Birmingham Labour Briefing no. 25

ced it wii

anno!

agreement with por noterways region. Secision, which will er: fron 3100 March «1987, that the Oepartment will have find someone elise to mainta huge sections of motorway and trunk reads in the city. The decrsicn comes abour because of Birmingnam City Council's poiicy, to inciude in each contract a prov

ision ‘promibiting the or goods or materials whose crigin is the

surp

Republic of South Africa’ and also ef placing no contract wi ‘any person carrying on a trade, business

or profession in the Republic of South Africa’.

John Meore MP, the minister objected to the of this ciause in the ¢2 ea contract the city agreed with Wwrexin Censtruction for repairs co the Oldbury flyover on the MS. He r. this clause, in true Tory as ‘an unwarranted limitation on tt scope for competitive tendering’. ‘He could not sign the contract because the City Council imposed tendering conditions which were ‘not of a commercial nature’. “Announcing the City's Councillor Sill Turner,

Tory Transport inelusien

miiii

garded styie,

decisicn, chairperson

Services Committee, said: ' As a multi-raciat city, a long everdue poli enying aid and succcur te the murdercus and racist regine of

South Africa, In pursuit of this policy we aprear have fallen foul of the laissez-fair politics

of the Secretary of State for Transpert. As he has chesen to ign Policies and our

argunents,

have no diternative bus to ase him to lcok elsewhere for .with his motorway and trunk roads maintenance’

In support of this policy, Labour

leader, Dick Knowies, wrote to John Moere on 8 September: '...5 Seems tO me quite ciear that thére 2S an ideological c¢ between

Severnment and Birringhan Council...ve heve 14 black councillors and 15.2% of the population of Sirminghaa who are biack according to the last census but the statistic— jans teil me that it 1s between 22% and 27% teking into account the third generation, it is ust a ago hen we hed the Handswe: riots and that to aspear te be bending over backwards to break cur own standing orders in order that we can employ people who have business links with the Repubric of South Africa would be stupid and, if Iomay say so, against our

duty under the Race Reiations Act of

:1976...1

because of its

think

the

vo their friends in South Africa, ‘are maxing a grave mistake.

view is that it is a great pity that you should have gone down this road because of an ideological comaitment te South Africa and therefore to its racist policies’,

¥riefin welcomes this st

by the Ci Council of whom have, cniy tac often, had to critics: ybe now we can

tives

whieh

the population of

too, we

car Look

and effe

affect

forward to the

ive contract aybe we can look anti-racist initia~ more directly

the city. Maybe,

full implementation of the district ‘s policies for Race Relations Equa: Opportunities in the Ulsimately it is issues

these, rather than on an albsit stand on South Africa, that

Labeur Council

wisl be jud

Inside...S0S ions...

Racisme...Black Suomerfield Group to expand... Sinn Fein visit...Transport policy.

Helfast...Conference

Party democracy...Head Office left stand...

and nore.

Secc-

resolutions. . backs

Government, ideological commitment

hy

we

be Lock the develognent of

ed.

Summerfield Caucus set to expand

Steady progress is being made towards setting up a new organisation of the Labour left in Birmingham. The

so-called ‘Summerfield Caucus - based on a core of left-wing counciliors - will soon be launching an

organisation open to all party members in Birmingham who agree with its aims.

The Birmingham Sumnerfield Group will be based on the same commitments to democratic reform as the left councillors have adopted but in addition there will be policy prior~ ities. Party members will be invited to join a broad campaign ained at implementing a more socialist . progranme for labour in Birmingham.

The recent developments go a long way towards meeting criticisms of the embryo Sunnerfield Group contained in Juiy’s ‘Briefing’. At that stage there seemed to be a risk of Summerfield remaining a smail, elitist group of counciliors and others in the know.

However, éiscussions over the Past few weeks have defused suspicions of this sort. At the same time, the eriginators of the caucus appear te have accepted that opening the doors to a wider party membership will not threaten then with imminent takeover by the ‘ultra-left' (whoever they are).

This growth of trust is an import~

ant milestone in the rebuilding of a major new left initiative in Birmingham.

The fact is that the various atrands of the left have come through he process stronger and more confident. The challenge now is to put ideas inte action. The period leading up to the 1987 Council Eliections is therefore probably the most crucial testing time in determining whether the right-wing's long control in this city really is coming to an end.

Reb Pocock, Perry Harr CLP.

Head office backs the left

The long-running dispute surrounding the manifesto for last May's ‘local elections seems to have ended in whoiesale victory for the line that ‘Briefing’ and other left-wingers have taken.

Dick Knowles has been cold-sheuldered by the party chiefs at Walworth Road, who have written to him accusing him of being ‘too narsh' on the District Party.

The letter from Joyce Gould, Director of Organisation, was read to the September District Party meeting by Knowles himself, adopting for a moment an uncomfortably humble demeanour, The letter has three basic consequences:

* the councillors cannot publicise their own policy over the heads of the party, in the way that Knowles did this year.

* the counciliors have no right of veto over the writing of the manifesto statement.

* in the event of disputes between councillors and the party, it is the party's view which should prevail by virtue of its constitutional majority on the manifesto writing team,

This is an important constitutional breakthrough in the fight for greater democracy in the party. The significance of the Gould ietter 1s that, despite the national tide towards witch hunts and isolating the left, the party's — national officials were unable to find any constitutional means of defending Knowles outlandish behaviour over the 1986 manifesto.

Chastened as he may be by the stance of the national officers, Knowles has still failed to concede the most important consequence of the ruling, which is that the Present Labour Council is now committed to implementing the party's version of 1986 policy.

Campaigners in race relations and housing wi:l now need to keep @ watchful eye on events tc ensure ‘that on these subjects, where the

controversy occurred ch in Council npiementing the

greatest there is now a 5 policy towards i party's line.

Dont let the Labour Group dictate to

you

Na a

oan

Birmingham Labour Briefing meets on the second Monday of every month. Ai} supporters and interested parties

are welcome te attend. Send any letters and articles to 4@ Thornhill Road, Handswerth, Birmingha, B21

98S. Telephone (C21-) 551 9174,

IMPORTANT NOTICE

‘A while ago someone borrow_ed Kevin Scally's videotape of the ‘Bandung Filet TV -programme for which Kevin ‘was expelled. Could the person who borrowed it ret— urn it immediately. It is vital to Kevin's defence.

“that Black

Birmingham Black Section formed

At an historic meeting in Sirmingham Council house om 7 September, 20 Biack Labour Party activists decided to establish the Birmingham District Labour Furty Biack Section.

Opening the meeting, Chairperson Gina Khan said that while publicity was telling us that Birmingham was the

‘meart of England’, it was tine that the party realised that in Birmingham Biack people were the heartbeat of the party.

Councities Gurdev Manku said that many Black party mempers feared cffending white members if they came out ain supoort of Black Sections. ‘People are reaity scared of the name Black Sections,’ he said. ‘People believe that because Amir Khan was expelled for setting up 2 Black

Section the sane would happen te them.’

However, se pointed out that it was necessary for Black people to organise and he outlined the steps forward made in Ladywood when Black

peopie erganised in that constituency.

The meeting elected a tenorary executive co tee with the intention of heiding nex elections in a few months time. The meeting also refused to recognise the expulsion ¢f Counc itlor Amir Khan and eiected him as Cnairpersen. Councilior = Phil Murphy. vice-ch. of the council's kace heiations and Equa: Opportunities Committee w elected vice-chair. Alton Burnett was chosen as secretary. Ne said. ‘Back people have heen conditioned to be cautious but until we can organise ourseives and sav this is what we want we will always be ignered.'

Councillor Sybii Spence. who was unable to be at the meeting sent 3 message of supnert stressing Séetions would heip unify tne party by making the party take seriously issues of concern to Biack peopie.

The onew Fiack Sectien intends to take the debate on Black Sections inte the .Distriet Party and to bui.d supoert for tne Campaien te Reinstatce Ar. r Khan and kevin Scally. i

policies by District Party.

The next meeting of the Birmingham Black Section wil be on Sunday 5 October, 5 - 7 pm in the Council House. All Black Labour Party membefs are welcome.

_Birmingham B23, :384 3830.

i The Labour Party

For more

information |

about Birmingham Black Sec-—:

tion contact:

C'lir O21 449 8530

Chairperson: Khan, Tel:

Secretary: Alton 5 Oak Drive, Erdington,

tel: 021

| |

Amir:

Burnett, °

Sos RACISME

Launched in france in 1984 to counter the growth of racist activities and outrages in that country, SOS Racisme is the biggest antiracist initiative in Europe.

Since its foundation, it has _Mushroomed into a mass movement that has won the support of broad

layers of French society. It has been especially successful amongst youth.

Now a delegation from SOS Racisme, along with a Swedish member of the International Bureau of the

International Federation of SOS Racism organisations, is to visit Britain.

The delegation will be visiting

London to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street. Then it goes to Birmingham, Sheffield and Newcastle upon Tyne

before the visit culminates in a major Manchester event on 12 October.

The Campaign Against Racism and Fascism Birmingham (CARF) is hosting the visit to Birmingham. A large number of anti-racist and Black organisations are involving

in the planning:

Sunday § October —~ evening reception

of delegation at the IWA Centre, 346 Soho Road, Handswortn.

Monday 6 October - daytime meetings with active anti-racists, victims of immigration laws, of racist

attacks etc. Visits to advice centres etc. Evening public meeting at Carrs Lane Church Centre. Tuesday 7 October ~ Monday. Evening social Public House, Handsworth. will be available from Trades Council.

Wednesday 8 October - leaves Birminghan.

daytime as at New Inns

Tickets Birmingham

delegation

Sponsors and finance for the

visit are urgently needed. Contact CARF c/o Sirmingham Trades Council, 7 Frederick Street, Birmingham Bl SHE,

Transport ~ the need

for party policy

Any articie on Public Transport nowadays is out of date before it is written so fast are things changing under the 1985 Transport Act. However, mow is as good a time as any to review the local situation, in particular the question of Labour's involvement in the Passenger Transport Authority (Joint ‘Board) after deregulation on 26 - October.

The taking up of places on the _Joint Board was originally agreed to protect services (‘maintain ‘the basic integrity of the network‘ in the District Party policy document) ‘and jobs (at the request of the :trade unions). The first of these has been largely achieved. By setting “the maximum budget available under ‘rate capping! we now have, surprisingly, enough money to subsidise just about all the non-commercial services currently running. This

would not have been possible with the Tories' proposed budget which ‘woulod have been we not been there.

implemented had

‘the

However the ioss of jobs in cutting the Passenger Transport Executive bus operation down to its commercial size has been severe. Where it might have been expected that workers would be re-employed to run tendered services this has not been totally true. This is because managements of all companies are using the threat of competition to secure the abandonment of previous working conditions and practices in order to cut costs both to win tenders and run ‘profitable’ routes. Thus, objectively, the Tory Act will be successful in reducung costs to the ratepayer of Public Transport. But as usual the costs will be met by the “terms of lost conditions, and, on mini-buses, wages. _ However, the

workforce in

trade unions, or at least their! officers, are urging us to remain on the Authority and, indeed, to take seats on the Board of the commercial company, west Midlands Travel, which the PTA will wholly own. This is difficult to resist because we know it would be worse under but not bad enough to get the b cades erected.

Other complications come and go. The latest is over Travelcard. Just as we were congratulating ourselves on achieving a bus ane rail travelcard to maintain some integration at only 25% above the cost of the bus-only travelcard that West Midlands Transport will issue, then we discover that it won't be valid on subsidised services unless run by WMT. This means, for example, that you won't be able to use a travelcaré on the Number one service through Moseley on a Sunday as it will be run by Solihull Motors!

So what of the future? New problens are likely to. arise after January when companies will be able to de-register routes they have found commercially unviable. Unless there is a sufficient reserve of money to replace them by tendered services they will disappear altogether.

But by far the biggest problem will be next year's budget (1987/88). Although the Executive have submitted” an expenditure plan for £61.3 million, the Government have set a limit of £55.21 million, the same in cash terms as this year. With most of the money already committed, including pension payments and bus and rail.

subsidies, the only ‘soft’ item in the budget is concessionary fares - the free Senior Citizens

travel or the haif-fare children’s”

travel. Dick Knowles! pledge, sorry promise, to use city money to protect Birmingham free passes will not cover the whole County area.

However, before these or any other issues (splitting: WMT, privat~ isation?) arise I hope we will have a@ party organisation at county level. As someone committed to councillors being the implementers of party policy, having“ to make up our own as we go along, as with the PTA's policy statement, has been unwelcome, if necessary. I hope we can all make suré the party hierarchy moves quickly to set

-it up so party members, including

rany-and-file trade unionists, can rightfully deternine transport pe.icies in the West Midlands. therwise we could be so busy driving the bus we won't realise when it's

et off.

Stewart Stacey, Birmingham's rember on Transport Joint ‘Ro member.

West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority

WEST BELFAST - SINN FEIN COMMANDS CLEAR SUPPORT

For a number of years, Birmingham Trades Council has sent a delegate on the Troops Out Movement delegation to Belfast. Similarly, it has a policy which holds that there “can only be a working class solution to the situation in the north of that country based on the withdrawal of British troops. The purpose of the delegation is to allow people fron Britain to see for themselves the situation in Belfast. Below, ‘Briefing’ prints

and edited version of Roger Kline's repor

delegation.

‘ back to Trades Council on this August's

Getting to Belfast meant a twelve

a three vehicle convoy ef two RUC

to mark the introduction of internment

hour coach and boat journey via armoured Land Rovers separated 15 years ago. Some 15,000 took ‘Stranraer and Larne. The timing by a British Army Land Rover with two part, with many more lining the of the visit was during the fifteenth sharpshooters om top. Streets. The march was heavily anniversary of internment and came at Ali three were heavily in evidence policed with hundreds of armed a time when tension was very high on our visit. Two comments are soldiers along the route, three - both between the Catholic and worth making. The first is the helicopters overhead and army foot Protestant communities and between indifference affected by the popula- ‘patrols swarming over catholic them both and the police and army. tion through which these patrols -housing estates the morning before

The ‘loyalist marching season’ passed, at least in daylight. No-one the march. The mood was very tense

had been underway for several weeks and dozens of catholic homes had been seriously attacked. Provisional Sinn Fein had stepped up its campaign

stopped to asked directions; no child asked to be helped across the road, The RUC presence was

clearly a token one es far as normal policing:

-indeed, especially as many thought the |

Army and RUC might try to show militant protestants they were ‘even— handed' after the attempts to stop a

against contractors servicing the in catholic areas is concerned. couple of orange parades. British Army and Ulster Freedom our first evening in Belfast In the event, the march, led Fighters (a protestant paramilitary marked the anniversary of the intro- by Sinn Fein Councillors and Gerry group) was warning catholic workers duction of internment, which left ‘adams MP and the wives of political of the consequences of going ta hardly a family in West Belfast prisoners, was extremely disciplined. work in ‘protestant’ areas. untouched. Huge bonfires were lit over” The final rally was entirely ringed As someone who had never been an area of several square miles. by troops standing on Saracen armoured te northern Ireland before, I felt No violence whatsoever was observed by cars with helicopters trying to very nervous. ‘ys until the early hours of the drown out the speeches.

1309 people were on the delegation

isimple, of six men The third is

morning when army vehicles tried to

cwas taking part in the annual march

In Britain, the struggles against

Delegate to Belfast.

with a number of trade unionists, ‘break up a disco in a park on the the show trials, plastic bullets including a SOGAT father of chapel Falis Road. Then a hail of bricks and and so on are presented as of interest from the Sun/News of the World pottles hit the Land Rovers. No only to a minority. Sinn Fein is in Fleet Street. Also included shops, houses or other buildings ‘made out to be a fringe organisation were miners and miners wives from were touched. Plastic pullets were which only gains support by terror. Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, - 'gired and we decided our own safety : we «were not in Belfast long “gouth Wales and North Staffordshire. loverrode any role as observers. We ‘enough to gain any in-depth insight The entire delegation were taken, ~ went back to our digs. One of our into how correct is Sinn Fein's as the first official visit, to hosts was wrongfully arrested. analysis of the situation. Nor leok at the Divis flats. This barrack A heavy programme of talks and were we able to do a detailed public like group of flats makes even discussions had been arranged with Sopinion poll as to exactly what Birmingham's housing problems seem a variety of organisations, The ithe catholic population thought of the small. Huge rats, a sewerage system main points to emerge were: British troops, the RUC, or, for ‘that doesn’t work, dangerous asbestos Trade Unions: ichat matter, of Sinn Feine and shoddy electrics have led to * However difficult an’ issue it We did not have the opporsur a vigorous residents campaign to- nay be to raise in unions, it needs to visit protestant areas of the have the entire complex pulled to be raised, not just out of solidar- city, not least because our hosts down. This campaign which has now -even ity but out of self-interest. Ireland were terrified of ‘eing identified got the support of the British Town a testing ground for methods as catholics in those areas. and Country Planning Association looks later usec or the mainland. Nevertheless, we saw enough, likely to succeed. > Job dis in Belfast ‘asked enough questions, — talked The house I stayed in was a2 is especially severe. ‘in enough hones and clubs, to know new, if smail, council house. Much Plastic Bullets: jthat the struggles against the of Belfast's older housing resembles * Plastic Builtets are not ‘British State, and support for Birmingham's inner city areas, they kill. We saw sixty fired on ;Sinn Fein appear to conmand clear though the houses are smaller, our first night. People are regularly ‘majority support in the catholic while the council estates are built on ‘killed and injured by these dullets.: ‘parts of West Belfast. That is similar lines to those in Birmingham. = They are part of a range of weapons ishown not only by the Councillors One interesting fact was that ifirst tried in Ireland and then! ‘and MPs they elect. It is shown a number of houses left back doors used on the mainland. by the near unanimous views We “perranently unlocked - perhaps iShow Trials: igathered on our four day visit.- a reflection of the close nature of i* The use of ‘supergrasses’ to H Many British Trade Unionists . the conmunity. convict Large numbers of ‘terrorists’: Istall believe that what happens | eel The first and dominant impression sis increasingly discredited as ‘in Belfast should be of . little:- ‘of Belfast is the presence of armed jthe nature of the bribes and bullying concern to us in Birmingham. Some of. police and soldiers. It is hard lwhich produce these ‘witnesses’ is those who think it does matter are. to appreciate what this means without ‘revealed. . lafraid to raise what can be an. going to Belfast. There are no l+ For many years the judeicial ‘unpopular issue. ‘pobbies’ on patrol. Patrols take tsystem in the north has been criticis- : I would recommend participation, three forms. The first is a couple ‘ed - biased protestant judges, in next year's Troops Out Delegation | of Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) - ~~ ‘the use of confessions, alleged to anyone in those categories. | policemen, armed and accompanied torture, no-jury trials. There What has happened in Belfast sine ‘by a patrol of five British soldiers are parallels with some of the “1969 has profound implications - moving cautiously through housing _-trials in the miners' strike, espec~ for Birmingham in the years to estates and shopping arcades. The ially those after Orgreave. cc ccanngancecegiel igecond-is an army patrol pure and --:. But the highlight of the visit ‘Roge: ine, Birmingham Trades Council

CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS -

HOW BIRMINGHAM VOTED

When jiooking ot the national list of prioritised resolutions, the striking theme is nuctear policy. 394 of the general resolutions are concerned with nuclear energy. If nuciear defence is incsuded the totai becomes 4 Apart from the support for issues such as

education, welfare and

health, the environment, the other areas

getting a lot of constituency support were: South Azrica, wenen's rights and low pay. How did Birninghan

fir into this overall picture?

Firstly, om the negative side, Small Heath, Perry Barr, Erdington and Yardley did not manage to get any resolution into the handbook. “With over ty different issues

rv osurprise wi be continue to support

even bi if Sparkbrook their amendment

Besides t the other CLFs wer iebaston - 362 power; Hodge Hill - renationalisine privatised ings pudiic services; Nerthfieid - retaining the British ¢ industry in public

sons issue, © resotutions

Kevin Scally

going to leave all the campaigning

be, affecting this area and

received sizeable | support constituencies nationally. ation will be needed to ese problems around, along with struggles in the workplace ere was no

Birmingham. mention but

mention of women’s rights no mere, vy, Birminghan can't cover g, but with tnose four constituencies nct sending on there is plenty of lef:

deiepates to conference

ted in iine witn the policies expressed, we could see a good sprinkling of left delegates from Birmingham this year.

taken up in the resolution booklet, it work to the Trades Council? Both

doesn't look food for Birmingham iow pay and transport are, or soon tenead.

lif a third of its constituencies

don't get a mention. Apparentiy the

Er dineton resolution was blocked

because of non-payment of fees, but Jonst2 tuency Resoiution Number Page they mafe amends by sending a strong - = anendzer. cailing for US bases 1 out of Britain and Britain out 36 ip cf NATO. The sacond thing of nate is Attendance at GCs 2 ya that Birminghay is the only city uciear power 355 238 apart from Liverpoo! where strong Pole 361 too opposition te expuisions is expressed. Re-nationalisation 389 te Tnis opposition is, of course, Public ownership 401 103 centred on the kKnan/Scaliy case of car industry

with resolutions supporting these I>migration control sos 129 two comrades fron Ladywood and lic Crder Bill 518 i Selly Oak. Then there are anendments

from Ladywood, Edgoaston, Hodge

Hill, Hala Green, cry Barr and

surprise surprise, Sparkbrook!

NEC SLATE

It is important that the elections for the National Executive Committee NEC) at this years party conference

should shift the NEC to the left.

ownership; Sparkbreck - fer fair Therefore, ‘Briefing’ is calling im centrois; Hail Green for votes for the following conrades ~ opposing the Public Order Bill; in these elections

nd Suttor Coldfield - any member

can at

sent a —_ tax. 9 The

were: Selly Cak

women's rights: against nuclear fewer: anc Yardiey - public ownership fer smali firms

Constituency section:

Women's Section:

——E—e—e—eE—eeesSe

around Telecom, Tony Benn 'Briefing' supports the Although the Birmingham resolutions Eric Heffer slate agreed by National

and amendments were deeply affected

by the Khan/Scally issue, it is Audrey Wise interesting to look at the areas Jo Richardson not covered. First is the Irish

question. With such a large Irish community in the city and a history of campaigning in the area by the _Labour Committee on Ireland and others, this must be the first year for some time that no resolution or amendment has been sent. Is this a reflection of the impact ef the Angio-Irish Accord? The LCI will certainly try to reverse this state of affairs next year. Then there 2s nothing on South Africa. Are Birmingham parties

Russell Profitt :Dennis Skinner Narendra Makanji

Treasurer:

Gavin Strang MP

Women's Conference which is

Diane Abbott Frances Morrell

Clare Short Margaret Beckett Joan Maynard

“NOW YOU HAVE TOUCHED THE WOMEN, YOU HAVE STRUCK

A ROC Women's anti-pass campaign song, 1956.

The recent coring gether of wonen in Birmingham to morate Azania Women's Day and the anniversary of internment in did) much to hightight the sinisarities of those struggles, The common fact felt by those African and = Irish women present was that it is enly in the battle to end national and class oppression that the emancipation of women in those countries can be meaningfully fought for.

Joyce Diseko of the ANC reminded us of the ‘oppression, discrimination and exploitation’ of her people at the hands of Botha’s apartheid regime and international capitalism. Her message was clear: the fight against racism is international. Those who ao not fight acquiesce by their siience,

Like Joyce, the speaker from SWAPO Women's Council and an exArmagh prisoner Ann Doyle reported increased use of torture and viollations against women's bodies. In southern frica, women were being abused and even raped by soldiers and police. Joyce spoke of one mother of three who was raped in front of her young children. She likened the current situation there to that in Vietnam when defeated US

:treops abused countless woren and ichildren.

Sisters from SWAPO described the sightmare situaticn that exists in their country wkere South African soidiers outnumber population by six te one. Kape, torture and political repression is so rife that thousands of women have been forced into exile, mainly to Angola and Zambia. But, whether abroad or at hore, the majority of wonen actively support cr are organised

by St weren's Council ich was set up in 1929 to ensure ‘women's full perticivation in the struggie.’

These sisters reminded us that Namibia's coloniat economy 1s dominat~ ed by British quiti-nationa: companies greedy for easy plunder of Naribia's rich resources. One of the wenen asced ' the women, the Black peopie a unempicyed ef Britain actually cr have the ronds mi Namibia at such a rrice?’

The stark realities of British repression in Ireland were brought home by Ann Doyle, herself incarcer—

fated by our government three tines. /The first was when she was only

fifteen and was piczxed up during the internment swoops into nationalist areas. She noted that most of those interned were never proved to have any republican links but yet some were locked up for almost two years before being acquitted. This system

of British ‘justice’ must be the envy of many repressive regimes.

The woren prisoners of Armagh have now been transferred to the new ‘super prison' Maghaberry but

even with ‘the best security availabie anywhere in Europe! the British authorities continue to harrass

and intimidate prisoners and visitors alike by continual strip searching.

It seems that, like the authorities in Scuth Africa, Britain has found tnat neither iaws nor buliets can StOp women in struggte. Like ali other bullies, the British government has resorted to humiliation and vioiation in an attempt te silence They do not realise tha: it is their own huranity which has been degraded in tne process. Ann Doyle echoed the feelings of ali those present when she reminded us that racism and sexism are part of a leng process that enables us to be divided and ruled: ‘That's how imperialism works, playing one off against another and it's tine we woke up to that fact.!

(The Conference was Birmingham Women and Iretand and Birminghan Black Sisters, It was sponsored by Lapour Women and Irejand}

organised by

Maggie Robertson, Birninghan LI,

REA + ta] Photo: Joanne O’Brien/Format

ANC SOLIDARITY RALLY 30 September, 7 pm

Church Centre, Carrs Lane {in City Centre) Speakers include: Paul Robeson Jnr Solly Smith (ANC rep in Britain) Christine Crawley MEP George Botton Sid Platt men

For more information contact: 25 Essex St, BS 4TR Tel: (O21-) 692 1765.

Sinn Fein Councillors to tour Birmingham

As mentioned in last month'e ‘Briefing’, the Labour Committee on Ireland is organising a visit by a delegation of Sinn Fein councillors deawn from the nearly one hundred who have been elected throughout Ireland. The councillors will visit London, Sheffield, Manchester and Birmingham in the week 18 to 25 October. Manchester City Council and some London bercughs have alreacy agreed to official receptions.

The main object cf the tour is to have more in depth discussions with councillors and others invoived in local political activity in Britain than has been possible in previous, more hurried visits.

It is hoped to set up meetings

about Plastic Bullets, Housing, the Irish as an ethnic minority and strio searching, to name just some of the important subjects which relate to this visit. If you can assist in setcing up meetings contact Anita Richard: on 236 2380 (daytime) or 523 3603 (home). Counciilor Pam Dean is co~ordinat~ ing the visit along with the Local committees of the Labour Committee on Ireland and Labour Women and Ireland. She can be contacted at

Fighting for the battleground of the Labour Party

Labour Party activists often see the party's rules and constitution as poring and the preserve of bureaucrats. While there is a Jot of truth in this view, the constitution and its use lor abuse} have a great effect on who controls the party and thus, to some extent, how near we are to socialism. For this reason, we must take note of any proposed changes which might alter the fundamental balance of power in the party. Three such changes are looming and all will be discussed at this year's party conference: the creation of a Nationat Constitutional Committee; the removal of effective accountability

from the reselection process and Labour

a series of changes in the Party Young Socialists.

The establishment of the National Constitutional Committee (NCC) is

intended to take effect before Christ-.

mas. It is designed to make party discipline easier to impose. If the NCC had the power to discuss the interpretation of the party's rules, if it was allowed to discuss issues ‘concerning party organisations not just individual members, if it was not packed with trade union representatives when its purpose is to deat with discipline and constituency

members, then ght be acceptabie. Unfortunately, the NEC8s constitutional

amendment csnnot itself be amended. Therefore the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy is suggesting the mode: emergency resolution printed

with this article.

Then the NEC intends to propose, iprobably in 1987 or 1988, another constitutional amendment to replace ithe present system of reselection tof parliamentary candidates with ta new one designed to effectively ‘end genuine accountability. No Longer jwill General Committees in constituenieies which monitor their MPs work fon a monthly basis, have any say lin the selection of candidates. In ithis way, local trade unionists also ‘face a less of influence. No-one ciaims the present system is perfect. ‘It still results in the selection of far teo many white, siddle ciass mer. But the impact of one member, one vote would potentially be to give MPs a job for life. After the introduction of mandatory reselection in 1979, the right has chailensed it at every party conference. If the 192 resolutions on nuclear pewer are to have any influence whatsoever, if party conference decisions are to mean anything, then constituency parties must have some control over “their MPs and mandatory reselection must be defended.

The NEC is also proposing to this year's conference the principle of = changes in the structure of the party's youth organisation, the Labour Party Young Socialists (LPYS). Some of these changes can be welcomed, such ‘as youth trade union delegates to _the party's youth conference. Others are dubious. Why should student Labour clubs have delegates to regional and national conferences when their youth members are already potential LPYS members? But worst of all is the idea of reducingt the upper age limit of the LPYS from 25 to 2i.

“same number of

the Council House with further ideas and suggestions. Since the tour is costing a lot of money, donations and offers of funding will be more than welcome.

This is an a@mission by the right

wing that they are incapable of winning a poiiticat debate with supporters of ‘Militant’.

Mike Hobday, Solihull CLP.

Model Emergency Resolution for Labour Party Conference.

‘This Conference notes the decision ef the NEC to propose a National Consultative Committee {NCC) without prior consultation with affiliated organisations, and calls on the National Executive Committee to put before this Conference a range of options regarding its compesition and powers. The options must include separate options providing for: 1. the constituencies to have the representatives as the trade unions: 2. the NCC to have the hear appeals concerning:

powers to

a. all discipiimary matters decided by the NEC; b. the rejection of applications

for membershir:

c. the interpretation of the rules and constitution.

d. the rights cf atl groups of Labeur Party members campaigning within the party:

e. the refusal to endorse candidates.