Birmingham Rally WITH MARGARET BECKETT standing as the 'women's candidate in the Labour deputy leadership contest, and Bryan Gould proclaiming his woman-friendly New Man image in the leadership elec fion, one might have felt that their campaigns would have welcored an opportunity to talk to women at the grassoots of the movement.
But these days Important Leaders do not have the time, or even feel the need, to attend meetings such as last weekend's Women speak - Labour Listens? sponsored by Socialism, Labour Women in NAC, Women in Black Sections and the Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Is it turned out, only Bernie Grant was able to altend - I Cen Livingstone having been incapacitated by the sudden onset of the hay-fever season. The onhe ee eoo neen bole to send apologies was John Prescoft though the rest - along with many Labour wornen MPs- did.
Despite being a fairly small meeting the level of osousson was extremel good. If one locks at the meeting as preparation for women's input into the Campaign Group conference on 20 June, there will be plenty of ideas to put into the general meting pot of left political debate.
Perhaps the most refreshing part of the meting was when the problems hat young women face were ac dressed. Nith several school student: present, uts was a rare opportunity tot many older women - plus Bernie - to hear how important it is that the left laps into the anger and frustration of youth, and starts to positivoly adress ways of working collectively with young people. How new is 'Now Man' Bryan Gould?
if the loft can do this, it will go a long way in revitalising the fight for Basic issues of solidarity, colectiviy and cooperation in struggle came cross from the mood of the meeting. Defending the party's trade union links. but also democratising that relationship. and extending links with autonomous and community groups. was also thouoht to be essential Leonora Lloyd encapsulated the when she said that women's abilky to work together could be the saving of wur moveton Bernie Grant, there to Esten and coming back after the discussion to debate. He maide if perfecty clear debate. made it perfectly clear where he stood on voting for the leadership- unike Livingston he argued 'you coulint slide a garette paper be He did say that he personally woul be voting for Prescott, but agroed that a campaign of writing his and Livingstone's names on the ballot papers would be a good klea.