By Bill MacKeith. LABOUR right-wingers combined with the Tories on Oxford City Council to defeat - by one vote - a resolution calling for the closing down of Campsfield detention centre.
Among those voting with the Tories was Val Smith, wife of Oxford Labour MP Andrew Smith. Mayor of Oxford John Power went on radio to insist that 'we don't support universal immigration The council only agreed to call for a Public Enquiry into The actions of these rightwing councillors is consistent with Labour Front Bench policy which appears to be opposed to the closure of Campsfield.
Their desperate search for 'respectability' leads them to oppose measures which even the local Liberal democrats have no problems supporting.
No doubt they will also fail to campaign against the building alongside Campsfield of a proposed detention centre for 12-14 year olds, part of the Tories' 'Get Tough' policy.
Despite this reverse the campaign to close Campsfield continues. This weekend (23-24 April) a two day 'Freedom Camp' with ten tents has been set up outside the detention centre. • Preparations are well in hand for a National Day of Vigils outside detention centres and prisons on 30th April.
Pickets will take place outside Pentonville, Holloway, Harmondsworth, Haslar (Portsmouth), Winson Green, Canterbury, Winchester and elsewhere - including, of course, Campsfield.
Conference also heard