Hardest stage of the battle for Clause Four
Socialist Outlook1990sScanned print read by OCR, and not yet proofread: expect run-together words, dropped letters and, where a piece began partway down a page, a few lines of its neighbour. The printed page is the authority.
By Steve French and THE DEFEND Clause Four campaign now faces the hardest stage of the battle. Whilst it was ahead on points in the first five rounds, the phoney consultation and the NECs vote have been presented by a helpful media as the turning point in the campaign.
It must be remembered that in what was heralded as the biggest ever consultation within a political party resulted in a mere 1.5% of individual members indicating that they wished to make Clause IV 'more clear and concise'. Even many of these put pre-conditions about common ownership and full The newspapers have now dropped the issue as though 'it's all over bar the shouting'. Yet politically there is still a lot to play for.
Public ownership is more popular than for decades. The new bulletin from Defend Clause 4 - Defend Socialism (DC4) highlights a recent survey of Labour Party members. 63% disagreed that the production of goods and services are best left to the free market". A Gallup poll in January asked voters if they broadly agreed with Clause 4. 37% said "yes" - a greater proportion than voted Labour at the last general election! Only 28% said "no".
On figures like that it is hard to see how the campaign to defend the Clause could possible fail, yet Blair has begun to turn the tide. Whilst it is not inevitable that Blair will win - it is the most likely outcome. Why?
Vote loser?
A lot of people, particularly in the CLPs, will reluctantly vote for something they do not believe in. They think that this will help deliver a Labour government - a defeat for Blair might be seen as a divisive vote loser. This would be a big mistake. The Tory agenda really is not a vote winner presently. For Labour to constitutionally enshrine support for capitalism would draw the political agenda rightwards. This would open the door to further shifts to the right - particularly a challenge to the Union link.
The campaign must be waged right up to the wire. There is still a big fight to be had. In the CLPs, many of which are conducting OMOV ballots, we must ensure that DC4's material is distributed. The embership must see both sides of the argument.
In the Trade Unions the situation is not so unfavour. able. The TGWU, RMT, ASLEF, UCATT, GPMU, FBU, NUM and the Bakers are all likely to vote for retention.
UNISON will now hold a special 'Affiliated Political Fund' conference on April 13. This body includes regional delegates. Many regional APFs have voted for retention. The UNISON executive has insisted that re-nationalisation of the utilities must be included in any new clause.
MSFs conference delegates will decide their vote. Their President has pledged that in chairing the delegation meeting, he will advise that the union's policy is to support Clause IV and this should GMB chief John Edmonds, seen here speaking at a 'Tribune' conference, is backing Blair's Clause. be followed. The new communications union are holding a members ballot this month. USDAW holds its conference a week before the Special Conference.
The outcome on April 29 will be heavily determined by procedures. We must oppose delegates being forced into a straight jacket with only the option of voting for or against the Blair clause. Clause IV defenders must argue for a democratic conference procedure with the right to move event to map out a fight on key amendments. Moves to refer issues - full employment, the back Blair's proposal should defence of the welfare state, be supported. public ownership, minimum Despite the present defen- wage - to be fought for besive state of the movement, tween now and the election. DC4 has forced the biggest This would begin to prepolicy debate within the La- pare for the battles which are bour Party for years. This has to come under a Labour govgreatly reshaped and repoliti- ernment. cised the left in the CLPs and Of course a Blair victory at especially the unions. Whilst the conference would be a sewe are beginning to see the rious defeat. Blair wants to early stages of the new wave turn Labour into a left of cenof struggles, particularly tre capitalist party which around the NHS and educa- would maintain some links tion, it is very important that with the union leaders, purely these gains are consolidated. to ensure they deliver the working class vote. The existConference ing structured relationship For this reason Socialist with the unions would be removed. Outlook is strongly in favour Losing Clause IV would be of a conference, before the the loss of a battle - not the summer holidays, of all Clause IV defenders. This is war Blair wants to remove the Clause to clear the decks currently being discussed for a Labour government's atwithin the campaign.
Stacks on the working class.
Such a conference should be as broad as possible. We The left should use the political momentum which the must argue that key unions campaign has developed, to involved in the defence of the prepare the fightback. clause should call such an DAY SCHOOL