THE WEEK before the Social Democratic Party was finally and officially launched, labour councillors in the London borough of Islington announced their intention to join the new party.
The six were members of the right wing or te Lavour Party, but it ther bring to the social democrats the practices Islington's Labour right used in their former political home then the 'democracy' part of the SDP could well take on a whole new meaning.
That meaning could be entitled Contuouul.
Struggle Labour Islington parliamentary constituency in particular, been an arena of left-right struggle.
dates back to Michael O'Halloran was chosen as North Islington's Labour candidate.
A subsequent enquiry, conducted by national found that O'Halloran had packed the selection meeting, but the matter was swept under the carpet by the NEC because of the forthcoming general election.
Ever since then the left has struggled to get O'Halloran out, and it is its ikely success which has led to the present splits in the local party.
'FOR the first time, ordinary Labour Party members are being invited to play a part in genuine political activity.
learnt by members; links already forged ween rank and members in different wards are being cemented.
'Formerly disillusioned Labour voters are made aware that a fighting socialist party, different in character from the Labour Party which has represented them so inadequately in the past, is now created in the constituency.
STEVE BUNDRED GLC candidate, Islington North The left has toiled hard to achieve such a victory. It has had its setbacks. Two years ago leading winger, Keith Veness, was expelled by the then right wing leadership of the party. Another enquiry the Labour Party's NEC found that the expulsion was unconstitutional.
When the North Islington party party was suspended for six months eness was eventually readmitted and the party was welcomed back to the fold by the NEC.
Success But this was the signal for an intensification of the inner-party strugconducted by handful voting for the right.
North Islington.
who are operative shopping society. members on its side and less than a AG the ba ale eras taken pontes after the St George's Be rotten borough party has only members on its books it is still entitled to send five delegates to North Isl.
occausc of large 'trading membership' - that is, those members of a local CoThe right wing had always managed to secure those five delegates until, at the end of last year, the left waged Suddenly the Co-op party had an influx of membership applications. Curiously, a good many applications turned down, although all of them had come from members of the Labour Party.
OI the Co-op in January broke up in disarray when nanonal agent or une London foi con martin eng or ne Co-op party managers to accept membership from 21 individuals.
the North Islington right had lost another five delegates to the general committee. tormer party agent Lear, the right-wing secretary of the Dally who Is an chitect for Islington council and a NALGO member Confusion reigned at the AGM.
from 1/725 informed the meeting that the branch had a new number, 1/1232. Tommy McNamara left the meeting in a hurry, , and has neighbours he wants nothing more to do with politics.
chaos Maureen the left's candidate for president, was elected by a majority of one A filibuster by the right voles beln. taken. Before 21 March, the new date set for the AGM, the left contacted workers' branch never sent delegates to Islington Nor• Branch 1/725 is a public service hiad changed number. It is based in wickenham been affiliated only to the local Labour Party and trades coun• Branch 1/723 has not paid its to Islington North Labour Party for two years, and is entitled to send • Through unofficial sources it TGWU delegates are not recorded as being members of the union at all.
Suspect It was not surprising that at the re. on March apologies from all these Suscel At the meeting Morgan Lear announced nis resignation party secretary and from the Labour O'Halloran sent his apologies, and the left romped home When North Islington Labour Part candidate for the general election, O'Halloran is not thought to be the candidate most like
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Left builds the party
Grass roots mobilising and political skills are being