Glum Faces for Thatcher's Speech

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wrangles, they can scarcely Thatcher's proposals, while be unaware that a very diff- their leaders are beginning to erent kind of pressure is aris- chicken out. This polarisaing from the Party's rank tion could do more than and file - reflected in the anything up to now to prohowling down of a confer- vide forces and cash backing ence speaker who dared to to outright fascist movespeak out against racialism, ments such as the NF and analysis... THE BARELY disguised exasperation of the Tory press, and the evident unease and embarrassment on the faces of Thatcher's ministers during her wind-up speech in Blackpool, tell their own The Tory party is in deep crisis. For the first time there is a real and increasingly vocal and tenacious challenge to Thatcher's policies and even her leadership. The attack is spearheaded by | Heath, St John Stevas and Gilmour; but it comprises growing sections of the Tory party in Parliament.

Embarrass

Such an opposition has a disproportionate ability to embarrass Thatcher by its access to the press and its power to interfere with the legislation of government policies in Parliament.

But the conference showed that it is a peculiar opposition - largely isolated from the rank and file reactionaries that form the backbone of the active Tory It is an opposition created on the one hand by the economic repercussions of Thatcher's policies on whole sections of the employers, and on the other by a growing fear among Tory MPs that if the policies are not changed then they (and their Party) will be annihilated at the next election.

This aspect of the problem has grown with the emergence of the SD! as a new rival capitalist party, plainly taking much of its el ectoral support from dis gruntled Tories.

Prophets

Under such pressure those who regard themselves as "traditional' Tories have begun to wheel out references to Disraeli and lain Macleod as the great past prophets of the politics of 'one YOU KNOW it's autumn again when another Madness LP comes out. But that's where predictability ends.

After the long overdue recent statement against racism and Nazi recruitment at their gigs, I hoped that it indicated Madness would stop being just sharply satiriand highly amusing observers and become social commentators.

The new LP left me happily disappointed. That may sound a contradiction, but isn't that what it's about.

Although the LP marks progress from earlier material, and they don't take political sides on major issues, like the Specials and the Rank and file floggers nation' , and to counterpose them to the outright class wat strategy pursued by Thatcher.

They have spelled out altemative policies for the restoration of profitability.

In doing so they have begun to enlist some apparently unlikely fellow travellers within Thatcher's own cabinet: Leader of the House: Francis Pym and Environment Secretary Heseltine made carefully veiled calls for a shift of policy; Home Secretary Whitelaw and Foreign Secretary Carrington are also reportedly more and more worried at the inflexible course and the devastating electoral results it will bring.

But while the Parliamentary Tories continue their Beat, they remain the most versatile of bands.

Madness, as the cover and video show, are essentially about having fun and enjoying yourself, and they do it excellently.

The opening track, Cardiac Arrest' ,, from initial to final heartbeats, is a brilliant composition, very reflective and cuttingly accurate on the pressures of everyday 'office' life.

The conclusion, the suicide, could be seen as dauntingly depressive or perhaps unfortunately realistic. It's great to dance to, and probably the high point of the LP.

'Shut up' is a wonderful follow-up track about the the brandishing of handcuffs by one councillor in the debate on "law and order', and the defeat of Whitelaw's resolution on the basis that it was not tough enough.

The ultra-right wing Monday Club has produced a National Front style call for compulsory "repatriation' of blacks, while delegates were plainly eager to hear Norman Tebbit unveil his plans to attack the unions with laws that would strip away 75 years of legal protection.

Frenzied

Desperate and frenzied sections of the Tory middle class have been driven by the crisis to demand measures even more right wing than problems of petty criminals, a choice increasingly taken by youth faced with the prospect of the dole. 'Pass the blame and don't blame' is a stinging line, as it says as much about Maggie as the band 'Sign of the Times' livens up the side, and reminds you that Madness are essentially a great band to dance to. It's fabulously punchy and welltimed.

'Missing you' is sixtiesstyle ska romanticism, about a situation we all go through at one point or another.

Witty

'Mrs Hutchinson' is about old theme of loneliness. the British Movement.

Meanwhile a divided and clearly demoralised : Tory leadership faces the task of imposing further brutal cuts in public spending, and confronting working-class anger spearheaded by the BL strikers.

Already the opposition of the unions and threat of industrial action has forced an important government Other policies floated or decided at the Tory Conference included the possible introduction of a "voucher system" to encourage middle-class parents to send their children to private schools.

Sir Keith Joseph

bringing the same ruthless commitment to education that he brought to British industry - proposed the scheme to loud cheers from well-heeled delegates. but wonderfully done. The final track on side one, Tomorrow's dream' , is highly interesting lyrically.

Side two starts with 'Grey day', *, which I really like, as it's the best in their parcel of songs about the pettiness and depressive routinism of life. It's typical Madness, with all the trappings.

"Pac-a-mac'. 'Benny bullfrog', and to a lesser extent Promises, promises' • are better ignored and forgotten. They are well below the other tracks, but not too offensive to the ear to provoke dislike.

However, When dawn arrives' is a lifting little number. The Tory Party has always been the party of landlords and landladies - so it was appropriately at its Blackpool conference that Housing Minister John Stanley announced new proposals to strip private tenants of security of tenure.

Blood-sucking property owners have long been howling that they were not prepared to let property unless they received far more that what is currently defined as a 'fair' rent.

Now the Tories are to amend their own 1980 Housing Act to remove landiords' obligation to get a fair rent agreed by a rent officer before letting property on shorthold terms.

retreat from the sale of gas showrooms. The political conditions are maturing for a major showdown with the Thatcher government under conditions where it could be driven from office.

Maybe that is why Thatcher's ministers looked so sick during her speech last Friday.

But it was later attacked by Ted Heath as a divisive plan that would "split the Party from top to bottom"

Delegates loudly demanded the imposition of a 3-line whip and that MPs be mandated to vote in favour of a return of hanging: but the Conference organisers had excluded all 80 pro-hanging motions from the agenda.

'The opium eaters' is probably the best Madness track since The prince'; which was released in 1979. Its flowing, haunting, expansive sounds leave you wondering. The final track is about a 'Day on the town' (of London), and its witty message leaves you smiling.

Even though their only advice is 'Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think', the LP left me impatient for what promises to be a great film, "Take it or leave it' , and even more so for the tour to arrive.

It has now received pride of place in my next to the now-legendary first Specials LP, so my advice is, buy by Les Science

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While Tory grandees urge Thatcher to adopt a more slow and subtle policy against the working class, the Tory rank and file is high on Thatcherite rhetoric and wants an even harder line. JOHN LISTER reports.

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