controls to the imposition of the 5% wage freeze, used against the low-paid public sector unions, the Labour government's policies flew in the face of conference decisions. CONTEMPT This contempt with which Labour leaders regard conference decisions cannot be limited to Callaghan. It can be traced back through Harold Wilson's assertion that 'no one is going to dictate to the Labour government' to the early founders of the Party at the turn of the century.
The logic behind the rightwing's position was spelt out sharply by Shirley Williams a few years ago during the 'Reg Prentice affair'. A Labour government, she pointed out, cannot be bound by conference decisions since its role is to rule in the 'national interest' and not in the interests merely of a section of society.
Needless to say, such an attitude has always won the resounding applause of the Tory media who are also dead set on muffling the voice of labour. During the Prentice affair, they were only too willing to band behind the Labour right in witch hunting the Newham North East members simply for demanding that Prentice..... support the Labour Party manifesto. All in the interests of 'democracy' and the 'national interest, of Louise.
WHAT INTEREST?
But just what is this 'national interest' Labour MPs are supposed to protect as opposed to the interests of working people who voted them into office? Just what is this idol Labour MPs are supposed
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