La national campaign to prevent expulsions from the Labour Party October in County Hall, London.
They heard speakers from a broad spectrum of the labour left including Audrey Wise. MPs Ernie Roberts and Reg Race and Euro-MP Richard Balfe, the Militant, the Young Socialists and the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy.
The overwhelming feelings of the conference afternoon by John Card- were summed in the ner of Luton East member of the CLPD executive, when he told conference that this witchhunt is a direct attack on the accumulated victories of the last three years: it is an attack on our socialist policies.
The conference agreed, around ti voting against including less than ten CLP delegates establish national labour movement organisation to coordinate opposition to exGREETINGS were read to aLlameer steel worker wo awst been chosen Parliamentary Prospectiv Candidar cardiff North and was heavily in volved in building for the month. Ray has the following message to delegates:
There at the trutt CoCente ported a policy of ions and proscriptions.
ferences. It is vital to involve the unions in our fight against the witch-umr. Photo John Harris We won the CND vote - the THERE WEL to be learnt from this. If we are serious abou and witch hunts annual 101 constituencies, 67 Young Socialists' branthis Saturday.
Oh the register "5 register.
The campaign is to be run by a National Council, directly elected participating organisations, secretariat elected by conference.
It further agreed to two model resolutions for CLPs and for affiliated organisations, calling for a refusal to expulsions and for support to any local party disafflated for resisting the NEC.
It established a trade union subcommittee passed lution Oxford Young Socialists (published in last weeks Socialist Challenge) calling delegates to help build the Young Socialists and to detend it against attempts at disbandment or other attacks. They also agreed Reg Race MP summing up on the discussion. to set up a youth subcommittee.
Two main points of dispute ran through the discussion.
CUTTCIT supported by small minority delegates, argued that the campaign should take operation with the register as a central campaign and should prepare for a network of disaffiliated parties. Focus This was rejected by conference, which wanted to focus the struggle on expulsions. As Tessa Van Gelderen explained, speaking on behalf Brent South - itself under NEC investigation many people in the labour movement wno were sul confused about the TCHINCE were nevertheles opposed to expulsions. and the crucial task was to unite with them to stop the register being ADDICK where it counted most -by expelling people.
A second, much stronger current, mainly supported by the Militant, argued that the conference should not seek to commit labour movement bodies support disaffiliated parties all. Parties threatened with disaffilia. tion, it was argued, should simply accept expulsions This was also rejected: delegates agreed with the steering committee that they would prevent disaffiliations they readied the labour movement to stand up to them.
Despite an attitude or ehalf of leading Militan supporters which many delegates felt was disruptive and divisive the substantial Militant presence was welcomed by most speakers, who called on delegates to support the coming Militant regional on November, and for close co-operation between the new campaign and Militant's *Labour Steering Committee against the Witch-hunt'.
The conference step forward labour movement. We call on all Socialist Challenge readers to throw their energies into building this HICH paign. Photo John Marie Socialist Challenge
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ches, 87 Labour Party branches, twenty union branches and eleven women's sections set up
Steelworker greets conference
1 productione period
Terrard for vital