NO ONE should be surprised by the events which have surrounded the launching of the new Alliance party — nor taken in by the tactical retreats which followed its mislaunch by Steel and Maclennan.
It was a piece of tactical idiocy for Steel and Maclennan to write down such policies as a commitment to Trident, nuclear power, and VAT on food and children's clothes.
Labour Party the Alliance had to repudiate the anti-Labour Party declaration to put VAT on children's clothes was But this does not mean that Steel and Maclennan have rejected these policies. Former Liberal president Des Wilson claimed on the Monday after the Maclennan/Steel debacle that their document was: Dead, finished, torn up, in the dustbin, gone Liberal activists that the position of the previous document was 'a secret manifesto' he replied that:
about it at all! Steel declared of the document after it was withdrawn: We tried to go further on issues we will have to address in years ahead!
Nor should it be believed that the new document is simply anodyne. On the contrary on the The document unequivocally commits Britain tion, our minimum nuclear deterrent.""
The new document also makes clear it is committed to targeting' social security payments which is merely a way of saying it is in favour of a There is no commitment whatever to eliminate nuclear power. There is no commitment to restore the rights of trade unions.
A good index of the document is that among the supporters of Owen there is a shrewd assessment both of the character of the new document and of the proposed new party.
Peter Jenkins, a strong supporter of the right of the SDP, writing in the Independent declared: 'On the key matter of nuclear defence, its position is essentially the one which Dr Owen endorsed at the Trident has been dropped. The firm commitment while limiting its firepower to a capacity no greater than Polaris. That may be the sort of heavy handed disagreements, but it ought to do; by no stretch of He concluded: "The new Social and Liberal Democratic Party, if it happens, will in any case be a broad and somewhat motley alliance, distinct improvement over the old Liberal Party. and an avid Thatcher supporter, arrived at exactly nuclear AS THE abortion bill approaches number of Labour MPs are once again record opposed to the interests and rights of women. As the Observer put it on 17 January, 'Labour's rebels Observer again said, Campaign Group member.
Two things at least are Moreover they are entirely consistently refers to unoposals The campains upporters list ranging fron LICICS Its day of action on 16 second reading of David Alton's anti- Friday 22 January - a going on vive its second reading.
opinions and 'consciences' voting — more than on virLiberal is trying to restrict SHOVNON, By mounting huge camhave supported such restricright to decide whether or However a phrase sneaked Islington's mayoress signs the FAB petition with party policy on for party policy and for some other reduction in the tor. a Donald Dewer (who sup Duffy (Sheffield Attercliffe)
Lamond (Oldham Central ton), George Robertson (Hamilton) and John Reid (Motherwell North).
Among those who have reded on of between 22 and 26 weeks include Frank Cook (Stockton North), -Stan Crowther (Rotherham), Frank Field (Worse John Maris (Worsley), Marek (Wrexham), Peter Pike (Burnley), Jack Straw Blackburn), Alan McKa (Barnsley West) and Anr Taylor (Dewsbury). then there are those like Jovce Quinn (Gateshead)
John Cunningham (Whitehaven) who have graciously replied to women constituents that they will 'probably' vote against Alton.
A number of MPs, including George Galloway, have simply not bothered to reply to questions from their constituents.
Sharp While some, like frontbench spokesperson Gerald Kaufman, ( reportedly going to cast a principled abstention!
These MPs need to be sharply reminded that the debate has been had and MPs in Scotland have stated won in the party and the labour movement.
Support for the right of an individual women decide whether or not to bear children is a fundamental socialist principle, and the only 'conscience' involved is that of the women concerned, and not that of, mostly male, MPs.
These anti-women MPs should be brought under pressure by women and the movement to change their position.
CLPs should make it clear that they consider this matter to be one of great weight when it comes to reselection - which starts again at the end of this year. Trade unions shoulc dicate to sponsored MP. that this will be taken into account when considering future support.
all should be reminded of TUC Labour Party policy - opposition to Alton and support for the FAB campaign.
The so-called 'cons cience clause which allows MPs to have a free vote on abortion must be ended and Labour THUS SIs use the whips impose policy on the PLP.
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Labour MiPs tor women " conscience clauses or free