Women's Action Committee in Saturday. They came from progress that WAC has made in building up its support outside London in the last year.
the CUL ference centred on two — how to fight for more women parliamentary candidates in the coming reselection how to fur. ner Dunlo up and extend WAC's support the regions.
In discussing parliamentary candidates CYCLYULC present agreed that wille women han made tremendous progress in the labour movement, it around parliamentary candidates that all the prejudices and sexism still rife in the party become most clear.
While many constituencies are now prepared need y lip-service to the women canwoman on their shortlIsts, in most cases tis Is as OVER 60 women attended the AGM of the Labour Birmingham last Birmingham, Manchester, Scotland and South Wales underlining the far as it goes. A white man is still finally selected.
It is particularly a problem for win selection for relatively safe seats. It is in the hopeless, the men don't want - - that women have most chance of selection.
For black people the situation evell wUrst.
was frequently stressed that there should be close collaboration with the black section and other black organisations to enSure blacks are not counterpos ed in the selection WAC has decided to open a list of women willbe put forward for the 'b' list of potential candidates and is recommenallg get together in the regions to targetting tuencies women might stand a chance selection.
Whatever rhetoric successive governments and parties engage in, women's real role society clearly reflected in the fact that while they are over 50 per the population, they are only around four per cent of MPs.
The role of women in government is a real litmus test of the real position of women particular society. The Labour Party, which claims to want to change society, has to show that it is serious by being the first to campaign for more women in parliame The discussion regional organisation registered some gress over the last year, with regional groups of WAC beginning to meet in Greater Manchester, Scotland and Birmingham. But the biggest gains were registered in didates for the regional committee ported by WAC shook the of one of the most traditional anti-feminist women's committees in the country.
West Midland despite late organisation WAC supporters camparguing for an alternalive candidate came within a handful votes unseating, Ann Davis on the national committee.
Alongside adopting new rules to establish proer regional organisation † WAC ther also discussion on how WAC Said the process of regional support.
Key to this were the decisions taken in relation to the WAL bullen. was agreed that the regularity and thrust of the bulletin should be changed to make it more use to cies and women's sections.
It is hoped that the bulletin will give WAC a more public profile in the women's sections and ento join courage WUnC become active WAC itself.
Finally campaigning this year will again focus the section of the NEC. was agreed mal WAC will campaign for the same slate as last year, but that it will also fight for the ference to organise 'shadow elections' for the section of the NEC so that in future the slate will have the authority of the women's conference behind it.
The AGM set WAC off campaigning footing for 1985, now as many women possible should get involved to make sure that next year is another year of advance and success. camp in September.