THE ANNOUNCEMENT by Francis that he is forming a new group entitled Centre Forward is just the latest episode in the 'now you see them, now you don't' history of the Tory wets. We imagine however that must now be contemplating his latest coup.
Francis Pym for the cover story of the June In order to bring a little light into the sordid history of wets however we will spell out a few home truths. These may come in useful for those in the labour movement contemplating the 'antiThatcher alliance' proposed by Marxism Today, and now endorsed by Alistair Graham.
The Tory wets are not a cause of opposition to Thatcher but a product of it. The role of the wets, and the Liberals, and the SDP, is to back Thatcher's policy on the decisive points and at the decisive moment, The miners' strike was the perfect illustraorganiser of the against the miners was the most highly placed strategically positioned himself to the right of Thatcher throughout the dispute both from conviction and out of a determination to establish his credentials with Now that the miners' strike is out of the way however, and as Thatcher is suffering severely in popularity as a result of the strike's impact, the wets consider it safe and necessary to show sign of opposition to Thatcher from ranks of the Tories and Alliance, then Labour will pick up all the gains from those deserting Thatcher. Furthermore such public 'criticism' the useful role of tying opposition into policies acceptable to the ruling class First to pick up the bait of the new moves by ticipation in the all-party Employment Institute.
Alliance over the future pay policy of a government of the 'anti-Thatcher majority'.
The most serious manifestation of the prolast month that he excluded any agreement with the SP, but was prepared to consider one with the Liberals in the event that Labour did not win a majority at the election.
The basis of the policy of the wets, SDP, and Liberals is dead simple. They demand that all the This means maintenance of the laws against maintenance of its own nuclear weapons and American cruise missiles in the country. Any changes - in particular a half-hearted economic reflationary policy which would completely fail — would be solely within the framework of maintaining the most essential Thatcherite laws.
A government including the SDP, Liberals, or wets would simply be Thatcherism without Thatcher. That is how it must be regarded by the shown by the formation of Centre Forward are excellent. Anything that weakens the enemy is a step forward. We welcome greater disorder in But the basis for Labour exploiting problems of the Tories is explaining clearly that there is no difference between a Pym and a Thatcher on any decisive issues of politics.
Editor: ALAN FREEMAN Puhlished weeklv excert two weeks in August and the last week of December.
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Pym at After all if there is no apparent proposed that the nouncement of the sale of British Gas is the changing shape economy and the profits it generating.
now literally does not resemble that of any other advanced capitalist state.
Nearly one eigth of the British twelve per cent, is now devoted to the production of energy I nis compares lo arouna two or three per cent for any OLICI HaVI become specialised as a supplier of oil. gas and coal to ine industrial heartland of the The energy industries, coupled with finance, telecommunications electronics, now the actual, or potential, super profitable sectors of the Sa economy. "Inev are also the sectors dominated by the largest most oil companies, banks, engineering industry, and ine newly aenanonalisec Fi ne of British which has profits in excess of £1,000 substan tally to thal cond million a will add plex of companies. The if it can be achieved by the govern ment is breaking up the National Coal Board and the privatisation of the super pits, such as Selby, with the profitable mines in areas such as north Notts.
This building up of the new profitable sectors of under the control of British capital Is accompanied by a conof the Amed domestic base of sections traditional industry such mechanical engineering. The government is clearly preparing the de facto sale to Honda production British car firm - BL. The Thatcher government has cleared port of capital by British industrial companies.
The second key aspect of the sale of British gas is political strategy - as of - above all her government's continuing drive to fragment and segment the working classven the Tory commented on the blatanDAT to compensate — in tax - for the tremendous losses suffered during the miners' strike. The NUM smashed pieces Lawson's previous political plan for £3.000 million give away tax culs In 1985. Therefore the government has decided to with of tarsing don, the raising £5-8,000 •all million _by the sale British Gas.
The fact that this sale is against the interests of ordinary gas consumers, against the interests of the and in the interes o the interests which show the same trend The result the the interest rates are now
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