Today the main problem facing working people is somehow to find the means to get the Tories out of office. Already the mobilisation against the Poll Tax, combined with the crisis among the bourgeoisie about their future orientation, to the European community or to US imperialism, led to the fall of Thatcher.
In a General Election, we clearly should call for votes for Labour candidates at that point in time, because that will be the best way for working people to get rid of the Tories.
But the editorials in Socialist Outlook are an unnecessary concession opportunism Mahmood's can didature obviously cannot weaken the mood of the working class to drive out the Tories. Rather, it is the highest expression of it so far.
It shows people wanting to get at the government without the Labour apparatus holding them back. Advanced workers are already taking a step further than just relying on Kinnock to defeat the Tories. Votes for Mahmood, at this particular place and time, are the best contribution to getting the Tories out.
If Mahmood were badly beaten, that really strengthen the appetite of Walworth Road for the witch hunt. If she does well, it might encourage the healthy tendencies around Militant to question its long hardened prejudices and bad practices.
We obviouslv cannot ask anyone in the Labour Party to put their heads on the block and When I heard that Socialist Outno need. But the whole left is going to be in crisis over WalThe very existence of some currents may be at stake. But how can we look the advanced workers of Merseyside in the face when they ask us Where were you on the day?' Tim Gregory London SW16