Camden Labour Briefing, April 1987

CAMDEN LABOUR BRLEF ING

—————

APRIL 1987

TOM DEVINE

a shock and a tragic who knew him and A man of unlimited

d enormous warmth, he will nee ely missed. His commitment to socialism and the rights of working people was unrivalled, and as the Councillor for Somers Town, he won the support and affection of everyone who came into contact with him. A radical in both word and deed, Tom will bast be remembered as a man of principle. We send our deepest

athy to SEE aeeae be replaced, but the id._-s which informed his life will

remain eternal.

vom's death is

THE LABOUR GROUP THE FIRST THREE HUNDRED DAYS

It is almost a year since the local government elections and the changeover in the leadership on the Labour Group which followed those

elections. It would be wrong to describe the

last. twelve months as an unmitigated di._ster, but from the outset the Labour Group has been riddled with

contradictions and inconsistencies. In May of last year, a joint

meeting of the Labour Group and the Local Government Committee was held to determine the leadership of the

Group and the key positions on the

Council.

At a meeting of the Labour Group, which was held after these elections, many of the decisions were overturned. A narrow majority in the Labour Group - one vote in some instances - quite deliberately went against the mandate on the Party. ‘

Many of the troubles which have plagued the Labour leadership since last May are directly attributable to the cynical way in which the Group carved up the various positions and Committees, and quite consciously excluded the Party from the democratic process.

In practice, this has meant that

the political aut

leadership has bee ; Right for its legitimacy.

have been operat unit within the neither the democr

hority of the en beholden to the

However, since last May, the Right ing as an independent

Party, accepting

acy of the Party nor the authority of the Group. Given their dependence on the Right, the

leadership have been unable to exert

any control over the mavericks who cia been attempting to undermine the Party § agreed policies over the last twelve

months. It is therefore crucial that the

shi this time round, are maar me accept the twin principles of democracy and accountability. Not democracy when it suits them, but democracy in the broadest possible sense.

It is proposed that this year there should be a joint meeting between the Labour Group and the Local Government Committee. This meeting will form an electoral college, with each constituent part having 507 of the vote.

‘We call on the present leaticrship to support the confereme in the perty, ad hoor its' decisions in the subsoqumnt AGM of the Labour

Tt is only in this way that the authority of the leadership, the cohesion of the Group, and the full involvement of the Party and the wider Labour Movement can be assured.

In the run up to a General Election we need a united and positive Party, working together with agreed policies and within acceptable principles.

The principles of democracy and accountability are paramount.

The election of Group Officers and Committee positions must involve ag broad a cross-section as possible of the Party. The elections must be open and accountable,

The Labour Group which endorses the decisions of the joint meeting must be similarily open and subject to public srutiny. The secret ballot - by which last year's decision was overturned - must be rejected in its entirety. The Party has a right to know how their Councillors are voting, especially on an issue which will determine the future of local government in Camden.

Steve Bevington, St. Pancras Graham Shurety, Gospel Oak

THE WRECKING CREW —ECKING CREW

Labour Briefing,

locally, has alwa discussion and de Movement. Indeed,

both Nationally and

2 Msus around socialist Principles and Practice,

However

comradely and reasonab believe that it is Possible to resolve political differences in a way which is both responsible and democratic,

Increasingly, the Right in Camden have had no such qualms.

Since May 1986, the Right in Camden have effectively become a law unto themselves, not only operating as an Organised caucus on the Labour Group and conducting themselves in a way which is highly irresponsible, but also acting on principles which are fundementally anti-democratic and unsocialist,

I am not referring to the series of broadsheets, produced and distributed by the Right, using the logo of Camden Briefing and attempting to smear individual supporters of Briefing. I can live with that. Such attacks are neither important nor worthy of response.

However, I am concerned with the way in which a small group of Right wing Councillors have been systematically undermining the agreed policies and priorities of the Party in Camden.

The Manifesto committed us to growth and this year's Borough Conference fully endorsed this committment. The Manifesto also committed us to working with both the Trade Unions and community groups, again, a policy overwhelmingly endorsed by Borough Conference and a large majority of the Labour Group.

The Right have embarked upon a aaa campaign, via the local media, of deliberately

ini these policies.

— two months, "leaked' articles by Councillors Hulme, Griffiths, Shaw and Latham, have appeared in the local newspapers. These articles have not only attacked the Left, they have attacked the entire basis of the Party's agreed policies in Camden.

I am not objecting to the right of people to disagree with policies, but I am objecting to the way in which these ' disagreements have been orchestrated - via

le manner. We

not only undermining those Policies, but actually supporting Alliance and Tory members of those Committees,

The final insult, to both the Party and the wider movement, has been their Private meeting with the District Auditor - a Tory Official - aimed at discrediting the entire financial Strategy agreed by the Party and supported by a larg Majority of the Labour Group.

These attacks, and the way in which they are being conducted, are doing irreperable damage to the Party in Camden.

The local media are using the Right just as the Right are using them. Not to open uf debate, but to open splits where none exist and to undermine policies which have been arrived at democratically and with the 11 involvement of the Party.

In effect, Hulme, Smyth, Denny, Griffitt Shaw, Latham, et al, are acting as a wrecking crew, an Alliance caucus in everything but name. They are damaging not only the Party and our electoral chances, they are also tearing apart our links with both the Unions and the wider community.

Angela Birtill Councillor, Kilburn Ward

INTERNATIONAL SHELTER WEEK: March 29 - Apr

Meeting: Future of Council Housing 7 pm 31 March, The Town Hall

Meeting: Private Tenants Campaign

2 April, Winchester Project * te P ” Swiss Cottage NW3

CAMDEN LABOUR BRIEFING

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday 29 April 8.00 p.m. Venue to be announced