been unable to march even a hundred yards through the town.

The march-with few trade union or Labour Party banners-brought an unforgettable lesson in the uphill struggle that remains to be carried through within the British labour movement in raising the struggle against British imperialism in Ireland.

Dregs

While Concannon and his ilk can rely on the most reactionary dregs of the fascist movement, on local rugby clubs and Tory press barons to back their stand in support of British imperialism, those fighting for internationalism are forced to fight against the stream.

There can be no shirking this fight: but the LCI has a long way to go before it can command the broad support needed to clear out pro-imperialist stooges like Concannen from the leadership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.

It is urgent that all readers and supporters of Socialist Press take up that fight.

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