By-election candidates

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THE LABOUR government is this week likely to bear the fruits of its consistent anti-working class policies in a disastrous turnout at the November 4th by-elections and the Tories await eagerly to take maximum advantage.

Despite the policies of the Callaghan government, sociatist Press is calling for the largest possible class vote for the Labour candidate against the Tories in each constituency.

Workers in Walsall N., Workington and Newcastle Central should demand that Labour candidate take a stance against the anti-working class policies of Callaghan and campaign to drive the right-wing leadership out of the Labour Party, replacing it with leaders prepared to defend the interests of the working class.

In Walsall N. and Newcastle Central workers will have the opportunity of voting for an International Socialists candidate standing on a Socialist Workers Party platform.

In our opinion the "programme" advanced by these candidates, based as it iș solely upon generalisations about corruption and fighting the cuts and unemployment offers no credible alternative or clear way forward for the working class.

But it is not solely a question of programme. While not opposed to voting for revolutionary candi. dates in principle it is our view that the present period is not the correct time for standing such candidates, particularly when a split vote and the return of a Tory candidate could be a possible outcome.

As the fight back against the attacks of the Labour government begins to get underway on a number of fronts, in particular wages and public spending cuts, it is vital, in our efforts to break the working class from reformism to constantly expose the practice of the reformists. This task is made much easier when the Labour government is in power rather than in opposition where the reformist leaders can assume once more a 'left' mantle.

For this reason we are opposed to voting for the SWP.