Friday 11 July 12 noon to 2.00 pm. Picket for democracy and clean elections in Mexico. Mexico tourist office, 60 Trafalgar Square (south side), London.
Saturday 12 July 12 noon to 9.00 pm. TUC Respect Anti-Racist Festival 97 (free), "Celebrating cultural and racial diversity" Victoria Park, London E3 Thursday 17 July 8 pm 'Redemption Song' performed by Banner Theatre (£5/£3), a benefit for the Close Down Harmondsworth Campaign. Queen's Hall, Ealing Town Hall. (Ealina B'dwy tuhe).
Saturday, 19th July «Socialists and the Assembly, 1a.m.-4p.m., County Hall, Atlantic Whart, Cardiff. Speakers include Peter Hain, Cynog Dafis and Sue Essex, Cardiff Clir.
July 19-25 International Youth Summer Camp, Southern France Saturday, 19th July Free Trades Union conference called by Liverpool City UNISON and the Welfare State Network, 11.00-5.00, Liverpool University Student Union, Maryland St..
Saturday 19th July Steering Committee of Network of Socialist Campaign Groups Saturday 26 July 11.30 am to 1.30 pm Picket Harmondsworth Detention Centre, Bus 81 From Hounslow West Tube Or Bus U3 From Heathrow Sunday 3rd August Socialist Outlook North West region day school. For more details contact Steve, 01942 882 267.
A monthly marxist review * New series No. 7 * Summer 1997 * 50p IN REFERENDA to be held in September, Scotland and Wales will be offered their own legislative bodies. In keeping with Labour's election manifesto, Wales will be asked to ac. cept or reiect proposals for an Assembly while Scottish voter are to decide firstly whether they should have their own Parliament and secondly whether it should have tax-raising powers.
This will undoubtedly be the most important political development since the Labour government took office and socialists should play a central role in the campaigns. The left needs to recognise the opportunity which the devolution proposals present.
Of course, no reform of the political process can ultimately solve the problems of the working class while remaining within the context of the existing British state whose limited democratic processes are constrained by the power of the capitalist class.
This does not mean however that -50cialists should not support democratic reforms. Any measure which gives the working class and oppressed some leverage over the exercise of power and which build their confidence and willingness to fight for more is to be welcomed.
The Parliament and assembly being offered are certainly far from perfect: both are intended to be subordinate to the Westminster parliament and the Welsh Assembly will have neither tax-raising nor primary legislative powers.
Nevertheless both offer a far greater measure of democratic control than has previously existed in Scotland or Wales and socialists should campaign vigorously for a yes vote on this basis.
At the same time they should be putting forward the arguments for these bodies to have greater powers - and ultimately for them to decide their own powers and their relationship with the British state and with Europe. IT'S BEEN a long time coming, so Scottish and Welsh must grab the chances opened up by devolution and the complexity of the