Welcome to the June '97 issue of Labour Left Briefing

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[editorial] [news and views] [labour party] [trade unions] [international] [fighting racism] [periscope] [aob]

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Victory belongs to all of us! Labour's landslide was a victory for the whole labour movement and all those who battled Thatcher and Major. Its scale opens up exciting possibilities. Working class hopes, confidence, and expectations will rise.
 

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Sexual apartheid As we approach this years' Gay Pride celebrations, Peter Tatchell says the legal system subjects lesbians and gay men to separate and unequal treatment
Not invited to the Party Disabled people gatecrash Blair at Royal Festival Hall. Kate Adams from Incapacity Action reports
Róisín McAliskey Further details are emerging about the inhuman treatment of Róisín McAliskey
 

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Don't give me no LiP Christine Shawcroft, Chair of the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy, appeals for maximum opposition to the leadership's latest and most fundamental assault on internal democracy
Watch out, there's a social security snoop about And now he's in charge of the government's programme for welfare reform. Mike Marqusee tests Frank Field's capability
Twigg branches out Stephen Twigg, ruthless leader of Blair's bratpack, has entered the Commons. Watch out, this man is a danger to our democracy
A bad start for human rights The appointment of BP Chairman Sir David Simon as Minister of Trade in Europe has been widely criticised by international human rights, trade union and environmental groups. Mike Phipps, Brent South CLP, reports
Anti-abortionists fail to win support Leonora Lloyd, Women's Officer, Ealing Acton and Shepherds Bush CLP
Socialist alternatives? Tony Dale, Manchester Central CLP, examines how candidates to the left of Labour fared in the election and compares their prospects with those of the Labour left.
What, no Hodge?  
Our message to Blair: no peace without Sinn Fein Brian Campbell, editor of Sinn Fein's An Phoblacht/Republican News assesses the prospects for peace following Labour's landslide.
Towards a Scottish Parliament Cathy Jamieson, a member of the Scottish Labour Party Executive, reports on the spectacular results north of the border.
It was labour wot won it LLB interviewed Jeremy Corbyn MP about the future of the left opposition to Blair in and out of Parliament.
Obituary: Rod Fitch, class fighter  
Alternative campaign diary Mike Marqusee surveys the election campaign from Islington North
"Corbyn? No! We're New Labour here" Serial canvasser Don Rocinante reports on the tensions between the Millbank Tendency and the grassroots on the campaign trail
Power-dressers of the world unite! Liz Davies, Chair of Islington Council's Women's Committee, assesses the most "woman-friendly" government in British history
"Bigotry swept away"? A sense of expectation grips large sections of the lesbian and gay community following the election. The feeling that there has been a historic breakthrough was reinforced by the election. For the first time two openly gay MPs will join Chris Smith. Peter Purton, LCLGR National Committee, reports.
Defend our welfare state Former Briefing editor and newly elected MP for Hornchurch, John Cryer, argues that Labour must remain true to its basic belief in universal benefits.
Windfall has shortfalls Last month's LLB editorial urged Blair to stand firm on the windfall tax. Here Michael Furst argues that it is deeply flawed.
A Labour Government?
Kindly behave like one!
Bob Spooner, Leeds NE CLP, asks how Labour will respond to its clear mandate for change.
We elected Labour - not the Bank of England Ken Livingstone MP pans the decision to hand the power to raise interest rates to the Bank of England and suggests a strategy to bridge the looming budget gap.
Target: full employment! Brian Burkitt, Pudsey CLP and Bradford University, outlines the choices facing the new government.
"It's still the economy, stupid!" The Alan Simpson column
 

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UNISON Conference: preparing for life under a Labour government Tony Dale, Manchester Central CLP, reports on issues likely to dominate the conference of Britain's largest union
Lock-out at Aerospace  
Support Southwark strikers Ray Ferris, NATFHE Cut Branch Committee, reports
Strike wave hits FE colleges Further education is in complete crisis after years of cuts, worsening conditions for lecturers and students, mass redundancies and casualisation of the workforce. Dave Palmer, Chair of NATFHE College of North East London branch, reports
MDHC still reeling Chris Knight reports
Trade Union Notebook  
Leading With The Left The Geoff Martin Column
 

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Palestine: what a state Bob Deed, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, looks at the likelihood of an independent Palestinian state.
Turkish left fights state repression Pat Byrne, Streatham CLP, recently returned from a human rights delegation to Turkey, reports on signs that the left is recovering from the dark days following the 1980 military coup.
Tony Blair: a triumph for the French right? By Andrew Coates
Euromarchers demand social justice Alan Thornett reports
New Labour: at the heart of Europe? The Michael Hindley Column, Labour's MEP for Lancashire South gives a global perspective
 

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Asylum rights now! John Stewart, treasurer of the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns assess the prospects of the Labour Government improving rights for refugees.
An appeal from the Winson Green hunger strikers  
Now Straw has Onibiyo case on his desk Ed Hall reports
No beacon of light in the East  
Labour member nominates BNP candidate!  
 

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New Labour, new promotion opportunities, So there, Fishy business, Youth speak, How the mighty are fallen, With friends like these, Fosters out of the laager, Target Westminster!                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
 

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Any Other Business                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
 

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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.

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Editorial Board: Graham Bash, Pat Byrne, Tony Dale, Liz Davies, Steve Faulkner, Paul Field, Jenny Fisher, Bryn Griffiths, Chris Knight, Francis Koch-Krause, Leonora Lloyd (Co-Chair), Sue Lukes, Dorothy Macedo (Co-Chair), Mike Marqusee (Political Correspondent), Fiona Monkman, Dave Palmer, Mike Phipps, David Pope, Jon Rogers, Steve Smith, Alistair Ward (Editor).

Production Team: Graham Bash, Jenny Fisher, Louise Kawakami, Dave Lewney, Leonora Lloyd, Dorothy Macedo, Mike Marqusee, David Pope, Paula Smith, Alistair Ward.

Contact LLB at PO Box 2378,
London, E5 9QU.
Telephone: 0181-985 6597;
Email: llb@gn.apc.org;
Fax: 0181-985 6785.

 

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26 May 1997 - thanks to Bruno for the animated flag - web site put together by Chris