Mr. Wilson's Christmas Box

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The argument about cuts must still be going on in the Cabinet. But there is no doubt from Mr. Wilson's speech in the House of Commons on Monday that we are to face massive cuts in Government expenditure and the slashing of the social services. The reaction of MPs in rejecting the idea of any cuts in social services at all is very goode It shows that they have not confused by the argument over arms for South africa. However, we strongly suspect that the Christmas recess will be used for high-pwered canvassing by the Cabinet. Every socialist will be pleased that the arms embargo on South africa is to remain in force but there are strong grounds for believing that the press and others misrepresented this whole affair to reduce opposition to cuts in social services. «after featuring the great battle that was going on in the Cabinet, the newspapexs and some Tory M.P.s began to speak of a choice that was facing Labour. This choice being either arms for South Africa or cuts in social services. We think it can be clearly demonstrated that this choite is completely falseg hat the real choice is socialist policies or savage cuts in the living standards (including loss of social swices) of the British people. This is the argument that must be used to answer the Cabinet as they pile the pressure on. It seems that the Government, because it has rejected the socialist option, is being driven into policies that will bring it more and more into conflict with the unions and rank and file Labour Party members. Eyen people like Mr. Woodcokk and certain right-wing members of the executive of the AKU realise that the rank and file will not accept what Mr. Wilson is trying to force on the unions. Thus conditions are very favourable for a fight against the present leadership of the Government and Labour Party. It is up to the left in the trade unions and Labour Party to seek to mobilise for a fight: if they don't all the fine motions in the House of Commons and declarations will amount to nothing. The left should use the Christmas period to organise itself for this fight and this mobilisation.