which is geared to do all in it certain to inflict further blows on the Labour Party by endorsing the recommendations of the NEC enJune, expelling at least 10 leading members of the district party and appoint full-time organisers to run the party in the meantime. PAT MURPHY reports.
THE majority report of the enquiry into the Liverpool Dally mended that: 'the NEC takes decision disciplinary action if ap.
rapidly Drubilalt possible.' minority by Audrey Wise ICUULI and Margaret Beckett opposed expulsions.
of the NEC will delight the Tory Party and the SDP-Liberal Alliance who will be the main beneficiaries of the Around witch-hunting. It will also delight rigntwing mafias the Labour Parties around the country who are using the national witch-hunt to setaccounts with opponents of their often corgenerally undemocratic actions.
Witch Hunt News has hunts.' AS WE GO to press the Labour Party NEC seems This chronicled dozens of such cases of expulsions rigged delegations in right wing CLPs, including the expulsions of Amir Kahn Kevin Scally, Hattersiev's Sparkbrook CLP for giving substantial evidence of corrup rigging and intimidation That evidence was a lot more substantial than any of the charges against the Liverpool Labour Party Dudley East, the West Midlands regional organiser has just endors ed over 30 new delegätes from the GMBATU the EETPU and the TGWU to the GC, which include a fashion designer and the president an NUT association: other teachers - - all claiming to be bona fide GMBATU GC delegates.
Eric Heffer told Socialist Action: 'Clearly we are moving back to the situation that we used to have in the 1950s, where people were excluded from the party by the right wing because they were advocating socialist policies. When the leit got a slender majority on the executive we reversed that. We abolished the proscribed list and encouraged all socialists to join the party. At the same time we never conducted any witch-hunt against the right of the party. The only right wingers to be expelled were those who placed themselves outside the party by standing candidates against Labour. Their expulsion was moved by John Golding. I hope to see both reports on Liverpool District Labour Party published after the NEC meeting. The minority report puts the record straight. Personally I will fight any expulsions in Liverpool or elsewhere every inch of the way. That doesn't mean I support Militant or anybody else. But it does mean I am completely opposed to witchThe nine officers of the CLP had written to David Hughes for help and have now resigned in protest at the rigging of their GC . In CLPD supporter Andy Wilson re Wallis expelled fol Colllplaining of irreguarities in the GMBATU delegation to his GC There are dozens of similar cases coming to light. If the left complains of corruption and voterigging It Is silencea In cluding by expulsions.
The attempt by the NEC Liverpool would not Dossible without the active support of the so-called soft left of the party led by Tribun and the LCC. Tribune ha literally campaigned for expulsions as a result of the Liverpool enquiry.
In an article in week's Tribune the case is explained: The COTT however, will almost certainly support the expulsions as it was being emphasised this week that the case against individuals is Dascu evicenct malpractice and no one would be proceeded against on account of their political beliefs.
What hypocrisy from a paper which understands perfectly that ine reason for expulsions Liverpool and the disbanding the DLP is that the left has led the party in a fight against the Tories, whereas the pleas the NEC for help in defending democracy in Sparkbrook DUCC BasI diesborough have been re jected by the NEC precise. ly because here we have cases of the right wing attacking the left to hang oncontrol. Tribune has run no campaign for enquiries into Hattersley's Sparkbrook, or Gilbert's Dudley East, or the refusal of the Wales regional ex allow elected attend its meetings.
Tribune's support for expulsions is not based on constitutional argument is based on hostility to the best actions standing virtually alone in of the Liverpool wally defence of its city against Margaret Thatcher's government While government limps through its worst crises since 1979, the Labour Party NEC backed by Tribune and the LCC - is directing its fire at its own left wing not Thatcher and the Alliance The task of the left is quite clear:
witch-hunts for united action against une tones. to tnis cha It Is necessary to campaign for Coll ference reverse the disastrous decisions of the NEC on Liverpool and to uphold the rights dozens of socialists disciplined by local parties Every single CLP and organisation should adopt resolutions end. they should rush resolu tions to the NEC deman ding no expulsions.
Socialist Action 28 February 1986 m no Sun
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quiry into the Liverpool District Labour Party. would mean disbanding the district party until next