35 hours now, argues THE Sunday Telegraph headlined story 'Silkin joins the "stop Benn" fight' That was the interdecision of John Silkin to Dialcu enter the contest for the cauership Silkin indeed the Tates weapon be employed by the leadership of the Parliamentary Labour Party, and its right wing, in their campaign to stop Tony Benn becoming the deputy leader.
that respect, although Silkin, as a longtime Tribunite, is vall 0| the 'old left' of the party, will directed against Benn, the acknowledged leader of Silkin admitted much when he announced Intention to believe in a party where men and women can cooperate and are threatened licals ol dictation, he said.
This is the language of and allies in Fleet Street whose élitist al -tempted to portray the decisions Labour's internal reform as tantamount to 'threats' and 'dictation' from consulucily vallics. Betrayed Silkin's politics can be summed un bv the fact that he is a long-time friend of Harold Wilson.
In 1954, when Wilson betrayed parliamentary left by stepping into a shadow cabinet place Aneurin Bevan ficu vacated questions of policy, Silkin wrote him a formal letter of approval.
Wilson rewarded him in 1967 giving nil inc job of Chief Whip in the Labour government other words keeping the left in line as Wilson moved progressively the right.
This promotion firmed the high opinion Silkin has always had of himself. He imagines the world has a great in everything he does. Two when he on diet, called special press conference to announce that he had lost two stone in weight.
he has however. beer less willing to publicise his wheelings and dealings as a which, Observer in October 1980, 'he has made a lot of money'.
Deceptive Silkin's ego has persuaded him that he stands a good chance of winning the deputy leadership contest. But this ego has proved deceptive before.
leadership he Ine was waily fidently predicting his success.
In the event, in the first round received votes, at least 20 below what he said he had been promised by MPs.
Although Silkin likes fully-fledged Tribunite e parade himself did not join the majority of Tribune MPs who, on 20 May, voted against the Lover eas detence policy.
Tony Benn defied the official Opposition line, which was to abstain, by taking part in the revolt.
No doubt John Silkir thought that to have acted in such a manner. accordance with Labour conference policy, nave Gone his electoral chances some damage. Accorangly, for Jonn silkin it was a case of bombs for all of us and a job for him. himself Late contestant John Silkin: his main priority is