WHO'S TO BLAME? The Labour Party will go into one of its periodic bouts of self-examination after the likely massive drop in the Labour vote in the by-elections in Walsall, Workington and Newcastle.
First in the line of fire will be the Almighty. His November weather is always a favourite with the right wing. Their second option is to blame the working class- Labour voters aparenc (as compared to the political fanatics who turn out for the Liberals or Tories).
The more politically sophisticated will doubtless focus on 'the confusion' brougut about by tne standing or une socials! Worker candidates, or of "Walsall man' himself - shop keeper Sidney Wright. But these excuses just will not wash.
Labour is heading for a defeat in the next general election, and it has nothing to do with the weather, or "natural apathy une attitude of the working class toward electoral support for Labour reflects the two and a half years' betrayal since that historic downfall of Heath. The only programme which Callaghan can now pusn to retain his support in the trade unions and the electorate is to keep the Tories out'.
Danger This is the danger which the Labour leaders use as a yoke to harness the Labour and trade union lefts into support for the Government's policies - a yoke which the lefts find easy to bear. They understand as well as ine covernment une political dangers to their own position of mass action round socialist policies.
So whatever their opposition to particular policies - witness their support for ine November acuon against une cur. for example - the lefts speak with one voice, that of Callaghan and Healey, in declaring: "Hold back the struggle. Keep the cores outa This cop-out by the lefts creates both the need and opportunity to build a left wing in the unions and the Labour Party rather than the class collaboration of the This class struggle left-wing in the mass organisations must be built with all those militants who. whatever their different political positions, are prepared to fight for mass action against the policies of the Labour Government. Labour Party itself. Candidates who dedicate their campaign to building such action against the policies that have produced mass unemployment, declining living standards and the run-down of the social services must be supported.
But the party apparatus is very aware of the explosive impact of such a campaign waged by an official candidate. That is why the Tribunites refuse to mount such a campaign. Similarly, the Party candidates — tied to the coat tails of the left bureaucrats - have all the disdavantages of Labour's reformist programme and none of the advantages of the audience of millions that the Labour Last week we ended an assessment of the Scottish Labour Party by examining ine quit wnien existed Party politically dominates.
Tactics return of a Labour Government general election as the mass party of the working class, support and fight for candidates independent of the Labour Party who consistently play their part in organising such a fight back. In the first instance, that must mean that all bodies fighting for those policies locality are JIM SILLARS - launched massive anti-left campaign with full assistance of media So, while militants must support the united front from below. it will be necessary to fully involved in electoral campaigns, from cuts committees, women's groups, and ant-racis committees, to strikers and union bodies.
• The Socialist Worker candidates ignore these vital forms of organisation in favour of their campaign to build the Socialist Workers Party. Their tactics rely on the classic pattern of all ultra-lefts - the They think it is possible to jump over the stage of winning the base of the trade unions and Labour Party - the mass organisations of the working class without confronting the reformist leadership of the class for unity in action. But only this tactic can succeed in proving to workers in practice the bankruptey of their traditional leaders.
The IS does not represent the only alternative. But it represents part of it. That is why it is correct to call for a vote for the IS against Labour candidates in Walsall and Newcastle.
The blame for the humiliations suffered by Labour at the polls rests entirely on the backs of the Government and their trade union lieutenants, Murray, Scanlon and Jones. Only those who break with their policies can claim to be 'fighting to keep out tne tories Steve Potter