Word: labor
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...Labor has been torn by disputes over a Marxist group known as the Militant Tendency, which calls for such measures as abolishing the monarchy and nationalizing all major industries, including the banks. The moderates wanted Militant Tendency members ousted from the party, but the far left insisted they remain. Though Foot last year vowed that the radicals would run on a Labor ticket "over my dead body," the group stayed, and the Labor leader ended up campaigning with their candidates. Sir Harold Wilson, voicing the frustration of many of his party colleagues at the rise of the leftist militants, bluntly...
...party's direction now depends largely on who is picked to succeed Foot. Healey, whom polls show to be Labor's most popular figure, would like to make one last try for the post, but union leaders have judged him too old. Tony Benn, longtime Laborite leftist and prime architect of the party's disastrous manifesto, planned to make a run, but his unexpected loss last week knocked him out of the race. Among the remaining moderates, the leading contenders are Roy Hattersley, Labor's spokesman for domestic affairs, and Peter Shore, shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. Hattersley, who helped...
Another key candidate will be Neil Kinnock, whose leftist leanings and easy candor make him just about the only leading Labor figure with support from both wings of the party. As Labor spokesman for education, he opposes private schools and wants universities open to all without competitive exams. Nonetheless, Kinnock may have a tough battle for the top spot: he is already on the hit list of party radicals angered by his vote to expel the Militant Tendency from the party...
Considering Britain's changing demographic patterns, Labor faces an uphill fight to regain preeminence. Even if the party does amend its policies, salvation may lie only in a Thatcher government that turns far rightward or fails to make good its promises for a healthier economy. Labor might also simply crack under the ideological strain, with one faction breaking off and setting up a new party, just as the Social Democrats did. What is certain is that the fratricide that drained Labor of its energy and public support during the past three years is far from over...
...Alliance hopes to win support for one of the major planks in its manifesto: proportional representation, an electoral system under which seats are awarded to parties in direct ratio to their popular vote. But since Britain's current system greatly benefits the two established parties, both the Tories and Labor will surely block the S.D.P. proposal...