THIS WILL, of course, be Neil Kinnock's Labour Party conference. Denouncing the broken at Blackpool, and explaining the right wing policies that will could fill up this entire issue of Socialist Action. And indeed the attacks on free trade unions, sabotage Thacher now, abandoning the rights the unemployed, embarking on building up Britain's conventional weapons, repression in Ireland, the witch hunt and many more issues are seriousness.
But the issue which confronts the left is not to denounce Kinnock - we take that for granted. The real question is to find a way out of the situation. That is why the September in Chesterfield to found Campaign Forum, An Alliance for together the Campaign Group of MPs, Labour Left Liason, and left wing figures in the trade unions just as important as Kinnock's role at Labour Party conference. These two developments, Kinnock and Campaign Forum, will in reality sum up the two orientations of Labour Party conference. Kinnock's will be the majority. But what is really vital for the future of the labour movement is what will take place with Campaign Forum.
For anyone who has any experience Labour Party what is happening today with Kinnock is just familiar. It is the same path of taking Labour to the right which was pursued by Wilson and then Callaghan. It will end in disaster. That is already certain.
As for those that are going along with Kinnock - the 'realigned left' sealing their own fate, and damaging the labour movement. will all end in debacle. And it will be Labour and the working class movement that will have to pay the price.
What is crucial about Campaign Forum is not that it will be the largest and most serious left wing in the party — although it will be that. It is not simply that it will rapidly produce a network of Campaign Groups throughout the country -although it will achieve that. What is crucial is its politics.
Campaign anyone. It sets out a basic strategic line of march for the labour movement. That is to tie Labour's traditional base to a massive extension of its social alliances. And through that to create a maority for socialism.
What that means in practice was shown more than anything by the miners strike. It was the way that the Campaign Group of MPs stood with the miners that allowed it to become a political centre point for a revived left inside the party. It was the stand the campaigns in the party took with the miners which radicalised many of them.
The campaigns which Labour Left Liaison, the other crucial component which Groups of MPs to establish Campaign Forum, were also those in the party which stood with the miners impact of its own concerns.
But the whole is very much more than the sum of the parts. Bringing together the leadership of the miners strike, the Campaign Group of MPs, and the crucial campaigns in the party is not just organising a pre existing.
creating a new basis for the left. One that stands on making absolutely central the demands of women and black people, struggle methods of the miners, of defending the democracy of the labour movement against both the courts and the bureaucrats who try to stifle it, of linking that to those who are fighting for their freedom internationally -Ireland, South Africa, other country.
takes up every example of injustice everywhere it is found. That is what Campaign Forum begins, just begins, to do. That is why it is such a pro foundly important development.
Kinnock. But the future belongs to the left. That is more sure than ever.
promises that will be be adopted struggles against of the greatest decision taken on 20 Socialism bringing - is an event, in its very different way, of the all they are doing is Forum is not an opposition to came together in came together with the Campaign although each radicalised under the of using the class whether it is in Central America, or any The only left worthy of the name is one that This Labour Party conference belongs to Neil Dece 01 Is it true that the leaders of the black South Africans have refused to talk to Mrs Thatcher until she renounces the use of ¡violence? The AGTION No, you've got it" wrong... the PLO are refusing to talk to the zionists until they renounce terrorism!
Socialist Action 26 Sep 1986 for many years. That is a