LAST WEEK the Labour Party's organisation committee threw out Hornsey constituency's decision to accept Tariq Ali as a member. Now Eric Heffer, chairperson of the organisation committee, and David Hughes, national agent, will 'visit' Hornsey to try to get them back on the straight and narrow.
where the constituency have adopted Peter Tatchell as parliamentary candidate, turn ecutive committee.
TESSA VAN GELDEREN spoke to both Tariq Ali and Peter Tatchell on how they saw the present state of the party. They have to do a similar job in Bermondsey who in has been rejected by the national exTARIQ ALI, Militant and myself are tied together as part ot a genera ottensive against the left at a time we need to unite to fight for socialist policies which can bring about a real measure of justice and equality.
The premise of party unity must be that the constitution upheld This has not been the case with miv owa encorsenent anc North. Nor has been the case in the nonacceptance of Tariq Ali as a member and the foisting of eight nominees back on the London borough of Southwark's panel of council candidates.
In all these cases the national executive has usurped the right of consuluencies waicn are in tne best position make juugmcnts avoul wno lney should admit into membershio and select parliamentary and council candidates The principle of party unity which Bishop's • Stortford sought achieve is quite desirable. • However, une manner ¿ which the Bishop's Stortford conference was convened is highly questionable. It circumvented This means that the notion ches is not just an ultra left Tallasa oul S SOnC e the Labour Party needs to do to rebuild its support at the level of the rank and file. This necessitates new type of party which is not simply a narrow electoral machine but a campaigning vehicle for socialist policies.
It will require a period of five to seven years to rebuld Labour's strength But the work should be started now and not walt till after the general elecwill.
If the attack against Militant is successful it will represent a major Gerea for the entire left inside the Dav arono orodG ProuD ing or caucus will be safe It there are anv attacks or Militant there will be uproar inside the constituencies. Michael Foot has COUSC between the unions and the constituenCics Frank Chapple is signatory of the Limehouse declaration number of EETPU full timers are active members of the SDP. It is therefore not surprising they're anxious to hurt and damage the Labour Party as much as they can the party's democratic decision-making process of regional and conferences and thereby excluded ordinary ranK and file members in the decisions taken. Veto A genuine unity cannot be forged ed lending MPs simply handful and trade union general SCaClanco It has to be a party unity which created at the grass roots among ordinary members There seems to be a very strong body • ot suD that I should stand for the NEC. We are seeking the views at the constituency level around the country This any final occas ull would be a way in which constituencies could show their clear rejection of the NEC's veto of my candidature and affirm the right of all CLPs to choose their own parliamentary candidates.
ten beooc nave sur gested that it would be good to have a non MP and a more grassroots par ty member on the NEC provide a more direct link between leadership and the party's constituency base. Whether it's me standing or not, I agree wilh oese argulculs We are most concerned in Bermondsey that ll the present MP Bob Mellish, 100%Increase Westminster® GLC: forced to retreat on a number of issues Photo: GM COOKSON
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Who shot Bishop's Stortford?