Benn Talk of Public Ownership Again

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Lab establishment, Benn was attempting to scrape some of the corrosion off his "left' image, in a speech unveiling what has been grandly described as a "left wing manifesto for Labour in the next election".

Nothing effer

Bad for those within the Labour Party who have shakeys regarded public ownership as a topic on the genda, and who regard the Lib-Lab Coalition as a major obstacle to such policies, Benn had, predictably, nuthing to offer.

He praised the progress made against inflation-thus implicitly giving his support to the vicious wage cuts that have been at the heart of Healey's economic policies, and for which Benn himself has consistently voted.

And he declared the willingness of the Labour movement "to do everything it could to sustain the Lib-Lab present difficulties and party loyalty are not safficient to win the support of those we represent, and bring about the return of the Government. Something more is needed, and it is as well to set it out clearly"

No exception The Labour 'left' has never previously been noted for its willingness to set things out clearly. Benn's speech exception to this rule.

Spelling out "six campaign themes for Labour in 1978" Benn called for full employment and better public services-while remaining a key element in a government which is attacking both.

- Stayed silent a Calling for socialism internationally, Benn stayed silent on the Lib-Lab Government's role in betraying the liberation struggles in Southern Africa and continuing the military repression in Ireland.

And while calling for "human rights at home and abroad" and " a struggle against fascism and racialism" , Benn drew a diplo-