ARTHUR Scargill, In Newport East, has registered a respectable, It disappointing, protest vote against New Labour's candidate, ex-Tory defector Alan Howarth.
With nearly two thousand Scargill, standing for the SocialIst Labour Party (SLP), saved his deposit. However he falled to dent the Labour majority, coming In behind the Tory and Lib Democrat candidates.
Nevertheless, by standing against Howarth the WUM president highlighted for many in Newport Blair's attempts to distance the Labour Party from Its working class base.
Labour supporters in this solIdly working-class constituency were given a stark choice. Presented by their own party with a recent ex-member of the government which had so mercilessly attacked their jobs and communities, many gave their support Instead to the miners' leader - a man who has consistently led the resistance against such attacks.
Howarth's candidacy represented a drift too far for a layer of activists, whereas Scargili emNot focused: Scargill bodled a more famillar politics, rooted in working class self-organisation.
Dissension within Labour
ranks in Newport was stirred up by the leadership's blatant manoeuvring to secure Howarth a safe seat at the With veteran Labour MP Roy Hughes 'persuaded' to stand down, Howarth was selected from a shortilst which - significantly - excluded several strong local contenders.
Party members taking part in the ballot were left in no doubt that they were expected to endorse the leadership's choice, and most duly did so.
Left activists were however disgusted by the effective Imposition of a largely unrepentant Tory. One branch secretary publIcly announced her intention to campaign against Howarth.
Scargili's candidacy provided shouted down.
Scargill falled to bulld on this promising foundation however, dissipating his and his party's energies Instead of concentrating his attention on Kewport. The SLP stood candidates In four other South Wales constituenwith the combination and an many candidate could have made a sig however tive to the Labour government for which millions of workers have been fervently waitiag.