Southampton Labour Briefing no. 2

THE WA

EXPULS

OF UNITY

GES ICON

Last Wednesday tne NEC had a to make a Labour govern-

Li4 choice: cf ment safe for capitalism, or nov. ““Pheir preference is now clear, as is “/tneir means. The means can perhaps be //construed as the ultimate aim for party “democracy - that tne policies ot the rank “*/ ana file and those of the parliamentary leadership match exactly. The catch, however

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Ais thattnose t refle

ff in order for thi “centalism" to work socialist policies “the atrociousiy pure /wing. Since the CLPs pe ‘Ye, Conservative-style supp An /narrowly right wing feyoppose the class-collaborati ‘i/namely the advocates of socia Me Last Wednesday's NEC marks 43/a new move in the pogrom of the left. The basis on whicn the expulsion of "Militant" is to take place has been changed. The original NEC document, outlining the case for a register, named "Militant" as being ineligible to register, without offering them the opportunity to apply. Having received legal advice that this might be contrary to natural justice, the NEC set about anotner test to which "Militant" could be put - one they felt confident it could not meet. This shows very clearly the motives of the NEC: this is not an organisational move, but a political one aiming to remove the influence of the "Militant", and eventually other tendencies that tignt for the adoption of socialist poliCLES s In a move away from the idea of a register, and towards the proscribed list, and a witeh-nunt, the NEC will shortly consider whether "Militant" is eligible to affiliate to the Labour Party as an organisation, ite the fact

despi that no such application has been submitted. It is probable tnat the NEC will deem anyone in any way sympathetic to "Militant" to

party requires the

members whose views don't at et those of the PLP and the shadow

Sn, resen A Seabinet will have to sacrifice tneir membership

s interesting form of “democratic . A Labour Party committed to is being driven over a cliff by iLemmingist" dogma of the right rsistently refuse to be reduced to orters! club, tne creation of a silencing of all who onist policies of tne right wing, lism. be a member, and therefore liable to be expelled. This could rapidly bead to a situation in which 44 would be impossible for any party member to sell or even be seen reading a copy of Militant" and prepare for the discrediting or anyone proposing a motion .including sucn policies as nationalisation. The new NEC proposals tnerefore go much further than the old, and present a far greater danger to the left of the party, preparing the ground for the intimidation or expulsion of a very wide layer of activists, notably all those who publish their own newspapers and magazines. In order to ensure tnat the leadership controls the membership nad not vice versa, the right wing need to undermine party democracy. Announcing that the removal of MMilitant' was ‘not a one-off job' Golding is preparing to reverse all the gains of the last two years, and indeed of long-established democratic rights, starting with the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy. It is, vital that all constituencies and affiliated trade unions fight back. In Bermondsey the local Farty are asserting their right to choose their own candidate, and resisting the

attempts of the NEC to impose a candidate or shortlist. In Hornsey the Party has voted to accept Tariq Ali as a member, and demanded to know the basis on which the NEC wish to remove him, despite a threat of disbandent if they do not comply. The disbanding of Hornsey Labour Party can only damage Labour's prospects in the coming general election, despite the NEC's assertions that it is acting solely in tne electoral interests of tbe Party. All those who are fighting for a Labour government committed to socialist policies should defend the CLYs under attack, and be prepared to follow them if necessary. On no account snould be tne NEC be

allowed to isolate the CLPs tnat are in the front line.

The Labour Against the Witchhunt (LAW) campaign, formed out of a conference called by Hackney CIP, is attempting to organise for the defence of parties such as Hornsey, and tnereby the whole left, on the widest possible basis. It is unfortunate tnat the "Militant" dominated Labour Steering Committee against the Witch-hunt have declined to fully co-operate with LAW.

Southampton Labour Party should continue to support the campaigns of LAW and the Labour Steering Committee, in carrying out its declared policy of fighting witcnhunts and expulsions.

Gareth Narbed Richard Correll

DEFEND ABORTION RIGHTS

Lord Robertson of Oakbridge, a 52 year old merchant banker, has sntroduced a new anti-abortion bill into the House of Lords. The bill aims to greatly restrict the grounds for abortion by slightly altering the wording of the 1967 Abortion Act. Section one of the Act would then read: "that tne risk of pregnancy would. involve serious risk to the life of the pregnant woman, or if injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or any existing family is substantially greater than if pregnancy were terminated? (Amendments shown underlined.)

Normally a bill from the Lords would nave little chance of becoming law without being given government time. But tne bill coincides with the ballot for private member's bills. Heading the ballot were well-known antiabortionists sucn as John Corrie,

Norman St.John Stevas, and Ray Witney. If one of them was to take

on Lora Robertson's bill, it would shorten the parliamentary procedure considerably.

If this happens Southampton Labour Party, in co-operation with the Women's Centre, the LPYS, Trades Council, and local trade unions, must mount a campaign to defend a woman's right to choose. As an immediate first step all members snould be informed of the very real threat that tue 1967 Act now faces. Abortion rights have been under attack before, from the Benyon, White and Corrie billie, and from the cnanges made in the documentation required by government. On each occasion they have been defended, but we must not be complacent. If necessary we must mobilise the whole Labour Movement to support a woman's rignt to

choose. nae . Mike Tucker

nn as

ABOUT THIS BULLETIN

CO rc a

This is the second issue of a monthly bulletin produced by Southampton supporters of the weekly

socialist newspaper

"Socialist Challenge".

we

intend the bulletin to cover the most important issues facing the Labour movement locally and nationally. for further information on our policy and local activities, phone Southampton 39851.