The witch-hunt in the Labour Party will reach a new intensity over the next few months, not simply due to the leadership's campaign to expel everyone they can vaguely associate with Lesley Mahmood's candidacy in Walton, but also because various 'enquiries' are reaching their conclusions.
A report will be going to the organisation sub-committee on July 15th aimed at the 13 suspended Lambeth councillors. The 13 were attacked for opposing the Gulf War and the use of bailiffs against Poll Tax non-payers. Iwo other Party members were also targetted for supporting the anti-Poll Tax Federation.
Now the case is to be referred to the National Constitutional Committee (NCC) on the grounds of a sustained course of conduct prejudicial to the Party'. A similar report is likely on the six Brighton councillors suspended for their opposition to the Poll Tax and the CLP suspended for supporting them.
Of the 13 members of the Labour Party in Tower Hamlets referred to the NCC, accused of being supporters of Militant, seven were recently expelled (the other 6 cases have still to be heard). In Sheffield Central CLP, where a previous attempi to move against a Socialist Organiser seller was knocked back, a new proposal 'to investigate the presence of Socialist Organiser in the constituency' was passed in the first five minutes of a General Committee meeting packed by the right for that purpose.
If the right have not exactly bulled their punches so far, the Walton by-election has them frothing at the mouth. The assistant regional organiser cancelled a ward meeting in Newham North-West on the grounds that 'it is intended to rold a discussion under item 5 on 'the renewed struggle for socialism in Liverpool' In the light of this I must instruct you to cancel the meeting so that this matter can be investigated'.
Besides using secret police methods to gather information against the left and moves to remove Terry Fields MP as the endorsed candidate for Broad Green, the right will attempt to tar the whole left with the brush of Walton in their usual claim that we are 'all the same'. Disagreement with the Liverpool Broad Left over standing Mahmood will be no protection.
The Left needs to build a single campaign in defence of all those being witch-hunted, drawing in those who will defend our right to fight for our politics and organise around them even though they disagree with them. The issue needs to be taken consistently into the movement at all levels, particularly the unions. Little work against the witch-hunt has been done in the unions so far, but they provide the bulwark of Kinnock's support.
In particular, individuals and sections of the Party should be encouraged to sponsor 'Campaign against the witch-hunt, set up recently from a meeting with repre sent ver from all the main areas of the witch-hunt. The Campaign is holding a conference on September 21st in Manchester and every effort should be made between now and then to ensure that this provides an effective springboard for Senous defence of activists, something missing for many years.
Bulletin with model resolutions and information available from address below.
'Campaign against the Witchhunt can be contacted at CAW c/o 10b Windsor Road, London N7.