Now to get the Tories out!

La police appeal, that Stockport magistrates must convict a building union official under the 1959 Act.

On Thursday police arrived at the Lankesters picket line with newspaper cuttings reporting the Widgery judgement.

Yesterday morning, Philip Penn was again arrested while talking to a garage customer who had pulled up on seeing the strikers' placards announcing an official Charles Penn was arrested when his brother attempted to hand him a wallet containing the strikers funds.

Obstruction

Philip was charged with wilful obstruction of the highway. Charles was charged with obstructing a police officer in the course of his duty.

Both were remanded on bail of £50 in their own recognizance.

Replying to the police objection to Philip Penn being bailed, counsel instructed by the brothers' union objected that he had only been charged, not convicted, and that he was not a criminal but someone fighting for his trade union convictions.

On the attempt to ban them from the area, he argued that they should be free to picket so long as they did not obstruct the highway.

NEWS DESK 01-720 2000 Only voting, special •We ments. ment a maintai with tl PAGE Far from assisting the Tories, these conflicts have been followed by a record anti-Tory vote.

Labour's, gains have exceeded those of 1972, which was itself the best year for Labour in local elections since the war.

What price now Tom Jackson, the Post Öffice workers' leader? Last year Jackson told Workers Press:

'I don't think the trade union movement can force a General Election and hope that the left can win it :.. the government would win hands down .... there would be a reaction against trade unionists in a ballot-box situation following either a General Strike or a miniGeneral Strike.' FRESH LIGHT And this week's massive rejection of the Tories sheds fresh light on TUC General Secretary Victor Feather, who also claims that strikes help the Tories and recently declared:

'We shall not go looking for trouble. We shall not seek dramatic confrontations either with government or with employers, in court or outside.' one month before Thursday's Feather was telling the TUC Congress: have to deal with governThere is only one governnd we have always tried to a working relationship at government.' And only three days before the council elections a former left'AUEW President Hugh Scanlonwas telling the national committee of his union's engineering section that the government had won the battle for state pay control and that high wage claims could not win.

This followed his recent approval of an 'amended' Industrial Relations Act and Common Market entry.

It is these reformist leaders, backed up by the Stalinists, and together with the Parliamentary Labour leaders, who enable the thoroughly discredited Heath government to continue in office.

"The Times' claim that the miners' ballot was a 'vote of confidence' in Heath has also been decisively answered.

There is one clear message from these election results from every single industrial area throughout APRIL FUND IS NOW £294.89 STEP UP FIGHT THIS WEEKEND THE SWING to Labour in Thursday's Council elections proves one thing — that everywhere there is enormous feeling against the Tory government and that only • the treachery of the reformist trade union leaders keeps this government in office.

This is why Workers Press is so Important today. It is the only daily paper that fights to build an alternative revolutionary leadership. And such a leadership is vital for the working class in this political situation. England and Wales: the working class wants the Tories out!

There is no decline in the fighting spirit of the working class. On the contrary, a decisive lead against the Tory government will win an enormous response.

There is no lack of hostility the Tory Party, there is only lack of leadership.

The transformation of the Socialist Labour League into the revolutionary party, the fight for Marxist leadership in the unions, and the conference of the Young Socialists this weekend are decisive steps towards resolving the historic crisis of mankind - the crisis of revolutionary leadership.

We appeal therefore, to every. one of you, dear readers. Our Fund this month is slow in getting off the ground. We need a very special effort immediately over this weekend to turn the position around. We know I! we fight now' we can do it. So do your best. Post all your donations to:

April Appeal Fund 186a Clapham High Street London, SWa 7UG