Tunney, Brighton LP After an angry debate, conference voted to uphold the decision of the NEC to suspend MPs Terry Fields and Dave Nellist from holding any position in the bour Party. Earlier, the out-going NEC had ruled Nellist out of order as a candidate for the new NEC.
Terry Fields was tried and sentenced in his absence even though doctors had informed the NEC that he should rest after his time in prison.
Dave Nellist told the Brighton Friends/Campaign Against the Witch-hunt fringe meeting, held the Saturday complied with every edict from But when the NEC asked me to name names, that was a line I was not prepared to cross: course, it is not only the MPs who were refised entrance to their own conference.
At the same NEC, members Party wereadded to the hundreds already suspended. Last Monday one of the present autors was also added to But the purge will not stop there Tory chair, Chris Patten, after successfully demanding the heads of Fields and Nellist, is now calling tot those of all the Socialist Campaign Group The Brighton Friends/ Campaign Against the Witch-hunt meeting showed the possibilities when the left in just one area unified around a campaign to fight the purges.
With 500 people in attendance, the meeting was one of the largest and most powertul meetings of the week. Skinner argued 'Stop the sec campaign to stop McCarthyism in our party • This contrasted with the 300 strong march and rally of the vividly what I had always Dave Nellist and Terry Fields join Friends of Brighton Labour Party in demonstration against purges 'Defend Dave Nellist and Terry Fields Campaign' The rally was disappointing for a number of reasons. Democratic campaign First, a campaign set up to light for democracy in th abour Party should be set u on a democratic basis. Second, as Terry Fields had stressed at the meeting the night before, the witch-hunt is not just about here was also a problem bout what people at the rally were calling for. This included a much wider set of demands simply defending Fields and Nellist's right to be Mi's.
This tactic culminated in the received unsolicited sets of five majority of the marchers chanting at conference delegates, You'll never take us all. Not exactly calculated to get the most positive response.
However the most disapointing aspect of the rally was its size - especially since peopie had clearly come from different parts of the country.
This indicates the problems which a number of Militant supporters now have in fightbour any for membership of the Nonetheless, the possiblities for a united campaign are there.
against the witch-hunt should have the defence of the two MPs as a number one priority. Pressure everywhere can attend HANDS OFF THE on Campain Group Mis makes their involvement in the campaien more ikely.
The vote at conference also showed the potential to build upport among the party's rank ind file. Despite all Kinnock's he witch-hunting LCC claimec over 70 CLPs opposed the National Campaign Against the Witch-hunt is a non-sectarian, independent group which does not make any prescriptions as to local tactics for camIt can be contacted clo 56 Ashb House, Loughborbough Road Brixton, London, S W9 75L.