CAN THERE be a united campaign against the witch-hunt? Many constituencies are discussing this after the founding Labour Against the Witch-hunt and the Militant leadership's sectarian response.
way to attended, or the 20 MPs who backed it.
The many falsehoods and distortions in their article will stir up animosity and division and weaken all forces fight expulsions. Public wrangling between Militant and its defenders can only discredit the lett and strengthen the right, to Militant's own disadvantage.
But unity still necessarv. The rest of the left has to oppose artificial wing will benefit if the bat- Ene right tie against the witch-hunt becomes a battleground.
So what are the obstacles to unity and how can they be overcome? Submit The first obstacle was spelt out clearly on 30 October: YUL trade union rank and file, Labour Party who do want to defend Militant but aon't agree with its policies, to submit inemselves io a campaign they don't control.
did CLPs DaCK the Hackney conference? because ol a Illau sectarlan Irenzy against Militant, as Pat Wall conference of Militant spends a full page attacking the conference in its latest issue - hardly the best unite with the 100 constituencies who editors seem to think, but because they wanted campaign which was ac countable to them 1 ney will nave to lake some very serious actions; thes will uneatened disbandment and many othe things. it wrong for Militant to expect them to accept decsions laken on Inel benall by a committee they don't run.
Indeed, if Militant had from the outset established proper accountable DEDL ember, there would have been no divisions The 27 November regional conferences which it IS now should establish accountable local committees WIl greatly increase the prospects for unity STIT didn't Militant set up such a struc ture? Clearly, because they don't want their decisions determined by bodies they don't control. And nobouy crucises tem IoI this. If they want separate campaign to run their own defence activity they have every right to do so.
They therefore misunderstand those speakers who pointed out on _abour Steering Committee against the Witch-hur - their body — has a ma.
of Militant TOTIL sup porters.
These speakers did not deny Militant's right have such a committee. All they said was that Militant can't have it both ways. 1ney can I nave a laboul movement campaign run them because they don't run the labour At present. therefore, there are two CanDals accountable to the Militant and one to the zoour movement Does this mean the two should rivals? solutely not. On the contrarv. It thev now get thei forces together as the 30 OCLODCI Comerence proposed - - it will strengthen unity and add to the forces involved the fight against the For a start, ine new campaign has the backing of very MPs absence , their campaign is loudly annuice by Militant. Joint So the two campaigns should obviously get together, and the first step should be to draw up a plan of joint action: a joint campaign resoldons and hopefully fringe meetings and rallies, back ed by both bodies, Dennis Skinner Labour weekly