taxes, and law and order. n the south it is cracking that ce support that we should be aimthat al the Rolls, from the Liberals themselves, it is the left that is in the best to do that. The Liberals reviv* first place as a reaction against approach the right. We will not win them that line. It is myself, Tony d figures like that who cut into al support.
is what we should be doing in four years. Not turning inAt wards to contemplate our navels in constitutional crises imposed by the right wing. Nor spending all our time in the House of Commons Tories are going to win every vote. We nave to turn the party outwards the first fighting the Tory government. We have to fight for Labour to set the agenda. I unk, o arse the popularity the Gre have to use the created - - not hide it away.
But i can't repeat too much that everything "depends on us setting our own political agenda. Not just for four weeks but for four years.
inner on the almost Glasgow cherism North, where the - IN place to those who will be 1930 THE VICTORY of Thatcher in the general election was a serious setback for the labour movement. It means it has to fight, probably for at least another four years, government which utilises the entire power of the state against the labour movement. Furthermore this ministration has, in its plans for the cities, local government, education, privatisation, the trade unions, and other issues, the most reactionary programme of government this century.
In reporting Thatcher's victory the press has concentrated massive attention North/South divide gigantic differences in support for the different parties that now exists in the different parts of the country. North, Wales and Scotland Labour has 170 seats to the Tories 81. In the Midlands and South the Tories have 295 seats to Labour's 69. It literally is as though the country had been cut in half The outcome of the 1987 general election showed clearly the political consequences of the 'dual society' — and the way Thatcherism is allowing every differential in British society to increase. In the North of England, Scotland, and Wales there were swings to Labour of landslide proportions Scotland Labour has 13 more MPs today than in its victory of 1945. In most of the big cities, in particular the inner cities, big shifts took place in favour of Labour.
Liverpool, Newcastle, Bradford have no Tory MPs at all. But in the South, and some areas of London, there were increases in the Tory vote. (See Tables 1 and 2)
underlies the North/South divide, and that between the inner cities and the rest, is not geography but socia!
Constituencies where there is the greatest social deprivafor example Vauxhall, Newham North West, and Islington North - saw increases in the Labour vote as large as those in the north. But in the south outside London the Alliance retained its second place behind the Tories. The basic class divisions in British society are being refracted through a process of social •heremanor These divisions reflect the way Thathas brought out historical cleavages in British society. Average unemployment is higher, wages lower, social deprivation worse, in the as well.
Wales, Scotland and the inner cities. The south has the greatest areas of Conservative vote VOLO 1940 1950 under a adthe prosperity - and has seen the greatest increases in living standards under Thatcher. These social differences have always existed. But under Thatcher they are deepening still further.
Underlying the geographical trends are the way the economy itself is being restructured. Vast swathes of northern manufacturing industry have been closed down. Much of the rest of manufacturing is being restructured around a "core' of permanent, workers and a 'periphery' of part time and temporary workers.
The effects of these shifts on the political structure of Britain is clear. London Labour's support now ranges from 47 per cent in the North of England to 17 per cent in the South outside London. There are now three clear political areas in the country. (See Table 3) • In Scotland, England, the North West and Yorkshire. Labour is stronger than any other party. • In the Midlands and London Labour is behind the Tories but ahead of the • In the South outside London -sharply Anglia, the South East, the South West — Labour is in third place, not simply behind the Tories but behind the Alliance The correlation of these geographical areas with social divisions is obvious. The 1960 1978 1988 Despite media propaganda to the contrary Tory support continues to decline unemployment Tween the two.
solidating its Figure 1). mass struggle. relatively secure, Table 1 Wales, the North of London East Midlands South East East Anglia West Midlands South West - East Yorkshire Wales North West North England Scotland UK Table 2 South East East Anglia South West London West Midlands East Midlands North West North England Scotland Wales UK Table 3 North of England Wales Scotland North West Yorkshire West Midlands London East Midlands Your' East Anglia 1998 South Has South West UK south, the heartland of the Tories and the Alliance, is the most prosperous area of the country. The north, the heartland of Labour, is the area of the greatest poverty. The Midlands is the intermediate area betThe trend of development, nevertheless, is clear. The Tory party, slowly but progressively, is collapsing back into its south of England bunker. Painfully slowly, but definitely, Labour is reconposition in the north Despite the rhetoric about Thatcher's popularity she, in reality, has the smallest vote of any prime minister with a safe majority in parliament this century. Tory support continues the decline which has been going on for well over 30 years See But despite the Thatcher government's unpopularity Labour is still blocked by the Alliance's strength in the South from challenging the Tories to form a government.
The tactics are therefore clear. Thatcher's position must be ground down by On the electoral level Labour must consolidate its position in the North, Scotland and Wales - mopping up the remaining pockets of non-Tory votes and crushing the SNP and Liberals in Scotland. It must continue to fight it out with the Tories and Alliance in the Midlands and London. Labour must begin to fight with the Alliance to lift itselt out of third place in the South Smashing through the Alliance vote to get at the Tories, above all weakening the Thatcher government by mass strug gles. That is the task which the Labour Party faces in the next years.
Change in Tor Vote 1983-87 +2.5 +1.4 +1.1 +1.1 +0.6 -0.2 Change in Labour Vote 1983-87 +0.9 +1.2 +1.5 +1.6 +2.1 +/. +7.3 +7.5 +3.3 Tory Alliance Labour vote vote vote :51
Socialist Action 19 June 1987
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