WHO said this? '...we must go on all-out attack against the government's policies. For instance, we should give a lead to our local councillors not to implement Tory impoverish the lives of our people... Il that means a dozen Clay Cross councils across the and government, good and well.' Tony Benn? Hardly, his speeches are always more ambiguous. The Challenge? No, but it might have been. It was in fact Margo MacDonald, Senior Vice President of the SNP, in an interview in the Daily Record.
MacDonald is a member of the formed SNP left-wing tendency Group. The 79 Group calls for an independent Scottish socialist republic control.
Collapse The appearance in the SNP for the first time of an organised, public left comes in the wake of the collapse of devolution and the Tory election victory.
SNP lost nine of its eleven MPs but retained a solid 17 per cent of the vote. represents a section of the SNP leadership who have drawn the pertinent conclusions.
Says MacDonald: 'Let's face it, the May election drew lines clearly — we all know where we stand now. First, the support for devolution came from the working class — the middle class Nationalists and the Tory converts vanished into the "No" voting booths. Second, Scotland voted overwhelmingly Labour.' The response of the 79 Group has been a left turn: "There is only one class in Scotland which will go for independence, working class — independence, like every other policies which will the fired welng former editor of Socialist newiy the workers' At the general election the The 79 Group academic.
and that is the social advance, can only be won in the class war, MacDonald argues.
The Group has probably no more than 250. It is very much the creation of a stratum in the leadership based on intellectuals who are populist strategy outtank labour in massively proletarian Scotland. These include Steven Maxwell, SNP publicity director and fellow of the "Royal MARGO MacDONALD: eyes left International Affairs. one-time Labour Party leftist turned prominent The emergence contradictory development. Demagogy about Clay Cross and class war could undoubtedly mobilise mass working class action against the Tories. Kennedy is capable of taking to the streets, and indeed led an illegal march down membership of take fright.
seeking Institute of Defection Indeed, from the SNP 1o is the largest Ambitious And Gavin Kennedy, the SNP hierarchy, traditional Group is a democrats Stirling Donald Stewart, (mayor) Princes Street in Edinburgh to protest at the shelving of devolution. But it remains to be seen how far the 79 Group leaders go before they One is not hopeful of people like Maxwell who can say: 'It is probable that an independent Scotland would consider that a balance of Scottish interests required her to continue her present communications and reconnaissance roles in the Western defence system.
left-sounding phrases could not only outflank Labour but be used to contain genuine rank and file radicalisation of the SNP. Already this year has seen a small defection help create Republican Socialist League. Though tiny with perhaps only thirty members — the SRSL _explcHa grouping to appear since 1968. It plans to produce a Scottish left-wing newspaper.
The activities of the 79 Group have been channelled into. running in the elections for senior party posts at the SNP conference, which opens on 13 September. This indicates both the Group's fear of expulsion and a preoccupation , bureaucratic infighting rather leine attempt to mobilise the party rank and They are opposing the dominant faction in which is based on the small town petty-bourgeois and leaven of machine-politics ex-MPs. Party president and geriatric Dr. Robert Melntyre is a graduate of council Westminster a former Lord of Stornoway, is to have an even greater chance to send their offspring to university, freedom for the poor to compete for a place at in college against even greater odds The leaders of the National Union of Students, School Students, and trade unionists involved have a clear responsibility to mean explain the class nature of this attack and and fight it with all the resources at their disposal. If they do not, the Tory principle that education is a privilege in the and right established. 'It's an exclusive little Comprehensive for the children of Ministers.
*Can Khomeini be halted? — on-the-spot report from Iran * A mass daily newspaper for the workers' movement. Is it on editorial statement on building an anti-war All in your 16-page Socialist Challenge next week. To be sure foretront homosexuality in Scotland.
Scottish Denthin Henderson, Arch Douglas Scottish independence.
Tories.
were its most ardent supporters. The most conference is a victory for current of some sort will emerge.
ambitious, leader Provost the struggle for s united front classic Thatcher government.
advance.
the National Union of NUPE; 23 September -phone 01-359 8371.
will be clearly first 7.45pm in capacily). campaign).
intringement Cierman German Embass Repression WANDSWORTH irso wareless is desperately international activity can spare. Books fo POLITICAL SUJIC CrocrIcuce day, 50p evening only petty-bourgeois reactionary. He voted for the reintroduction of hanging and has been in the opposing legalisation These forces have begun to retreat back to their pre-devolution position of independenceright-wing demagogue the ex-MP for Aberdeenshire East, is chief proponent of this view. For fundamentalists such as he, the SNP must present the facade of being a multi-class, non-ideological party open to all who want In practice, of course, this is nothing but a _abstaining in the fight against the However, retreating behind a 'hard' line on independence, the right wing will be able to blame the devolution fiasco on the left who outcome at the SNP the right wing.
Nevertheless, the objective political situation in Scotland will ensure that a left nationalist For revolutionary Marxists, especially those who thought that they conld now forget abon! the national question, the necessity to avoid a sectarian stance to the young workers sttracter to this current will be of prime importance in against WHAT'S LEFT Fnasy berore podica0on. All payents campaigns against hospital and IMG TKADE UNION traction meetings: 8 • NUT, NATFHE: 9 Septembe ASTMS; 30 Septemb -NALGO, CPSA. For details write to Centre o HULL UNIVERSITY FI Society and Socialist analente supporters oresent ae ratriot dame UNTH Fri Hall, Hull Universit Cottingham Rd, Hull. Tickets (75p) from any S seller, Socialist Books, or ring Angie 441822 'NO CUTS in the Health Service' , London SEI Speakers: David Townsend (suspended AHA personal Janet Maguire (ASTMS, sec.
FREE Annette Bahner! Young SPD meme arrested in cast berlin tor enquiring into democratic rights Fast Lobby and demonstration East - Ipm Organised by International RAR Leopards , disco Thur 6 Sept St Anne's Hall. Venn St. SW4. £l SOCIALIST feminist and child urgent) › months. Phone Oldham 692 1462 needed vital field co Socialise Challenge, PO Box 50, London NI PRINTSHOP . London, needs would be useful ass et. Applicants must havenad design . Printshop experieno desien a nouen crans. gIvel. Aoblication! to: lallente crrint. ro Boxou. London NIr IRELAND: The Issues at Stake. Revolutionary Maysenous Sept . The City University, St John Street EC1. Speakers: Frank Richards. Phil Murohi 'Patriot Game' film. Entrance £1 al Socialist Challenge 30 August 1979 Page 7
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30pm, North Peckham Ther Sed Kent