Mithank would have liked in Since the announcement Of their support. Chairman Bill Dobson's hollow victory in the electoral college to Morris called on Livingstone not to leave the party, but celect latour's candkiate there was no ringing for London Mayor, everything within the trade unions endorsement for Frank Dobson. is not going Blair's way. Millbank has even gone so London Regional Transport far as to suggest that trade RMT have pledged support unions which back Livingstone will not be subfor Livingstone and the ject to automatic disaffilia tion from the party. looks set to follow suit.
Despite all this evidence of At the Communication real movement in the base Whrker's Union Brecutive al of the labour movement, Livingstone not to stand was defeated - and this is cer- including the Guardian and tainly not a body with a left Wing Livingstone to stand, other sections of the press Even the Party's own Trade Union Liaison Committee claim he has little or to meeting on February 24 did support from Labour's left. that Livingstone's supporters of the Labour Party are more divided about what he should do.
Unfortunately much of the left in the party is dismissive of the possibility that any candidacy not from the Labour Party could be justified.
Livingstone's own statements during the campaign - many of them completely unnecessary - that ne would not stand, and that he would work for whoever Evening Standard, ungThe attacks on Party democracy camnico out De Blair's clique, together with the disappointment at tne govemment's fallure to deliver on its voters aspiratons, nas leo to a redl degeneration in the level of local constituencies.
The depths to which things have sunk was well illustrated at Livingstone's own CLP which discussed what 24.
One contributor argued Inat ne snould not stano de an independent because it would mean that the CLP no longer got the money he gave them as an MP. Tallk But there can be little doubt that - whatever individuals think - if Livingstone falls to stand it will de a massive blow for the left inside the party as well as Millbank will have got its and London could way -the back of this demoralisa-