By expelled Lambeth councillor Steve French AS JOHN Smith was elected the new Labour leader, five of the Lambeth 15 were expelled from the party. Steve Nally was expelled for his role in the Poll Tax move ment. Four councillors Alison Higgs, George Huish, Rachael Webb and myself -were expelled for 'unashamedly putting pressure on the council leadership'. This horrendous crime meant that we simply expressed dissenting opinions. This represents a qualitative deepening of the witch hunt.? The National Constitutional S Committee has expelled and suspended people simply for their opinions. It is the first time that the excuse of being a 'party within a party' has not been used. Alison Higgs and myself have never made any secret of our support for Socialist Outlook, but this was not an issue in our expulsions. Labour general secretary Larry Whitty merely accused us of 'agitating against national party policy' and 'attacking the council leadership'. For this people have been expelled and suspended. Dissent is now an expellable offence in the Labour Party. The purge will now deepen, as press and TV silence help Smith keep his hands 'clean'. Never has In comes the new leadership - out go more socialists there been more need to build the Campaign against the Witch Hunt, and a united fighting left to defend the ideas of Get your local Labour Party, trade union or campaign organisation to invite one of the expelled councillors to speak. Contact Campaign against the Witch Hunt, c/o 56 Ashby House, Lough-• borough Estate, London SW19 1QZ. Four councillors were suspended for between six months and two years. Four more hearings will be held in September and as we go to press, Socialist Outlook supporter Cllr John Tuite is before the NCC. See page 2 for details.
Appreciation of Mr Kinnock, page 4.
WORKABLE Steve French burns his Poll Tax bill: any dissent is now expellable Home News Witch:finder-general Larry Whitty