THE LABOUR Committee on Ireland AGM, held in Manchester over the weekend of 4-5 April, took major steps to establish British withdrawal from Ireland as an indispensable plank of the policies of the left wing of the British labour movement. It decided to build up a series of alliances within the labour movement, including working with the key umbrella groups in the party Labour Left Liaison and the Labour Coordinating Committee.
Two composited resolutions to the AGV spelt out this strategy. The first was Richard Chessum, press officer of the LCI. It said:
"This recognises that the most urgent task which contronts the LCI is to build a broadly based campaign for unconditional British withdrawal trom Ireland on the of ending the Loyalist veto on Irish unity:
• Whilst maintaining the distinctive political standBOOL of the LCi on the need to campaign for unconditional British withdrawal from Ireland, it welcomes opportunities for joint work with all dividuals prepared cooperate in non-sectarian initiatives to bring about such unity;
• Specifically it believes that approaches should be made by the LCI to those wild seck d volving a constitution for a united Ireland and phrased British withdrawal within the lifetime of a parliament, with a view to organising either a national movement conterence or a dayschool discuss strategies TOT ending British presence in Ireland;
Welcomes the policy adopted the January 1987 special conterence of the LCC and instructs the Ne to approach the LCC EC immediately to negotiate a motion to the 1987 OI Labour Party. The EC of the LCI shall circulate the motion agreed to all LCI members and as widely as possible within the Labour To consult with other Labour Party organisations BICOULC groups and seek the widest possible support for a model resolution to the next Labour Paralong the following lines. " 'his conference calls upon the next of mplete British within the lifetime parliament.
• To seek broad labour movement sponsorship for a national British calling withdrawal from Ireland to take place on the 20th anniversary of British troops being sent to the North of Ireland in 1969.
The second resolution moved Ishington LCI. It was composited to incorporate an amendment on the LCC moved by Kevin Scally and Anita Richards of Birmingham ICI. said in pursuit of its aims the LCI will continue seek the widest possible united achon will sections of the labour movement, including around limited partial demands. this framework, the LCI will work with and, whicle appropriate, participate in, those Labour Partv organisations, whether pallallicial y, consutuchy or trade union based, which support the dillis of the LCI.
This specifically includes Labour Left Liaison, senuing ooservers, anu the LCC. This joint work ПОНААТРО ФАО NAIAI on Irish policy and not to be LanCI as endorsement ol other policy.
Niall outgoing up the theme of building the for This national ine AUl.
the CLPs, national ColLEC Students, well as the Campaign Group two left unions.
the trade British last nas to be Success In other trade unions the tont must ba with positive developments in a number of unions lea by the soft left such as ASTMS, NUR NALGO which is not affiliated to Labour.
The focus of the LCI's trade union work will be the LCI's comerence employment discrimination in the North of Ireland in November 1987.
In the parliamentary field the LCI will be involved in the planned Campaign Group ot Labour MPs delegation to Ireland alter the general election. Whilst supporting individual demands the Campaign Group has not yet adopted policy on Ireland.
In the student field the National Students affiliated to the LC.
National Union of Students is committed to campaign for British withdrawal from Ireland. Student work will priorily year with the establishment national Students Against Repression Network.