THE JUNE 17 conference called by the Defend Clause Four campaign and Tribune provides an opportunity for the left to both assess where the defeat over Clause Four leaves it, and to begin to prepare for the coming battles.
Tony Blair has hardly rested on his laurels since his "defining moment" in defeating clause four on April 29.
In his speech to the bosses' conference in Scotland he assured his audience that a Labour government would keep the Tory anti-union laws.
He seems to have got an agreement with the TUC not to put a figure on the minimum wage in advance of the general election - and to give the bosses a key say in what the eventual level is to be.
The local council election results have put wind in the leadership's sails. While tryPraising Blair as 'best thing (for Tories) since Gaitskell' ing to fashion a labour movement in their own image they want to pledge Labour to the most minimal of programmes possible. They are backing Dromey in the TGWU election and making moves to further reduce the share of the union vote at conference.
This means ignoring the huge unpopularity of Tory policies - Blair has even been exchanging compliments Clause Four entrenches his politics the movement. on what the policy of a future Labour government should be. However, Blair has made it as clear that he will ignore decisions he does not like. It is therefore not sufficient to just win votes on policy. Rebuild bour government to carry out policies in the interests of the working class then it needs to begin the hard task of building up its strength from the low point of the Clause Four dewith the hated architect of the feat. policies, Thatcher herself.
But outside the confines of the fight for policies with the Walworth Road the desire for struggles happening now, peraction is spreading way be- suading labour movement acyond the traditional sections tivists to get involved and of the labour movement -the bringing both the issues the Barclays Bank strike and the new activists into the labour RCN's contemplation of in- movement. dustrial action are expressions of a growing mood. is unlikely to shift signifiBlair is mistaken to believe cantly this side of a Labour that ditching support for victory, it is only by laying the groundwork now that the left will be in a strong position to There are battles to be had provide an alternative when disillusionment with Blair sets in. This means beginning to link the fight around policies with support for struggles taking place, and making clear that while we are unequivocal about wanting a Labour victory we are not prepared to If the left is to force a La- give up our criticism of the disastrous policy Blair is pursuing. The fight over Clause Four showed that the struggle in the Labour Party and the unions are inextricably linked, but also that Blair and his supportThis involves linking up ers are going to set the agenda in the coming period. The defence of clause four brought together Labour Party and trade union activists in a way which has not happened in a long time. June 17 can build on that, While the balance of forces laying the framework for an organisation across the whole labour movement that can tackle the political tasks ahead.
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 85, June 10 1995 page 6.