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Dudley Edwards

Trades Councils Ireland Debate

(June 1981)

From Militant, No. 556, 12 June 1981.
Transcribed by Iain Dudley.
Marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for the Encyclopaedia of Trotskyism On-Line (ETOL).

The attempt of Len Murray the TUC General Secretary to pre-empt the debate on Ireland at the National Conference of Trades Councils, last weekend caused a sensational upset and spread wide resentment amongst conference delegates.

Brother Murray used his privilege of addressing the conference to attack a resolution on the issue of Ireland. Almost half of his speech was devoted to denouncing this resolution which was not debated until the last day of conference.

The main points of the resolution were for:–

• A British government commitment to withdraw from Northern Ireland
   
• A bill of rights for Northern Ireland
   
• The ending of the non-jury Diplock courts, and a review of all cases tried under Diplock courts and restoration of special category status to detainees.

Brother Murray informed the delegates that if the resolution was carried in opposition to what he said was TUC policy, then the General Council would completely ignore the opinion of delegates.

Nevertheless the resolution was carried by a big majority and is now the policy of the Trades Councils.

Despite short comings in the resolution it now means that debate on Northern Ireland will be opened up in all Trades Councils, Trade Union branches and at the Trades Union Congress.

 
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