general election — whenever it is called.
Statistic WaS Financial Times share index for Friday 23 March. How did the bowler-hatted parasites spond to the prospect of an probable Tory victory? The FT index jumped 20 points, biggest single day rise since July Statistic two was figures issued on Monday by the Child Poverty Action Group. They showed that between 1974 and 1976 the number of children lving in families below the officially recognised poverty line grew from 260,000 to 500,000.
The rise in the FT index showed just how important the Evelyn Reed IT was with deep regret that we heard this week of the death of Evelyn Reed, well-known feminist anthropologist. died of cancer in New York on Thursday 22 March.
Her major work - Woman's Evolution - will probably be best known to British readers.
It was to mark its publication that Evelyn Reed toured Britain just one year ago.
Evelyn was a long-standing member of the Socialist co-thinkers ty the Fourth co-thinkers International. A future issue of socialst Cnanenge will carr appreciation pioneering Marxist research for which she has become known. TWO SETS of statistics issued in the past few days spelt out what attitude socialists should adopt in the the leading capitalists in country judge a defeat for the Labour Party in the coming election. Accordingly, it also shows how important for the working class a victory Labour would be the But the figures issued by the Child Poverty Action Group take the argument about what working class militants should do in a general election one stage further. They indicate that it is not enough just to act as Labour Party coat-trailers during the election campaign. The message can be summed up in the slogan, 'For a Labour Build socialist alternative.
In practical terms this means: *For a Labour Government. There is no disguising the She Fourth the fact that the 1974/9 Labour Government has a disgraceful record. On the economic front unemployment has this since 1974, real wages have fallen, and the low paid have been hit especially hard.
On the social front, hundreds of hospitals and schools have for been or are being threatened with closure. As far as women are concerned, since 1975 the gap between their gross weekly earnings and men's has risen from £13.70 to £32.70.
Of all those hit by Labour's social and economic policies it is probably workers who have most; injury the racist Immigration Acts remain on the statute the book.
On the international front Labour has supported rightwing repression wherever it find it, trom policies in Ireland to those of une snan of iran.
If elected, the continue with these policies. And because their would reflect demoralisation in the working class they would be able to go further. Thatcher has promised legal attacks on the rights of trade unions, yet more massive public spending cuts and the withdrawal of subsidies which have had at least a small unemployment figures.
Various Tory leaders have threatened to internment in the Ireland, there would be a strong chance of renewed attacks on proposals of Committee on Immigration identity cards and all — would good becoming law.
There is no doubt that many will doubled young black suffered but adding insult to WILS OWI Tories would certain abstaining grants and policies.
thinking inat effect on re-introduce North of 1930s.
the racist the Select chance of spot.
opportunities for feel like ism become Number of families below poverty line doubles - share index jumps 20 points!
because of Labour's right-wing Those who are Cass way should *Build remember they would also be abstaining on a potential Tory Government which threatens to launch the most vicious attack ponacs.
working people since the More importantly, it should not be forgotten that under a Labour Government the leaders of the labour movement are continously tested and put on Accordingly, raising political alternative to Labour- mOYCHCHS greater this financial quarter, with over £300 to go in order to meet the £2,500 target. So take a deep breath, pick up a pen, and Name STOP PRESS: The fund drive Address figure for this week has just we didn't believe it to begin with - but the fact of the matter is that you've sent in a total of £4 We don't think we need to spell out to our readers what election | something which can only be in | seeds of a socialist opposition the interests of the working the Socialist Alternative. The election period gives socialists a real opportunity to intervene in national This means fighting will for real socialist policies on the door-steps, at factory gates, in election meetings. The election can be used for campaigning against the concordat, against closures, against all the rightwing policies of Labour.
The election also means a chance to build the various and campaigns which already have in them the SUBSCRIBE!
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In some instances, in safe Labour seats. Socialist Unity standing on programme that unites these various strands of opposition. It is vital that working class militants are offered at least in a few areas a chance to reject Labour's anti-working class policies in favour of a tota alternative Sum it all up this way — vote Labour, but continue the fight for socialist policies. 3-4 The Oval, London E2.