THE OUTCOME of the Walton by-election confirmed what many of the left said on this issue - that the candidature of Real Labour' Lesley Mahmood was a tactical mistake. It was a mistake because the Broad Left took on Kinnockism in a by-election, under the national spotlight, where the demonstration of opposition to Kinnockite policies could only be minimised, rather than maximised.
Of course, in a normal by-election 6.6 per cent for a far left candidate would be considered very good. But this was not a normal by-election. It was set up, both by the Kinnockites and the Broad Left, as a test of strength inside the Liverpool working class.
Mahmood's supporters claimed they would show really mass support for their policies of resistance to cuts and redundancies, rather than for those of witchfinder general Kilfoyle. But they chose a terrain where such a demonstration was impossible.
But it was worse than that. Militant and the Broad Left, by claiming Mahmood's campaign was that of the council workers and all those opposing cuts and redundancies, have effectively delivered a defeat to the council workers' struggle. Kilfoyle's victory was also a victory for the Harry Rimmer cuts and redundancies leadership of the council.
In a by-election in a pre-election period many workers want to vote for a 'credible candidate - in other words one from a party which has the possibility of forming the government. Many workers who hate Kinnockism and all its works vote Labour to keep out the Tories and Liberals. The Broad Left is not a nationally credible alternative.
Liverpool Mossley HilL CLP The Walton by-election may have been a victory for Labour candidate Peter Kilfoyle, though the real winners were arguably the Liberal Democrats who increased their vote bv 15%. But the real story of the by-election was the defeat of the Broad Left and Militant supporter, Lesley Mahmood.
Many Labour voters stayed away, disillusioned with Labour's lack of challenge to the Tories. If the result were repeated across the country, Labour would fail to win many of its target marginal seats, including in Liverpool.
But many thousands of workers did vote Labour, seeing it as a class vote against the Tories in a city ravaged by Tory policies. The Broad Left had been hoping for at least 10% of the vote and were claiming 10,000 to 12,000 promises in the run-up to polling day.
But Mahmood got only 2,600 votes, showing the folly of standing against Labour in parliamentary elections at the present time. During times of crisis, the working class always turns to its traditional organisations first. The fact that Labour has such right wing policies will disillusion many, but will not now lead to a fundamental break by the mass of the working class.
situation.
While Mahmood's vote may be creditable as a far left vote, it does nothing to build opposition in the Labour Party and the unions to the Kinnockite move to the right. By allowing the Labour Party the excuse of 'standing against the party' to witch-hunt and expel socialists, the Broad Left candidacy played into the hands of Kinnock and council leader Harry Rimmer.
Mahmood's vote was little more than that gained in one ward in the constituency by the Broad Left candidate in the May council elections. The by-election was largely a single issue campaign, focusing exclusively on the council redundancies. In a parliamentary election, this was far too parochial a response.
By attempting to turn the by-election into a referendum on council redundancies, Mahmood did a disservice to the continuing union battle.
But as we go to press, the GMB and NALGO are considering stepping up the campaign and the pos.sibility of all out action exists. On 12 July, 150 more workers lost their jobs, and the battle to prevent sackings continues.
For the Broad Left, there will have to be a full post mortem of the campaign. Many are complaining about the association of Mahmood with Militant, and the way they took over the campaign.
Militant supporters will have to have a total rethink. Despite the brazen face put on the result by Mahmood and Militant editor Peter Taafe, 'First time around the course'? Mahmood Standing against the official Labour candidate would have made sense if there had been a real chance of winning. But despite the Militant hype, joined by a chorus from the SWP and other far left groups, there was none. If there had been a chance of winning it would have shown a completely different relation of forces inside the labour movement nationally.
In their explanation to their Liverpool supporters, the Broad Left leadership held out the perspective of Liverpool Real Labour' soon being joined by similar developments around the country. This would have meant that the time was right for a split from Labour, a new party, with a significant base in the working class. But that is absurd in the present political Walton is an area of particular strength for Militant, in the most politically radical city in Britain. 2000-odd votes in this highly special there are reports that many of their supporters are having second thoughts about the tactic of standing and splitting from the Labour Party. During the round of expulsions that will inevitably follow, socialists should be opposing the witch-hunt, while at the same time arguing that the tactics pursued by the Broad Left and Militant make it easier for the right to grab control of the Party. The Socialist Workers Party SWP) arque that Mahmood's 2,600 votes were a positive sign of how many support an alternative to Kinnock. Unfortunately (but inevitably) they have now called for all socialists to leave the Labour Party in Liverpool and join...the SWP! But such an approach plays into the hands of the Labour right wing. If the left were to follow their advice, the result would be more of Rimmer's policies and more MPs like Kilfoyle!" The answer lies not with the SWP, but a principled fight inside the Party. The national 'Campaign Against the Witch-hunt' needs to be built, and links need to be made across the left in the Party. In Liverpool, Labour Party Socialists(LPS) had a highly successful meeting after the by-election. While these are difficult times for socialists in Liverpool, LPS offers the possibility of building a fightback in the party. The witch-hunt may widen beyond the core of Militant and the Broad Left, and it will be important to organise to defend anyone threatened. Two counciliors who are not in the 8 By sanding ang.
against this witch hunt. Thatcherism has done to Liverpool. Many disillusioned Labour voters stayed away Broad Left group, Keith Hackett and Frank O'Donohue, are still suspended.
There is a real threat of action against former council leader Keva Coombes and three other councillors for voting against redundancies on June 19. If LPS can build out of this situation and show that there is a way Defend Terry Fields MP! by Mike Picken Terry Fields, Labour MP for Liverpool Broadgreen, has been jailed for 60 days by Bootle magistrates for non-payment of the Poll Tax. By standing up against the Tories and refusing to pay, he has shown solidarity with the poor and challenged the pathetic line of the Labour leadership. by-election, Fields was under investigation by Walworth Road. His stand against the Poll Tax will now be used to justify his removal as a parliamentary candidate in the next general election. All sections of the left, whatever their view on Walton, must now unite solidarity. Fellow Labour MPs refusing to pay the Poll Tax should publicise his case and continue to support his stand. Broadgreen CLP and all Labour party members should demand that Fields remain an endorsed candidate (he was reselected by a huge majority). campaign should be strengthened in the Labour Party for an immediate repeal of the Poll Tax and an amnesty for all non-payers by a Labour No. 6 situation does not, and cannot, translate into the base for a new party to the left of Labour.
Socialist Worker explicitly draws the conclusion that the result of the election justifies the decision to stand, and is a 'good basis' for the building of a new party. That new party turns ¿ Real Labour and Militant are by no means clear; out to be the SWP itself! Yet the intentions of Lesley Mahmood claimed in a radio interview to have 'recruited' some 300 supporters during i the campaign, and suggested that Walton was 2 just 'first time around the course' in their elecBy standing, against Labour when the situation was far from ready for this type of challenge, the Broad Left have handed the Labour leadership witch hunters a gigantic opportunity for a purge - on a plate. Terry Fields is sure to be dé-selected. Socialists from all over the country who canvassed for Mahmood were photographed and will be expelled. Now the left is faced with a massive defensive struggle The real relationship of forces is shown by the many workers who turned away from Kinnockism and voted for the Liberals. The pathetic Tory vote showed the utter rejection of what It goes without saying that we in no way share the sickening gloating of the Labour leadership and their sidekicks in Tribune that they have 'smashed' Militant. But the lessons have to be drawn about the real tasks in defeating the attacks on the workforce and the community.
Above all it required building unity in action, especially strike action, against the attacks. That unity has to reach deep among those workers who have not yet drawn firm conclusions about Kinnockism, or the need to build an alternative party to Labour. By making that task PHOTO: Paul Hermann (Profile' of fighting for principled socialist policies in the Party, there is still hope that members of the Broad Left may embrace that approach. Inevitably, all eyes will be focused on the General Election and building 'Socialists for Labour' also gives an opportunity to continue the fightback. Because he refused to endorse the Labour candidate in the Walton in his defence. Trade union and Labour Party branches should pass resolutions of By highlighting his case and that of other Poll Tax prisoners, the July 20, 1991
Ireland