step backwards

Ice did agree to work for a CONTd FROM PAGE | united front against repression, but only with "workinga United Ireland a progressr class, anti-imperialist forces", one was defeated, In oppo- Leaving aside the considersition a motion reading ‘A able problem of who defines united capitalist Ireland would which organisations fit this be reactionary even if were definition, this means that possible since it would require in effect the SLP will only the smashing of one section engage in united anti-repressof the working-class, We ion work if it approves of the must therefore make it clear other groups involved, For that the only united Ireland example: would the GLP we want is a united socialist have refused to support the Ireland.' Socialist Republic Murray Defence Campaign believes that this decision because the Liberal editor of represents a step backwards *dibernia' supported it? Do for the SLP, It sounds like they not support the Independa very socialist and ieft-wing ent inquiry into brutality position but in practice it (reported elsewhere in this means that their support for issue) because a catholic the central political issue in priest helped organise it? the struggle is ambiguous Tt's clear from the debate and conditional, If a united that the majority of the deleTreland not controlled by the gates lacked the experience socialists would automati- to force such problems and cally be reactionary why do that some at least are commthe Pritish oppose it so itted to a politically sectarian determinedly? How are we position of abstention from to win to a Worker's Rep- any real work in these areas, ublic if socialists aren't to PD/MSR believe in the the forefront in calling for necessity of broad based unity national independence and against repression, We the right of Iseland to self- believe that it is only in actdetermination? ion and in debate with other forces that the socialist Unfortunately things didn't programme can win the improve in the debate on support of Irish workers, activity. Motions calling for A refusal to carry out such united activity with "all forces work amounts to a failure prepared to fight repression" to fight for the socialist were defeated, The conferen- programme, Platform at S.L.P. conference

### ECONOMY

The same approach was evidentin the debate around the document on the economy, A motion for building a broad current in the unions around issues such as equal pay, union democracy, support for wea weaker sectors, etc was defeated, One reason was because this would mean the involvement of at least some trade union officials, The opposing proposal was 'for atrank and file' movement whose only policy would be 'more militancy’.

In practice this means the exclusion of broader political issues from work in the trade unions. A good example has been the 'New Liberty' group in the Irish Transport and General Workers! Union (ITGWU). It's +membership was united in nothing but strident criticism of the bureaucracy for not being militant enough and would split if broad political issues were raised, It has not been hard for the union leadership to isolate th them by making slightly more militant speeches, WOMEN The debate on women's oppression was perhaps the most successful of the conLP.

ference (helped by the fact that women members are able to organise independently ) but even here there were weaknesses, The party did agree to call for free abortion on demand, but unfortunately there was no debate on the more immediately important issues of campaigning to: change the laws relating to contraception in the South or fight to win effective equal pay.

A motion involving the SLP in broad areas of the women's movement was passed in opposition to a motion calling for a working class women's movement, This is especially significant. Tt's the only major area in which the 'workers only' line was defeated, It seems that some delegates had detailed experience of work in this area and were able to counterpose reality to sterile sloganising.

### OPTIMISM

Some of the decisions taken at the conference represent a step backwards for the SLP, They cut the party off from broad-based united action by opposing it to 'workers only' movemen.s which don't exist, In reality this is a policy for doing nothing. And yet action is a necessity if the SLP is to Noel Brown & Republicanism Shortly before the Socialist Labour Party met to discuss policy on the Nationalist Question, Dr.Noel Browne pre-empted discussion within the party. In a major speech he launched a massive attack on republicanism and by implication on the central position of the National Question, "There are three strands showed at least as much to Irish republicanism ," common sense they would said Dr.Browne, "Its never have the chance to conservatism, its authorit- elaborate a consistent arianism and its callous anti-imperialist socialist indifference about taking philosophy. human life", He illustrated