Republican News · Thursday 23 January 1997

[An Phoblacht]

Labour's homework

At the launch of his party's economic plan for the Six Counties in Derry on Monday 20 January British Labour MP Eric Illsey said, in light of recent developments, he would consider calls for a new inquiry into the Bloody Sunday killings in the city in 1972.

Disgracefully and quicker than snow off a ditch, a spokesperson for Labour's Shadow Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, slapped down any notion of an inquiry. She spoke of a lack of new evidence and said: ``Our main aim is not to relive the past, but rather to build for the future.''

This anxiety not to be seen to go beyond anything the Tory government might say or do is excruciating and infuriating to behold. It also misrepresents the views of most people in the British Labour Party and many of the people who vote for them. There has been widespread recognition in Britain that John Major and the unionists caused fatal delay in the peace process.

There is still a very long way to go, and the issue is way down the agenda in the public mind, further down than Irish people sometimes imagine. But for many of those with a consciousness of the Irish conflict the stand of the British Labour Party leadership has been inadequate. Their timidity on Bloody Sunday this week is a case in point.

Labour's James Callaghan once came to Derry and was cheered by nationalists when he promised that Labour would do them justice. 28 terrible years have passed since then, during which time Labour action in government and inaction in opposition has worsened the conflict. An incoming government has a chance to write a new chapter on Labour and Ireland. But they have a lot of homework to catch up on.

None of our ****ing business

Taoiseach John Bruton and Tánaiste Dick Spring are among TDs in Leinster House who have refused to disclose whether they have availed of the tax amnesty. A spokesperson for Labour leader Dick Spring told a Sunday newspaper last weekend that it was ``none of your fucking business'' whether or not Spring had availed of the amnesty.

Attorney-General Dermot Gleeson and Alan Dukes also refused to disclose. The latter replaced the disgraced Michael Lowry as Minsister for Transport, Energy and Communications. Lowry admitted having availed of the amnesty, thus putting the issue on the political agenda.

These are the people who make laws and levy taxes in the 26 Counties. Yet they pretend that they are just like ordinary citizens and that the public has no right to know if they are tax cheats. Spring and Bruton lead a government which launched a recent campaign against alleged dole fraud. Their incredible arrogance should not be forgotten when voters go to the polls.

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