says the Peckham and Birmingham Northfield election results 'mark revival of fortunes for the Labour Party'. I wish it were true.
Peckham the turnout was only 38 per cent, and Harriet Harman, the Labour candidate, took 50 Dick Taverne of the SDP Alliance pushee up the Liberal vote by 25 per cent to 33 per cent of the total vote.
It was taken from both Tories (16 percent) and Labour (10 per cent), marked surge trom Labour in the last week.
Peckham is a Labour stronghold' But it's a bit problem "stronghold" when only 38 per cent of the people vote at all and where the SDP with no policies can take a third of the vote.
Why did it happen? The campaign itsell was efficiently run, with lots of help from Labour below Name...
Address Age Union/CLP (if any).......
50. London N1 2XP Socialist Challenge 5 November 1982 members and trade unionists. Canvassing, leafletting and knocking up were done by hordes of people and Harrier Harman, the candidate, worked extremely hard to get herself known. The answer lies at a national level.
on me doorstep the response was, don't vote, there's no difference between you, and even it And ten is any good! And even Ency accept Inat Labour Party policy ment, the EEC and public spending is different, they faith that the Labour government could carry any of it out.
Far from the NEC at tacks on the Bennite left regaining the wavering Labour vote, it has had the opposite effect. Many Labour voters agree with decisions but TCCO4I139 that the present NEC and cabinet of a future Labour government will not carry Harriet Harman canvessing in Peckham. them out. This showed up in the public meetings The first on the police Roy Hattersley and Pat Hewit (NCCL) attracted about people. The second with Tony Bena, drew at least 350 with more turned away. Whether the centre and right of the Labour Party like it or not (and it was clear from David Basnett's face, chairing the meeting, that they don't Benn nas amongst the rank and file just amongst Labour Party and trade union activists but from ordinary Labour voters.
The attack on the left of the party is not popular Labour supporters, highlights internal strug BECAUSE gles but because it is seen as an attack on the policies left. which are those of both other parties.
This has led to a confusion and, demorahsation and - in Peckham at least - to a massive 62 per cent This is going to be a long hard battle, because as the BL vote shows, the mass of workers won't go into battle unless they have a leadership they can trust. We must widen our sights.
The issue is one leadership across the labour movement. The right is on the offensive on this question of leader ship. We must take up tne fight on the LP. and defeat the witchhunt.
This will mean fighting to organise the left in the unions to deal with the block vote. And we must establish left use unis le currents in the unions to remove the right.
UNITY LAE.U -SEM. S.MEW S. STRENGTH IS NS.M.M COMMITTEE 10.WU LEYLAND
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