Writers whose views are fairly consistently rejected by people with whom they share a number of common assumptions and aspirations should begin to question either their own logic or their clarity of expression. Since A Socialist Wages Policy was published in 1959 its authors have had promptings enough to indulge in such questioning and self-criticism, and the results of some of it can be found in the extentions of the central ideas of that pamphlet which have been published over the years. Bob Rowthorn’s treatment of the incomes policy issue is another such prompting, in places more profound and challenging than the others. We propose to comment first on the interpretation he places on our arguments, then to discuss the logic of his own position and finally to consider the implications of his analysis for our incomes strategy.
The incomes policy tactic we advocate is an attempt to focus the industrial and political strength of the Labour movement in Britain on those parts of the economic and political system which we judge could be pressurized into working in ways more favourable to wage and salary earners. We also consider that this tactic can play a part within a more long-term socialist strategy. Thus suggestions that we nurtured facile optimism about what the Labour Government would attempt or achieve miss the point. What optimism we have hinges upon the Labour movement adopting some variant of this incomes policy strategy.
Because we attach prime importance to these tactical and strategic roles of incomes policy it is misleading to suggest we put emphasis upon foreign competitiveness and rates of exchange. We would support the incomes policy strategy even if Britain were a closed economy. Here Rowthorn is confusing the circumstances which bring the issue of incomes policy into the economic and political arena and the particular approach we urge the Labour movement to adopt in these circumstances.