A June 1990 letter to Thatcher's private secretary, Charles Powoll, snono wat gnost-aton solors were being sent out on behalf of the Prime Minister wnich acknowDecember 5th sees the Annual General Meeting of Labour Party Socialists. Here COUNCILLOR STEVE FRENCH and KATE AHRENS put forward the case for a new unity of the Labour Left in the Socialist Campaign Group Supporters Network and look at the implications for the future of Labour Party Socialists. IN THE PAST few years the rise and rise of the new realists in the Labour Party bureaucracy has squeezed the left into ever more defensive positions. Many activists have dropped out, or been pushed out of the Party.
Labour Party Socialists, and Labour Left groups have linkec become increasingly fragmented and isolated.
Network Now, the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs, together with activists from many different groups and areas, have launched the Socialist Campaign Group Supporters Network in an effort to reinvigorate and unify the left. The authority that the SCG have on the Labour left could be a decisive factor in uniting these forces.
Launched at the Socialist Campaien Group conterence in Leeds in June, the Network has Key figure on the left - Benn built a large base of support and has been strongiy welcomed by both left MPsand activists on the ground. The task now is to tum real organisation, with a emoc poncy marins sar uc ture with campaigning orientaton that lnks tne stusies LPS and local left caucuses have a vital role to play in buildIt would be sly to disso ve existing struc tures before it becomes clear that the Network is thriving. LPS has been unique on the Jeft for its and this activity must be reflected in the network. However, the task for the left must be to aid the process of making the Network à real focus for all the vertinside the rary, I ne bessele ments of LPS's activity must be retained and improved within the network.
New realism As the Network develops, the need for LPS will disappear, and the task of fighting the new realists inside the Party and the unions can be tackled in a united This means building local branches of the Network and arguing that the campaigning orientation of LPS is adopted.
The Network presents a new opportunity to fight the Smith leadership in a stronger and more unified way than has been possible for a long time. The left can still make gains in the Party, as we saw with the victory of the left's resolution on union links at this year's Party conference. By building the Network we car create à force to be reckoned