In 1965, after the racist back-lash in the Midlands which led to the dramatic Labour government introduced the White Paper wich proposed restricting black immigrants to 8500 a year and, in 1968, •roven out ine mmicraton Act waica Callaghan defended against Powell on the grounds that it had kept out more black immigrants than any piece of Tory legislation.
The present Immigration Act - which the Tories introduced in 1971 merely the latest in a long line of such acts which reduce black immigrants to the status of 'aliens' dependent upon a work permit to enter the country.
Such policies of the Labour leaders, which tacitly admit that black people are at the root of unemployment or bad housing, have helped create a climate of legalised racism in which speeches by right-wing demagogues like Powell appear increasingly realistic. Powell is, after all, with his talk of 'voluntary repatriation' and 'tightening quotas!, merery laking lo a ocical conciusior the racist implications which lie in the Acts Labour introduced way back in the isixties.
The dangers of such policies are only too clear today with escalating unempl oyment. By refusing to openly challenge tigures like Fowell - or. rather, preparing the ground for him with their previous restriclions' - ne avour leaders have paved the way for a right wing backlash. Such a trend can alreaay be detected in the decision by unions such as lne ul or lad wno. recenty. refused to allow immigrant teachers to be employed to teach immigrant children their own language on the grounds that there are already many unemployed British teachers. Campaign If this attitude is to spread in the months and years to come, it could seriously split the labour movement E turn attention away from the real cause of social problems - such as unemplovment - by creating a scapegoat only too noticeable by its colour.
It is for this reason that the decision by the Campaign to Repeal the Immigration Act (CRIA) to launch a mass demonstration in April this year is to A serious strugale to repeal this Act - which the right-wing around Powell are trying to 'tighten' Still further - could begin to act as a powerful focal point for struggling, in