THE MOVE TO LEFT
Category: PoliticsOn the move to the Left in the Labour movement, Mr Gollan drew attention to the contrast between the measure of Left change in the unions and at the Labour Party conference, and the continuing Right Wing domination of the Shadow Cabinet, the Parliamentary Labour Party, and the Labour Party machine.
What was really at issue in the Labour Party leadership crisis was not just the Common Market, but the whole question of democracy in the Labour Party.
Losing control of conference; decisions, the Right Wing sheltered belling the Tory doctrine of the alleged supremacy of the Parliamentary Party. “As long as the Right Wing grip remains, all Left decisions are at risk.”
The points in the resolution, therefore, were very timely — not only Left policy decisions at the Labour Party conference — but their implementation: the fight for the supremacy of the Labour Party Conference over the Parliamentary Labour Party.
Win Youth
“To the extent that a new Labour Government is compelled to carry out a Left Programme, to that extent imperialism and militarism would be weakened, the power of the City and the trusts loosened, the Tory Party weakened, and the power of the working class and the progressive forces increased.
“All this would be an advance in the direction of Socialism.
“Now more than ever we need to popularize these ideas and this strategy. It is particularly important to attract the youth. The new executive, committee should do all in its power to develop theoretical work on our strategy and the problems of development to Socialism.
“Our strength as a Communist Party rests not only on the fact that we fight for the true national interests of our country of England, Scotland and Wales; but that wTe are a party of internationalism. The independent Communist Party acts in international solidarity for peace, progress and Socialism.
“Only the international Communist movement is the force which on a world scale can combat capitalism.”
Unity Pledge
“The countries of Socialism, the forces of national liberation, and the international working class are the mightiest force, in the world.
“We pledge to do all in our power to promote unity in the world Communist movement, based on independence and solidarity.
“The message of this Congress is UNITY — unity in our Labour movement; unity in the international working-class movement. With unity we will conquer all.”
(Morning Star, November, 1971).