The Labour party NEC has declared war on socialists in Lambeth. Anyone who has fought Kinnock's policies on any issue is at risk. The democratic rights of party members to express and fight for views contrary to that of the NEC is under threat.
In the last decade local goverameat bas been smashed by the Tories with the acquiesence of the Labour leadership. However there are still some pockets of resistance to mop up. Liverpool face the imposition of candidates for their May elections, coun cillors face expulsion in Tower Hamlets, Brighton and now the Lambeth inquiry.
Walworth Road will Cany into the "activities" of the Lambeth Labour Group. The allegations specifically relate to two recent council meetings called to debate the Gulf War and the use of bailifis to enforce payment of the poll tax. Allegations seck to blame the current crisis in Lambeth on Labour councillors. not Tory altacks on local government. The Kinnockites can no longer tolerate Lambeth's left or even Joan Twelves's default, the defeat of Iraq makes Iran the strongest power in the region. For the reactionary sheiks who run the Gulf this is unacceptable.
The Syrian-Egyptian force is given credibility by US backing. What the US has achieved through this its influence in the region 4081134 Japanese and European imperialism. For two decades US trade with the region had declined left variant of the "dented shield".
Imposed MP Kate Hoey has said the aim is to remove six left Councillors who wave consistcutly voted against cuts and poll tax, plus possibly Joan Twelves and Greg Tucker, thereby creating an LCC leadership by expulsion.
The enquiry is shrouded in unspecified allegations of "intimidation'. Two probailiffs councillors allege they had 'scab' painted on their front doors and that one has had ber car tyres slashed. The Group condemns these events but it is slander to link them with Councillors or Lambeth Against the Poll Tax. The LCC's record on violence is not one to be proud of. I was assaulted in the previous Labour Group by an L.CCer and once by a Labour councillor's brother. The Leader at the time Dick Sorabji took no action.
The truth is that their "investigation" is a witchhunt. They fear that socialists in the party who speak out against the slaughter in the Gulf and the class people by bailiffs will damage Labour's electoral chances.
The witch-hunt will not stop at Socialists in Labour the Middle East?
compared with its economic competitors. US dominance does not mean that Kuwait's unique relationship with the City of London will be altered. But it does mean that Saudi Arabia and the tiny Gulf sheikdoms will look to the US.
The Palestinian issue will not be 'solved' in any new US initiative. It cannot be, because the basis of the initiative is land for peaceland for the Palestinians in exchange for peace with isGroup. It is already clear from stories planted in the press that party members, especially Labour Briefing supporters, are under threat. Tax movement have been singled out as likely targets.
In classic witch-hunt style accusations have been "leaked" to and printed by the press, along with denunciations of the Labour administration from imposed Vauxhall MP Kate Hoey and Streatham parliamentary candidate Keith Hill. Every national paper has now launched an attack, with the Sun *doorstepping" councillors. The party apparatus have been complicit in this.
Will Briefing be witchhunted too? The LCC use it as a convenient label to link their opponents. The Sunday Telegraph links PPC John Wilton with Briefing and reported "Labour Brief ing has created the atmosphere which has allowed the intimidation to take place." Vauxhall member Steve Nally has also been fingered in the press.
Joan Twelves and others current administration are also under attack. The Twelves leadership has alienated many of those who must be mobilised against rael. Such a solution has been on offer from the PLO since 1975 at least. It is utterly unacceptable to the Is. raclis.
On the contrary all the pressure in Iscacl is towards the consolidation of Israeli settlements on the West Bank, especially as the number of immigrants from the Soviet Union increases. The Israclis will not part with the occupied territories, nor any part of them.
The new US-sponsored the witch-hunt by cutting jobs and services. They are making the workforce and local community pay for Tory policies. And now following pressure from Brian Gould, they have paid their poll tax.
However the administration must be defended against this attack which seeks to replace Twelves with a right-winger determined to inflict even greater attacks on Lambeth workers and the community.
Thirty members of the Labour Group oppose the enquiry. Norwood CLP unanimously opposed the witch-hunt and Vauxhall is bound to when it is allowed to meet. The LGC cannot take a view. It bas been suspended for over a year Although in dispute with the Council over cuts, NAIGO has taken the principled decision to oppose the witch-hunt, by roughly 700-3.
We need the biggest and broadest possible campaign. Please pass resolutions in your Labour Party or Trade Union. Socialists must argue that those who have fought the poll tax and cuts and actively opposed the war were right to do so.
Drop the enquiry!
Cllr. Steve French
security set-up for the Gulf stems directly from the chain of events unleashed by the fall of the Shah of Tran in 1978. The Shah's Tran was the guarantor of US interests. His fall made Islamic Iran a danger to those interests, a danger thrown back by Iran-Irag war. Now Iraq has in turn been defeated. Only US power itself can now guarantee Pax Americana in the gulf.
Frank Clarke