WHEN TONY BENN announced his decision not to run for the Shadow Cabinet he declared his aim was to examine: *First, how to mount a principled and effective Opposition in parliament to the policies and philosophy of the new overnment in so far as these policies harm the interests of the people whom Labour represents; and to do so in etween the Labour government, the parliamentary party, the National Executive and the annual conference, so that But where the statement goes dead wrong is the first priority it gives to how to mount a principled and effective Opposition in Parliament' waged by the gete movement. Huge demonstrations, riots, attacks on property, Imprisonment, mass breaking of the law.
These were the means by which the basic right of women to vote was achieved, The 'welfare state' set up after 1945 is 2136 SEC CICE "Parliamentary socialism'. again the reality is totally different.
The Labour victory of 1945 was achieved through tremendous agitation and preparation.
The working class was disgusted before the war by the mass unemployment and pro-fascist policies of politicians like Chamberlain. During the war huge votes were received by independent and socialist candidates opposing the official Labour policy of electoral truce with the Tories, A strike wave began to Huge sales of socialist pamphlets, and creation ol political organisation, took place among workers, troops, young people and every section of the population.
The real reason the welfare state was accepled was expressed by Quintin Hogs, now Tory Lord Chancellor, in 1943.
'If you do not give the people social reform they are going to give you social revolution' was his correct view.
It was fear of uncontrollable social struggles if there was any attempt to return to the conditions of the 1930s that forced the ruling class to accept the Suffra- welfare state.
longer in a position to resist.
government.
Flows. It passed them solemnity triumph of But once them.
it came to already Relations Act unofficial strikes.
came out on strike again develop.
the La protest demonstration out Scotland.
outside Parliament, Keep some of the yards open.
even bigger Parliament granted what it was no It was the same with the Heach This came to office. pledged to vicious anti-trade.
with all due through the House of Commons. The 'principled opposition in Parliament' could do nothing to stop But it was a very different thing when the oppostol Parliament. As soon as the Industrial was introduced into Parliament it was met with two huge In December 1970 and January 1971 half a million workers struck against the Act. On 1 March 1971, supported by the AUEW, two million workers Meanwhile Heath was continuing with other anti-working class measures. In June 1973 his government decided to let Upper Clyde Shipbuilders close with the loss of thousands of jobs. This was met by the occupation of the shipyards, of 100.000 people, and solidarity strikes throughDefeated by this huge opposition The government was forced to partially back down and In January and February 1972 an apposition struck the government. The miners came out on strike. An immense wave of 'secondary
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onjunction with the Labour party and the trade unions. *Second, how to study and analyse the experience of the last five e can apply the lessons learned to the future work of the party." To study and analyse the experience of the last five years is a very