THE LEFT goes into the 1984 Conference of the Labour Party with the impetus of the miners strike behind it.
Liverpool, in Chesterfield, and in the GLC under its belt. With the 'new realist' strategy of the trade union right adopting a low profile at this year's TUC. The contrast with 1983 could hardly be greater.
Unfortunately, the gains at Conference will not reflect this situation. fall to Kinnock, who is in the process of shifting party policy openly to the right. On defence and on economic policy it is the right who have made the gains, and who will press home their advantage at NATO. The economic policy document abandons any pledge even to renationalise hived off industries. Kinnock will, probably, also get through his proposals on reselection.
The last 12 months have shown two things; that the working class is not down and out as many people argued after the General Election, and that the 'dream ticket' is about reversing the policy and democratic gains of the last five years. But how could a right which has pressure on mess struggles for an ceed in making steps forward at this years' The problem for the left is that it does not have the policies to answer the right and is not organised to pursue that fight effectively. In the ranks of the party activists have been fully involved in supporting the miners, and in the missiles. The development of black sections is a reinforcement of the party.
But the fight for Party policy to reflect these struggles is vital. The left must develop its answers to the right on the policy issues, or it will always lose the argument. The left also needs to organise its forces on a national level to deal with the right's ceaseless attacks.
The left must learn the lesson of the last year, and take steps to overcome these weaknesses in the months ahead. A major step in the right direction can be taken now - by getting Conference to call a national Labour Party demonstration in support отЕЛе miners. economic policy and defence documents.
Turning the gains in the mass struggles into steps forward in policy, organising the left. These must be the watchwords in the party in the next year. Then the superb work done solidarity with the miners will be translated into a solid victory against Kinnock in the party.
Editor: ALAN FREEMAN Published weekly except two weeks in August and the iast week of December. signea arnicies by contourors do not necessarily represent Socialist Action's views.
Send ali correspondence regarding subscriptions, sales and receipts to Socialisi Action Distribution. 328 Upper Siree: London NI 2XP. (Tel: 01-359 8180)
With the victory in On policy the victories will The defence document ties Labour been under constant entire year sucCUL defending Liverpool, opposing struggle against the by fighting to reject the in building These are expressed in A PIECE Listen! You're not going to believe this! I've just been to the Job Centre You've • Are you kidding? Not a single vacancy!
'Good sense' AUEW been comwith employers.
armed glossy brochure containing major the even Employfact TUC 79 states.
relationships with employers, particularly new plants Even lead to unionisation the mend. Better days lie ahead!
Socialist Action 28 September 1984 3