On February yin, by a massive majority of 313 to only 172, Commons decided to re-convene the Select Committee which was originally established, in ine last session, to 'investigatel James Whitels anti-abortion Bill. decision to re-convene the Cttee (which has already led to a tightening up of the 1967 Act) is a clear victory for the mass abortion campaign which SPUC has been waging over the past number of years.
The implications of this vote are, as Labour MP Renee Short ineicated. far - reaching. Select Cttee was set up, recall, to consider a Bill which aimed to reduce legal abortions by over two thirds. It has already recommended certain restrictions (such as clamping down on the number or toreign women allowed abortions in the country which Barbara Castle has, quite happily, accepted.
Now that the committee has been recalled, It can only deal with the more contentious clauses in the Bill. With a Cttee dominated by known anti-abortionisis, outcome can only be thousands of women being torced, once again, to risk their lives at the hands of back-street abortionists. 'Free Vote' This major set-back must be placed at the door of the Labour government which, nather than fighting to implement the decision of conference which clearly came out for free abortion on request!, decided to allow a tree vote on the issue. Even Barbara Castle, who was against the Select Citee being recalled at this stage, in favour of MPs voting as 'individuals' because abortion is an issue on which individual feelings of conscience run so deep!.
Allowing a free vote clearly was a major concession to the anti-abortion lobby led by SPUC which has, over the years, made deep inroads into the Parliamentary Labour Party itself. Rather on thrusting its reactionary view on the mass of women - the government has backed down before it all along the line.
'Backing down! means not only another slap in the face for conference decisions but also for millions of women who voted Labour in the last election and who will be most effected by any further attempt to curtail those limited abortion rights at guaranteed under ine yor Ac SPUC As the Select Cttee gets down to work in the period ahead, can be sure that SPUC will keep Ine up its pressure to it comes out wii ine mosı tarreaching anti60, 000 strong ne mass The nstration it launched in October last year - which frightened the government into holding a free votel on the recall of the Select anti- Cttee - is an inaication or ine forces it can mobilise.
Ses moves are. not just motivated by an attempt to resirici abortion rigns Dul by a fear of what those rights The svmbolise in the radicalisation of growing numbers of women over the past decade or so. The anti-abortionists understand too well inal the right to tree doorion, cutting across woman's role as a mere 'wifel or 'mother can undermine the stability of the family unit which is particularly dangerous at a time of social instability.
Having won major concessions from the government, carry on their campaign all the limited gains of the 1967 Act nave been reversea. April 3rd Confronted with a major attack abortion rents ibility resting on NAC is heavier than ever betore. ll Is NAc alone and the broad forces it can bring into action as it did last June - which stands between the maiority of women and a return to the desperation children & humiliation of backstreet abortions.
Responding to this attack means, first and foremost, mass turn-out for the April 3rd Wds demonstration call. It means mobilising not only those forces who supported June 21st last year but also those - particularly in the abour movement - who nave come out since that time in support of Ifree abortion on request'.
April 3rd should be merely the opening shot of an ongoing mass campaign directed against the government who must be called to account for openly flouting the decisions of the TUC and Labour Party conrerences.
of the campaign must clearly be to disband the Select Cttee which, composed as it is of known antiabortionisis. can only come out with further inroads into women's riaht to choose whether or not to have an abortion.
It is only by building a mass opppresent osition in the streets - of a woman's right to choose - that the government will see, no uncertain way, that women in this country will not tolerate any further restrictions to the limited rights tney now possess.
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the same time, for democratic rights to openly challenge the 'status quol. The harassment, collaboration of the army with Loyalist para-military groups, nas only served to burn inis or the mind of the beleaguered natunionist nare- iners such as Paisley are, of course, only too aware or inis tact, Contident inal the government dare not challchallenging the The Left status quo it is there to uphold. they are encouraged ever more firmly to press for defence of their caste privileges. The backDiscussion Article:
SOCIALIST ACTION which has also been observed in their attitude towards the women's liberation movement or towards black power. They criticise the 'nationalist' tendencies of
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All out on April 3rd! FREE ABORTION ON DEMAND " NO