bh Saarn

THE LEFT SHOULD BACK SOCIALISM At the time of writing the alternative programme which left M.P.s have been working on for some time has not. been published, Neither has a definite decision been announced about prescription charges, The newspapers are full of stories that Jennie is to resign because the decision to impose the charges has been taken, One malicious report in the Evening Standard of January 10 suggested that Mr. Wilson wants Jennie Lee to resign because this would prove his seriousness to the foreign bankers, Clearly we are on the eve of big events, The Government is now backing the phoney scheme to persuade - orkers to work longer hours without more pay. On the other hand Rritain's two biggest unions have rejected Government attempts to interfere with their wage claims — the AEU also specifically rejecting the "I'm backing Britain" campaign. The left has to do two main things in this situation: firstly, it must avoid at all costs being involved in drawing up a rival capitalist solution to the present economic crisis; and secondly, it must seek to brinr about a state of affairs in which the might of the millions of individual merbers of the trade unions and Labour Party is brought into play. The experience of being caupht out by calling for devaluation should not be forgotten: today everyone knows that devaluation every day is causing a higher and higher cost of livinr. The demand for socialist measures must be inserted into the great discussion which is sure to follow on from the announcement of Government cuts. A chance to mobilise - a fight against the Government presents itself over busmen's case.Gunter'@ arrogant threat to use the Price and Incomes lepislation against the TGWU over the municipal busmen's pay award should be met head on. Members of the TGWU should call upon their union executive to organise a national fight on this issue, The rest of the movement must denounce Gunter's threats and pledge solidarity with the TGWU. A programme for the left needs two essential ingredients: firstly the participation of the largest number of rank and file members; and secondly, it must be conceived in struggle. The prograrme drawn up by the left M.P.s should be a basis for discussion rather than a finished programme, During the course of the year, at union conferences, at the forthcoming conference of the Campaign for a Democratic Party, at the workers control conference in Nottingham, and at specially convened conferences a prorgrarmatic alternative to Wilsonism must be thrashed out. This programme should then presented for adoption by the TUC conference and the Labour Party. Whatever form the inevitable struggle between the busmen and the Government takes (we hope it will be in the form of a national stoppage but that is a matter for the TGWU militants to struggle for) the left must organise effective solidarity action. Committees of support should be organised in all major towns and every left organisation and journal should champion the busmen's case, It is to be hoped that this leads to the first ma‘or mass action against Wilson's anti-working class policies since the seamen's strike.