By a CLP delegate to the conference THE DITCHING of Clause Four dominated the North West Regional Labour Party Conference held in Southport on 10-12 March.
No resolutions were contained in the Conference booklet, but many delegates were aware that resolutions had been submitted and kept off the agenda.
There was high drama when the Conference sessions began, ending in a major victory for the left delegates.
After several debates and votes on Friday and Saturday, in which the Conference Arrangements Committee and elements did everything in their power to prevent a debate taking place, the Conference finally overturned the platform and voted to debate Clause Four.
This was a major victory for democracy, fought for and won by left delegates at the Conference. The Regional Executive then produced a statement, that while being diplomatic towards the Blair leadership, stated that the Party in the North West wanted the special conference on April 29 to confirm "a commitment to Common ownership..un### UNISON HOW MAM UNISI MOR MUST BL UNISON: retreat on Clause leaves members stranded der democratic control".
Having such a clear statement for common ownership was a victory for the left, and the statement was overwhelmingly carried by conference.
Unfortunately a resolution from Jack Straw's Blackburn CLP defending the existing Clause Four was defeated by a two to one majority, mainly because GMB, UNISON and other unions argued that it wrongly linked Clause Four and the need for Regional Government.
Forcing the Blackburn resolution onto the agenda, which required two card out of order. votes, was the high soot of the left's intervention in the conference.
In the evening nearly 80 delegates packed into a fringe meetino to hear Audrey Wise MP and Michael Hindley MEP defend Group.
none of the additions - on women's rights or anti-racism for example - which Blair's supporters were saying it would introduce and which are not in the existing On top of this it includes a commitment to the kind of UNISO family values traditionally endorsed by the Tories, and to national defence. MATOR /Not mentioned DISASTER Neither of these far-reaching commitments to uphold the status quo has ever been Clause Four. The meeting mentioned in the course of the fraudulent 'consultation pebrought together union and CLP delegates and was in to- riod' on the Clause: tal contrast to last year's So- Blair is claiming that the acceptance of the new Clause cialist Campaign Group fringe meeting, which at- by the NEC is a defining moment in the history of the Latracted only ten delegates.
Abour Party.
The Blackburn motion accepted by the Special Conwas strongly supported, noference it would certainly tably by the RMT and by the TGWU, whose 150,000 represent a major victory for block votes were cast consistently with the left. But Indeed Blair has made no the balance of speakers was concessions to any of those in favour of Blair's line. (like the GMB leader John A motion from Ribble Val- Edmonds) who have been ofley CLP which called for af- fering their support in exfiliation to the Defend Clause change for the inclusion of Four Campaign was ruled certain specific commitments.
A further sign of the resis- Of course the soft left adtance to the Blair leadership vocates of such trade-offs -who claimed to be seeking a was the fact that a number pledge to full employment, a of left wingers were elected minimum wage, and other to the Regional Executive, inpolicies - had given up on cluding active supporters of defending Clause Four. the Socialist Campaign That's why they have immediately welcomed the new
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 80, March 25 1995, Page 4.