The Socialist Campaign Group Network conference on May 21, "After the London Elections" demonstrated both the problems of the left inside the Labour Party and the difficulties involved in bringing together the Labour left to work with socialists outside of the party, such as those involved the London By toe cho of tre opening platform speeches, which recent elections results parLSA had not been menChristine Shaweroft, howanyone leaving the Labour Party should be shot (metaphorically speaking, she later explained) and called for the devaluation of the pound as a response to the crisis in mantracturing Industay.
I intervened to oppose devaluation - pointing out that it would in effect lead to a generalised pay cut and terence that in any case the issue is employers present it given the importation of materials and components. I also appear. Much of mentioned what seemed to be the unmentionable subicct - the I.SA - and urged conference participants to be prepared to work and organse bot most she outsic of the Labour Party. Leicester and the Alliance that the London Labour left enormously over the last few weaker. "We just have to end outside the paky," she said.
Islington UNISON activist Andrew Berry stressed Inal "we are in a very weak position here. Livingstone got a strong support for the LSA, as a Labour Party member, massive vote and there are only 50 people at this con- and arguca for work insiac and outside of the party. He Labour Briefing supporter stressed that if you add the Mike Phipps intervened to LSA and green vote say that in his view things together it represents a substantial vote to the left of were even worse than they Labour which should be Livingstone's vote was not a built on. vote for the left, and the left Maria Exall from the platwas weaker now than before form then made it clear that the campaign. He pointed sne ruly supporca inc out that more than a half of LSA, and argued that the important for the future of the left in London.
Socialist Outlook sup- Pete Firmin from Brent argued that "we are feeling vened to argue that the isolated, but so are the left abour left should work in many of the unions". On with the ISA and stressed the LSA he said that there are many good activists in closely to the left in the the LSA and he is happy to work with them. But he unions, Marian Brain from Birmingham also stressed the need for common activ- hitch itself to the ISA". aty between those inside and outside the Labour Party Price said that the results Piers Corbyn reiterated his poor and its meetings not Steve impressive. wrong to see the Green vote as to the lett of labour. is like a Lib-Dem vote but wounser , he said.
Geoff Martin, London regional convenor of UNISON, speaking from the plattorm in the second session, launched a sustained attack on new Labour.
He criticised the unions for giving large sums of moncy to the Labour Party for the next election and should only be given to supLS/ campaigners: has Labour left missed the last bus out? port the campaigns of MPs who were prenared to support the unions - like eremy Corbyn and John McDonnell in London.
A resolution was adopted which dealt mainly with Labour democracy and the abuse of it.
It called for a campaign for the readmission of Ken Livingstone into the party, Livingstone maintaining his vate partnership on the