Reflections on the General Election

This issue of our journal has several items ‘on the results of the General Election - this is no accident, we believe that it is necessary for all socialists to take stock and to examine their tactical and strategic orientation. First of all, one must have a factual basis to work upon and this is what we have asked our correspondents to provide. Secondly, there needs to be a free discussion, unblurred by dogmatic considerations, on the next steps for left-wingers, inside and outside the Labour Party. We hope to help in both respects in our columns. In addition we shell be arranging discussions in certain localities between the staff of the Week and its readers and supporters. In the meantime we ask all our readers to contribute to the discussion - short articles please - on the overall position. Thirdly, there must be a certain amount of empiricism in our approach; we haven't all the information at our disposal. What is more, whether or not the Government's policies will hinder or help the formation of a broad left wing in the labour movement depends upon the subjective responses of a whole layer of people. As we understand it, the great debate which is taking place now in the inner circles of the establishment is whether Britain should prove the seriousness of its intention to solve its economic problems by a tough incomes policy, or by stern deflationary measures, Its sems likely that the former policy will prevail although treasury officials are know to be pressing Mr, Callaghan hard in favour of the latter. Perhaps we will not Ina the outcome of this debate -umtil May 3rd (Budget day). It is also almost certain that the new Labour Government will throw in some measures - increase of taxation on businesses, gambling taxation - to prove that their incomes policy is "fair", This comes out very clearly in the comments of the Stock Exchange Gazette on the result of the election. Nobody denies that the Government will be forced - in the absence of a bold socialist policy - to seek to solve Britain's economic ills at the expense of putting the unions and the workers "in their place", but for left wingers the pace at which the Government proceeds with this and the tactics they use are all important. If we do not understand this question very clearly we can either fall behind a radicalisation of sections of the unions or get isolated. Our paper, which serves no other purpose than that of servicing the formation of a broad left wing current in the labour movement as a whole, on a clear political programme, will do its best to assist the left in working these problems out. Our columns are open - let the debate begin.