Almost like a Socred rally

Press, 28 March 1981, Page 1

Almost like a Socred rally

By KEN COATES in London

It could almost have been a Social Credit League rally in New Zealand — except for the lofty, ornate, and mirrored 'setting of the grand hall of the Connaught . Rooms and the legions of the world’s press, television and radio, with their batteries of technology. Support for Britain’s new Social Democratic Party, launched with a flourish on Thursday stems from welling frustration with the two-party system. This is common to both countries. Common also are Labour parties locked in fierce internal' strife progressively weakening them, a'nd ruling Conservative ■ parties' critical of their leadership..; In a carefully orchestrated launching, preceding a nationwide long $419,000 'advertising, campaign for membership . at $22 a time’ (credit card payment optional), the 14 breakaway members of Parliamienf from Labour and Tory ranks urged a middle way. The former Labour Foreign Secretary’, Dr David Owen, urged a fresh start free from big finance, or-, tmipn interests “to release energy, vigour . and _ the enterprise of the British people”. ■:. " 1 ' J Like Social Credit, the

Social Democrats want “a sensible system of proportional representation, with

one man, one vote.” But unlike New Zealand’s Social Creditors, the new party does npt have , a n . , incomprehensible monetary policy with which to baffle and confuse — here it has an advantage. The Social . Democrats do echo the same broad appeal to midle-of-the-road voters by offering hope of political reform “and abolition of pointless conflict between the two main parties.” There is, as well, a vagueness about policy. But the phrases being uttered have been heard in New Zealand from Social Credit — need for. a consistent economic strategy, support for a mixed economy, fair wealth dis- . tribution, improvement of health services, housing , and education, preserving a decent environment, equality for women and international co-operation. ■ As in .New Zealand unemployment in Britain is a major problem, though their concern borders on despair as the rising, tide —of jobless looks .like engulfing all parts of the country for years ahead. The Social Democrats . say they have received ' more than 30,000 letters of support, more arriving every day. . . It .is. deliberately • refrain-. ■ ing from being too. specif-

ic on policy, hoping to cash in for as long as possible on disillusionment with Labour and Conservative parties. Thursday’s "12 tasks for Social Democrats” was a pointer, and urged huge investment of Britain’s oil wealth in new industries to provide new jobs. The former president of the European Economic Community. Roy Jenkins, hinted at reality ahead when he admitted that producing an incomes policy flexible enough to last would be “one of the party’s most difficult tasks.”

With Mr Jenkins as a foundation party stalwart and possible leader, it is not surprising that the party should pledge to continue in the E.E.C. and work for reform in it.

This puts paid to any hopes in New Zealand that the Social Democrats would try to exploit the widespread disillusionment with Britain’s community membership. This was expressed by a small group of matronly demonstrators outside clutching banners and chanting shrilly, “Down with the Common Market party.” Much is being made of opportunity - for “grassroots members” to have a hand in deciding policy. Policy groups' will be set up throughout Britain from which a platform for

the next election will be formulated.

But no “enormous list of promises” was forecast, Mr Jenkins said Britain had suffered from “manifesto-! tis” to please party members. Governments spent too much time undoing what had been done in the first two years of implementing promises. The party will not announce its leader — yet. The former Labour Education Minister, Mrs Shirley Williams, an Oxford graduate who began her career in journalism, was impressive.

She articulated the facts of life which seem ' to shackle Britain from making effective social changes. She hoped divisions between classes and regions would be healed. Of private schools, she

pledged to fight the disproportionate influence individual schools had in the Civil Service, universities, and banking. The new party hopes to put up candidates in half the constituencies. It says Labour is moving too far Left, and Conservatives too far Right — hence the need for a party committed to the Centre, although some call it “Left of Centre.” There is talk of a possible alliance with the Liberals. But there is also a strong feeling abroad that the Social Democrats are biding their time to see whether they receive sufficient support to go it alone.

They want to see whether their own propaganda “that people hunger for a new beginning,” is really true.