THE SUMMER break will not be a break for the rest of the left in the Labour Party.
But the immediate response from hundreds of constituency parties to the register has been an maication of the growing upresolutions the mich-nunt nave gone lo Labour Party conference - the vast maority in uler opposition to the NEC More importantly, it is be ing recognised that those who sold ASLEF down the river the Weighells, Chapples, and, yes, Foots of this world are the very same 'leaders' of our movement who want reverse all the gains the left hav: made in the Labour Party over the last period.
But the left cannot be complacent. Between now and conference at the end of September a lot of work has done Conference delegates have to be mandated to oppose all resolutions that even smack of a witch-hunt.
If the fight is to succeed, we have to be clear as to the principles involved. Socialist Challenge supports the position proposby Hackney North Constituency Party, which is calling a conference in late COordinate resistance to the WIICLICI 10U passed by the Labour Party. A preparatory meeting has been called on September in County Hall. The same position is embodied, in our view, in the declaration sponsored by Tribune, calling for non-cooperation register.
The implication these positions is clear: we are saying that we will not tolerate expulsions and wil retuse to them passed by conference. Such a view has met some resistance because the left has always argued that conference decisions should be binding.
But accountability does not extend to a right to suspend democratic guarantee for minorities. This is an inalienable right: any organisation which aoes not respect it can never be democratic. It would leadership could always impose its will bv preventing oppositions from forming, organising, and winning a majority.
For this reason we also reject the position taken wild that constituency Labour parties should accept pulsions rather than face sus oCusIOlIs.
On the Collary. say that these bodies facing suspension must Joll together, to act in concert instead of being picked off one by one. It is for this reason that the conference called by Hackney North is so important:
It is not defeatist to prepare now for such eventualities. To do otherwise will be to 'go naked ILLO the conference chamber'. A boycott campaign is the best way to win. If the party leadership and the trade union bureaucrats are faced with an opposition which already dec are ference that it will openly dety expulsions and suspensions, will be This does that the Labour movement September, initiated by Militant, should be supported. Any and every against the register should be backed.
That is why we think that Miliant, in their 16 July issue, have damaged the movement and their own cause with a divisive attack the September preparatory meeting called Hackney North Characterising it as a 'rival conference' argue it is a diversion from Militant their own, yet Hackney North's circular. which we published last week, says that the 11 September conference should be supported.
The rivalry exists only in the minds of Militant's editorial board. is going to defeat the witch-hunt The left has to set its sights beyond the constituencies. If a local party Lanes SUDUCIISIUL need union backing: moreover, if a local party accepts the expulsion of a it will be union delegate. interfering with the union's right choose its own representative. Union delegates to General Committees and Labour Party members in the unions as a Snould resolutions insisting that their union will recognise any expulsions, and will continue to affiliate to any CLP expelled for The left has to ally itself with those workers in struggle if it for refusal to comply with the register.
Similarly CLPs who take boycott should circulate affiliated organisations to ask their support, and call special actions and rallies to mobilise their backing.
The connection to be made is a simple one: the witch-hunt is an attack on all trade unions in struggle capitulation In ad vance to the Tories.
Now the best friends of the left in the Labour Parly are lie wall unvers wile have been sold out by the and party leaders, are the other • rail workers who have their livelihood s threatened by chief witchhunter Sidney Weighell, are the healthworkers facing Thatcher's onslaught.
It is these forces that the left has to base its campaign on. The train drivers dispute showed that what Foot and Co fear most Is the working class taking action for itself. That 1s why they want a purge and that is why it is these forces who will finally settle accounts with our misleaders once and for all.
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witch-hunters in the Labour Party. They will be seeking to extract every last drop of blood from their campaign against Militant and the
GWU. mands LE DEA