elections in places like Liverpool and Sheffield in order to consolidate his grip over the Party.
Kinnock wants to ensure that there will be no fight at local government level this year, that at all costs Labour Councils stay within the law. Not even a challenge to capitalism or the state will be allowed.
Up to now, the soft left, including such figures as David Blunkett, have anonymous charges from people both Inside and outside the Party.
The inquiry has been widely - and correctly - regarded as a show-trial. as a bureaucratic method for removing from the Party Hatton, Mulhearn and other local Party leaders. who actually stood up to the Tory Government.
Kinnock clearly wants to ensure all socialist opposition within the Party is removed by the next General Election. He wants No. 10 Downing Street at all costs, and a free hand for class collaboration in government, even if that means handing local Councils to the Tories in May.
Liverpool land to a certain extent Lambeth) were an embarrassment both to the national Party leadership and many local Councils precisely because they stuck by Party policy and fought the Government. Kinnock's attitude of obeying the law at all costs, of cowering behind the "dented shield", arguing that Labour cuts are kinder than Tory cuts. is rapidly gaining support amongst sections of the so-called "left". Socialist Viewpoint No. 10 February 1985 p13
By KEVIN FLACK have been investigated or gone along with the witch-hunt -now they are bleating in panic. Blunkett saw one of his own Councillors from Sheffield expelled by the smallest of majorities on the NEC and must now be regarded as either naive or stupid in not realising where the attacks on Liverpool that he supported were heading. ticularly make sure that the rest of the We should be clear, and hard left is clear, that there are now only two sides to the Party - the left and the right - and there can be no sitting on the fence.
The job of socialists is to defend unconditionally the right of all socialists to organise and speak out within the Party - this must be done whatever our political difterences with currents like "Militant".
It should also be recognised that it is the strength of "Militant" that has led to them coming under attack. The polítics and organisation of "Militant" have been well known in the Party for The remaining pockets of resistance. such as Liverpool are being stamped out.
If the people of Liverpool now have to suffer a Tory-Liberal administration as a result of the witch-hunt. then Kinnock is willing to pay that price.
For him to accuse the Militant of not looking after the interests of the Liverpool working class is sheer hypocrisy. That is the lesson of the Old Swan by-election and the suspension of the Liverpool District Labour Party.
Labour activists must oppose the charade of the "inquiry" and any moves to discipline or expel socialists from the Party in Liverpool or elsewhere.