THE SOCIALIST Campaign Group Supporters Network mobilised 350 Labour Party activists to its Manchester conference on June 11 which marked a significant step forward for the Labour left.
The important decision by Ken Livingstone to stand for party leader was a direct result of the conference. For the four following days there was a hard left candidacy in the media and a socialist perspective being put Livingstone later withdrew in order to secure the candidacy of Margaret Beckett.
At the conference a valuable debate was conducted on the need for a Socialist Campaign Group member to stand in the upcoming leadership contest.
Alan Simpson MP, introducing the conference, explained the confusion within the parliamentary group about the policy to follow in the leadership election.
Socialist Outlook's Steve French was quoted on the front page of the daily Morning Star moving the resolution calling for a candidate.
"It is a question of no candidate, no say. If we are to have a significant part in the debate, we must have a candidate. We can't just censor ourselves before the first round" explained the expelled former Lambeth councillor.
His position was overwhelmingly adopted by the conference, the first time a decision of this type has been shaped by rank-and-file left wing supporters rather than taken by MPs alone.
An alternative position in the discussion was offered by those supporters of Labour Briefing and Socialist Organiser who call for prioritising "soft-left' candidates Beckett (currently party leader), and Prescott (who led an assault against trade unImmigration Detention Centre Campsfield House ion involvement in the selection of party leader at last year's party conference).
The conference also marked a political advance in the Labour left. A series of lively policy workshops were held on the welfare state, arms conversion, full employment and trade union rights.
An important boost was A landmark for the left as 350 activists help shape policies of Socialist Campaign Group MPs given to centralising the activity of local Network groups when the conference backed the call of the Socialist Movement Trade Union Committee for a broadly-based conference in defence of welfare rights.
The growing questioning of universal benefits by Labour's right wing is a crucial question for the left to take up.
The conference represents a positive step forward at a time when local groups of the Socialist Campaign Group Network are being set up in more and more cities.
Contact the Socialist Campaign Group Network at 3, Blades House, London, SEI1 2NU.