Labour Left Briefing December 1997
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back issues
Below you will find links to all the articles from the December 1997 issue of Labour Left Briefing.
Editorial
The tip of the iceberg
The overall picture is becoming painfully clear to more and more Labour Party members. It’s feelgood sound bites and “hard choices” for the masses, and special favours for the elite.
News and Views
Defend lone parent benefit!
One of the first significant revolts against the Labour Government has come over proposals to cut lone parent benefit. Leonora Lloyd, vice-President London Region MSF, reports.
Pandering to the private sector
Mike Marqusee argues that Tony Blair’s Formula One fiasco was neither cock up nor conspiracy but something subtler, and in the long-run more menacing.
New Labour, New Jobs?
Manuel Codes, Edinburgh South CLP, argues that New Labour can and should start creating employment.
Cosmetic changes to cosmetic testing
Barrington Hayter writes: Although the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) congratulates the Government on taking a small step towards reducing animal suffer-ing, it believes the Government’s "voluntary ban" on cosmetic testing does not go far enough.
U-turn on fox-hunting
Barrington Hayter reports: On 28th November, there should be a massive majority in the House of Commons for a Private Member’s Bill to ban hunting.
Yes, Yes, No
TGWU 1/1148 branch secretary John Perry calls for a Campaign for a People’s London.
Cuts cost lives
Ken Livingstone MP argues the case for adequate funding for London’s Fire Service.
Single Currency will not work
Labour must rethink its economic objectives before deciding to sign up to the Single Currency, argues Dr Brian Burkitt, Pudsey CLP and Senior Lecturer in Economics, University of Bradford.
Police Protection Bill?
Frances Ross examines how cuts in legal aid will increase police brutality.
Labour party
Why did they want to gag the Strasbourg Four?
Last month four MEPs (Hugh Kerr, Ken Coates, Michael Hindley and Alex Falconer) were threatened with suspension for refusing to be gagged about proposals for a new system of electing them. The threats have now been dropped. Here Hugh Kerr and Ken Coates explain why the issue was important.
“That’s how we work”
Celia Foote, until recently chair of Leeds North East CLP, reports on her expulsion from the Labour Party.
Everything to play for
Following last month’s LLB discussion on the future of the left under Partnership In Power (PiP), Tim Pendry (vice chair, Labour Reform) argues for maintenance of the alliances which defeated Mandelson’s NEC candidature.
New Labour, new rules, new opportunities
Christine Shawcroft, chair of the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy, outlines the new rules for the NEC and National Policy Forum.
Things can only get better...
Will McMahon, Secretary of the Network of Socialist Campaign Groups, argues for a new way of deciding the left’s NEC slate and consequently a resolution to its crisis of accountability.
Fly the Red Flag
The Alan Simpson Column. Alan Simpson is the Secretary of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs
Socialist Labour Party - debate
Egotistical intolerance
The much-delayed Second Congress of Arthur Scargill’s Socialist Labour Party (SLP) will, in former member Ian Driver’s opinion, be the reading of its last rites.
LLB warped and unbalanced
Dave Palmer (ex-member LLB editorial board, 1986-1997) and Paul Field (ex-member LLB editorial board, 1991-1997) write.
Establishing a new socialist party
Nick Long from Lewisham Socialist Labour Party describes the SLP’s continuing growth.
Trade Unions
Which way for the UNISON left?
When the Sunday Times wrote of “hard left infiltration” Rodney Bickerstaffe announced an investigation into the Campaign for a Fighting Democratic Unison. Tony Dale, Manchester Unison Branch executive member, reports.
Dockers: planning for mass action
Chris Knight, London Support Group for the Liverpool Dockers, analyses the options facing the Liverpool dockers and their supporters.
Best Value — for big business?
Liz Davies, Islington Councillor, has had a sneak preview of the Government’s plans for local authority services and gave this New Labour horror show a definite thumbs down.
Local Government pay
Civil Service round up
David Pope, PTC DETR Transport London Branch Chair, reviews trade union activity in the Civil Service.
Leading with the left
The Geoff Martin Column, UNISON’s London Region convenor takes a lefty look at life
International
Chile’s less than democratic transition
Why is Frank Field seeking advice from Chilean ministers about “welfare reform”? Sue Lukes, Islington North CLP, decided to ask the Chileans.
Iraq: New Labour fails test
What happened to the ethical foreign policy? Tony Benn MP savages New Labour’s old imperialism.
Abortion in South Africa
Six months after one of the world’s most liberal abortion laws was passed, progress is being made in delivering essential services to South African women. Leonora Lloyd, vice-president London Region MSF, reports.
Oakland witch-hunt
Last month LLB reported on how dockers in the USA, Canada and Japan were refusing to unload a ship called the Neptune Jade in solidarity with the Liverpool dockers.
Mowlam’s dilemma
Brian Campbell, editor of Sinn Fein’s An Phoblacht/Republican News, examines the obstacles to further progress in the Irish peace process.
Picket Cardoso!
This month sees the retrial of Jose Rainha, a national leader of the MST (Brazilian Landless Movement).
Who will speak for Labour on the Euro?
The Michael Hindley Column, Labour's MEP for Lancashire South gives a global perspective
Fighting racism
No room for the Roma?
Jeremy Corbyn MP outlines the plight of the Roma refugees.
Dover’s best and worst
Sally Pollitt, Dover and Deal CLP, reports on the furore surrounding asylum seekers and the National Front’s failed attempt to exploit it.
Onibiyos reunited!
Ed Hall, Secretary, Onibiyo Family Anti-Deportation Campaign, hails a major victory for the anti-deportation movement.
Ozbay family must stay
Reviews
Timidity behind the rhetoric
Mike Phipps reviews Safety First by Paul Anderson and Nyta Mann, published by Granta Books, £9.99 paperback.
Serge forward!
Bob Arnott reviews The Ideas of Victor Serge, edited by Susan Weissman, published by Critique Books.
Periscope
A.O.B.
LLB is an independent voice and forum for socialist ideas in the Labour Party and trade unions. It is managed by an editorial board elected at its AGM. Both EBs and the AGM are open to all supporters. We are happy to offer a right of reply to all members of the labour movement and we welcome criticisms and contributions. All the articles in LLB reflect solely the opinions of the authors, writing in a personal capacity, unless otherwise stated.
To survive and thrive we need the support of our readers. Why not take copies of LLB to sell at your Labour Party, trade union or campaign meetings?
Copy deadline: The next edition will be out for February. Deadline: Monday 12th January. If you wish to contribute please send an email, PC disk or fax. We reserve the right to edit all articles.
Editorial Board: Graham Bash, Tony Dale, Liz Davies, Steve Faulkner, Jenny Fisher, Jon Green, Simon Kennedy, Liz Knight, Leonora Lloyd (Co-Chair), Sue Lukes, Dorothy Macedo (Co-Chair), Mike Marqusee (Political Correspondent), Fiona Monkman, Mike Phipps, David Pope, Jon Rogers, Steve Smith, Alistair Ward (Editor).
Production Team: Graham Bash, Dan Carter, Gary Drostle, Louise Kawakami, Dave Lewney, Leonora Lloyd, Dorothy Macedo, Mike Phipps, David Pope, Paula Smith, John Stewart, Alistair Ward. Web site editor: Chris Croome (chris@atomism.demon.co.uk).
Contact LLB at: PO Box 2378, London, E5 9QU, UK
Telephone: +44 (0) 181 985 6597
Fax: +44 (0) 181 985 6785
Email: llb@labournet.org.uk
home page
back issues
Below you will find links to all the articles from the December 1997 issue of Labour Left Briefing.
Editorial
The tip of the iceberg
The overall picture is becoming painfully clear to more and more Labour Party members. It’s feelgood sound bites and “hard choices” for the masses, and special favours for the elite.
News and Views
Defend lone parent benefit!
One of the first significant revolts against the Labour Government has come over proposals to cut lone parent benefit. Leonora Lloyd, vice-President London Region MSF, reports.
Pandering to the private sector
Mike Marqusee argues that Tony Blair’s Formula One fiasco was neither cock up nor conspiracy but something subtler, and in the long-run more menacing.
New Labour, New Jobs?
Manuel Codes, Edinburgh South CLP, argues that New Labour can and should start creating employment.
Cosmetic changes to cosmetic testing
Barrington Hayter writes: Although the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) congratulates the Government on taking a small step towards reducing animal suffer-ing, it believes the Government’s "voluntary ban" on cosmetic testing does not go far enough.
U-turn on fox-hunting
Barrington Hayter reports: On 28th November, there should be a massive majority in the House of Commons for a Private Member’s Bill to ban hunting.
Yes, Yes, No
TGWU 1/1148 branch secretary John Perry calls for a Campaign for a People’s London.
Cuts cost lives
Ken Livingstone MP argues the case for adequate funding for London’s Fire Service.
Single Currency will not work
Labour must rethink its economic objectives before deciding to sign up to the Single Currency, argues Dr Brian Burkitt, Pudsey CLP and Senior Lecturer in Economics, University of Bradford.
Police Protection Bill?
Frances Ross examines how cuts in legal aid will increase police brutality.
Labour party
Why did they want to gag the Strasbourg Four?
Last month four MEPs (Hugh Kerr, Ken Coates, Michael Hindley and Alex Falconer) were threatened with suspension for refusing to be gagged about proposals for a new system of electing them. The threats have now been dropped. Here Hugh Kerr and Ken Coates explain why the issue was important.
“That’s how we work”
Celia Foote, until recently chair of Leeds North East CLP, reports on her expulsion from the Labour Party.
Everything to play for
Following last month’s LLB discussion on the future of the left under Partnership In Power (PiP), Tim Pendry (vice chair, Labour Reform) argues for maintenance of the alliances which defeated Mandelson’s NEC candidature.
New Labour, new rules, new opportunities
Christine Shawcroft, chair of the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy, outlines the new rules for the NEC and National Policy Forum.
Things can only get better...
Will McMahon, Secretary of the Network of Socialist Campaign Groups, argues for a new way of deciding the left’s NEC slate and consequently a resolution to its crisis of accountability.
Fly the Red Flag
The Alan Simpson Column. Alan Simpson is the Secretary of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs
Socialist Labour Party - debate
Egotistical intolerance
The much-delayed Second Congress of Arthur Scargill’s Socialist Labour Party (SLP) will, in former member Ian Driver’s opinion, be the reading of its last rites.
LLB warped and unbalanced
Dave Palmer (ex-member LLB editorial board, 1986-1997) and Paul Field (ex-member LLB editorial board, 1991-1997) write.
Establishing a new socialist party
Nick Long from Lewisham Socialist Labour Party describes the SLP’s continuing growth.
Trade Unions
Which way for the UNISON left?
When the Sunday Times wrote of “hard left infiltration” Rodney Bickerstaffe announced an investigation into the Campaign for a Fighting Democratic Unison. Tony Dale, Manchester Unison Branch executive member, reports.
Dockers: planning for mass action
Chris Knight, London Support Group for the Liverpool Dockers, analyses the options facing the Liverpool dockers and their supporters.
Best Value — for big business?
Liz Davies, Islington Councillor, has had a sneak preview of the Government’s plans for local authority services and gave this New Labour horror show a definite thumbs down.
Local Government pay
Civil Service round up
David Pope, PTC DETR Transport London Branch Chair, reviews trade union activity in the Civil Service.
Leading with the left
The Geoff Martin Column, UNISON’s London Region convenor takes a lefty look at life
International
Chile’s less than democratic transition
Why is Frank Field seeking advice from Chilean ministers about “welfare reform”? Sue Lukes, Islington North CLP, decided to ask the Chileans.
Iraq: New Labour fails test
What happened to the ethical foreign policy? Tony Benn MP savages New Labour’s old imperialism.
Abortion in South Africa
Six months after one of the world’s most liberal abortion laws was passed, progress is being made in delivering essential services to South African women. Leonora Lloyd, vice-president London Region MSF, reports.
Oakland witch-hunt
Last month LLB reported on how dockers in the USA, Canada and Japan were refusing to unload a ship called the Neptune Jade in solidarity with the Liverpool dockers.
Mowlam’s dilemma
Brian Campbell, editor of Sinn Fein’s An Phoblacht/Republican News, examines the obstacles to further progress in the Irish peace process.
Picket Cardoso!
This month sees the retrial of Jose Rainha, a national leader of the MST (Brazilian Landless Movement).
Who will speak for Labour on the Euro?
The Michael Hindley Column, Labour's MEP for Lancashire South gives a global perspective
Fighting racism
No room for the Roma?
Jeremy Corbyn MP outlines the plight of the Roma refugees.
Dover’s best and worst
Sally Pollitt, Dover and Deal CLP, reports on the furore surrounding asylum seekers and the National Front’s failed attempt to exploit it.
Onibiyos reunited!
Ed Hall, Secretary, Onibiyo Family Anti-Deportation Campaign, hails a major victory for the anti-deportation movement.
Ozbay family must stay
Reviews
Timidity behind the rhetoric
Mike Phipps reviews Safety First by Paul Anderson and Nyta Mann, published by Granta Books, £9.99 paperback.
Serge forward!
Bob Arnott reviews The Ideas of Victor Serge, edited by Susan Weissman, published by Critique Books.
Periscope
A.O.B.
LLB is an independent voice and forum for socialist ideas in the Labour Party and trade unions. It is managed by an editorial board elected at its AGM. Both EBs and the AGM are open to all supporters. We are happy to offer a right of reply to all members of the labour movement and we welcome criticisms and contributions. All the articles in LLB reflect solely the opinions of the authors, writing in a personal capacity, unless otherwise stated.
To survive and thrive we need the support of our readers. Why not take copies of LLB to sell at your Labour Party, trade union or campaign meetings?
Copy deadline: The next edition will be out for February. Deadline: Monday 12th January. If you wish to contribute please send an email, PC disk or fax. We reserve the right to edit all articles.
Editorial Board: Graham Bash, Tony Dale, Liz Davies, Steve Faulkner, Jenny Fisher, Jon Green, Simon Kennedy, Liz Knight, Leonora Lloyd (Co-Chair), Sue Lukes, Dorothy Macedo (Co-Chair), Mike Marqusee (Political Correspondent), Fiona Monkman, Mike Phipps, David Pope, Jon Rogers, Steve Smith, Alistair Ward (Editor).
Production Team: Graham Bash, Dan Carter, Gary Drostle, Louise Kawakami, Dave Lewney, Leonora Lloyd, Dorothy Macedo, Mike Phipps, David Pope, Paula Smith, John Stewart, Alistair Ward. Web site editor: Chris Croome (chris@atomism.demon.co.uk).
Contact LLB at: PO Box 2378, London, E5 9QU, UK
Telephone: +44 (0) 181 985 6597
Fax: +44 (0) 181 985 6785
Email: llb@labournet.org.uk