OUR POLICIES 2 familiar refrain of 'law and order'.
for increased state repression against militants.
Nentent on amiting boat. HOr ultra-left position. mational credibility.
ANL best organised Asian communities in Britain.
And ine community Labour rule.
COnstrUCHOn.
firms the dole queues.
defence of Labour's record won't do that.
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Sociatise Challenge 19 April 1979 page 2 ONE resounding testimony to the success of the Anti Nazi League has been the retreat of the National Front in recent months. That doesn't mean it has disappeared, however, In fact, the NF is using the elections to make a come-back. The NF's propaganda is based very heavily on the theme of "democracy' which it links to the Through this kind of campaign, the NF hopes to undermine support for the anti-fascists and, by isolating them, lay the basis Unfortunately, many on the left are playing into the hands of the CIOCARVASSIN bureaucracy argue against any mass mobilisations which might them, the solution mobilisations lies in the state — that is, in more repression.
Other militants in the anti-fascist movement adopt a rather They ignore the issue of democratic rights which is posed, and concentrate on physically smashing the Front.
The real answer to the renewed fascist mobilisations in the election period is to mobilise the largest numbers on the street demanding that the democratic rights of workers and minorities be defended against the fascist goon squads of the Front.
In Leicester, where the NF is contesting every seat, the first victims of any fascist successes will be the black community. This could be the springboard the Front needs to re-establish its That's why Leicester provides an urgent opportunity to respond on a national scale to the NF's efforts at a renewed offensive. Under these circumstances, it's all the more unfortunate that the - which. after all. was set up to prepare for a general election — is making such a poor showing in organising for Southall should also become a focus for the anti-racist movement. That Tyndall and Webster plan to speak at a meeting in this West London borough can only be a provocation to one of the responded in kind. A mass demonstration on Sunday 22 April will be followed by a half-day strike beginning at Monday lunch-time. The lead given by militant blacks in Southall on how to fight the NF is a lead which the anti-fascist movement in its entirety could do well to follow.
MARGARET Thatcher's 'concentrated' electioneering began in earnest in Callaghan's Cardiff constituency on Easter Monday. Without exception, Fleet Street viewed her radical speech as a break with the middle-of-the-road approach adopted to date. Her newly-discovered attachment to 'old-time socialism' could only have jarred on the ears of many working class militants who have fought hard against Labour's devastating policies in recent In fact, Thatcher was only playing with words. She means nothing other than union-bashing aimed at rank and file militancy. In this situation, Callaghan's plodding defence of Labour's wage-cutting record is managing to whip up a modicum of enthusiasm. He has even had the temerity to herald Labour as the big spenders in social services and as the saviour of jobs.
But keeping out Thatcher's hoodlums can't therefore be equated with lining up with Callaghan. The truth is that official unemployment figures have more than tripled in five years of wiin nundreas or tousanas or unemployed bunding workers. the government has refused to launch a crash programme of house A trade union plan to fight back for jobs wouldn't be based on the collaborators we have seen with government subsidies to the declaring solution. These should be nationalised without compensation.
Furthermore, many pay claims this round have included the 35-hour week. The fight for continued action on this demand can unite wide sections of workers and point the way towards tackling These are the policies which could provide a real match for Thatcher's so-called radical image. And it is by fighting for such policies that the demoralisation and mood of abstention evident amongst some sections of the working class can be tackled. A offersolations that are in the interes Socialist Challe nary sociali m is in crisis. The lea believes that the two vital tasks confronting are: of the Labour Party and the trades unions ts, not of the workers, but of the capitalist them and will offer full support to all those fighting for socialist democrac The inte 5 world pallics, 1 League - which has put the fascists on the retreat in this erests of workers and capitalists are irreconcilable on a world Eve fight for working class unity on an internationa
CHUBBY farmer Jim Prior and multi-company director Sir Keith Joseph are likely to be the government ministers responsible for industry — including union policy — if the Tories win on 3 May. It is not a pleasant prospect, as GEOFF BELL outlines. for Party Tribune committee.
on Wrong address THE comment of the Evening Standard was most authoritative: "The far left are grasping power... by the stealthy process they adopt foothold in the local Labour They gain out and burrow tirelessly, forming secret caucuses and holding committee meetings behind closed doors.' The editorial was discussing events Newham North-east Labour Party which have led to the resignation as Labour candidate of former Group chairperson period (except registered publications like Socialist Challenge or the Daily Mirror!) which advocates support for particular candidate must be declared on the expenses of a candidate in that constituency.
- But a recent ruling by Judg Peter against BrUC leader Phyllis Bowman, arising the Ilford North by-election, went even further. The SPUC leaflet was deemed illegal because it specifically mentioned the Labour candidate's pro-abortion views within an anti-abortion leaflet.
The implication of this ruling is that if campaigning material which aims to highlight candidates views is noi declared on Labour, CP