Equal Rights? Later, Later

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uency Labour Parties to August to take acti pass amendments to the Labour Campaign formal motion 'to adopt Rights hopes for the NEC report (''Labour's level of response. THE National Executive Committee, at its meeting on 16 June, voted 9-7 to veto a 'Labour's ProVelO gramme 1982" recommendation that the gay male age ut consent should be brought down to 16 by the next Labour government.

The NEC want 18, which is a tremendous snub to the hundreds of Party activists, Union and Labour Party branches which have passed motions and attended meetings in support of 16. An indication of the weight of opposition to 16 came when Michael Foot and Dennis Healey voted against 16 in favour of 18. irst tune uht NEC considered the matter, they voted to back off from any commitment to an age of consent. Neil Kinnock MP - whom many comrades remember for his shocking remarks about "queers" during che 1980 CND Rally -- successfully persuaded the NEC that the bravest socialist proposal Labour ought to put before the elertorate should be yet another 'Committee uf Enquiry" into gays!

Letter-writing Tix Lahour Campaign i Gar Rights organised a iter wating campaign id this had some effert• tion... to support 18.

But the "compromise" of 18 is no compromise. Either the Party is going to accept equality or its not. The NEC. has not accepted this principle and has confirmed the suspicion of many that the NEC is turning a deaf ear to the voices of the grass roots and the Scottish TUC who 'have supported 16.

It's not just on gay rights that the NEC is retreating: Ireland. women, blacks, foreign and economic policies have all been watered down after years of demorratic debate in the labour movement.

The Lanour Campaign amending the. recommended age of consent for gay M60. 1982")" by them c/o Gay Cen Bloom St., Mal

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Socialist Organiser no.90 June 24 1982 Page 11 A contingent of Scots Greys join police to escort scabs through Salford in 1911 • 35..