intended to facilitate within the party.
The vote to revise standing orders was carried by 30.4. with abstentions. Only Joan Maynard, Dennis Skinner, Frances Curran myself Chainst thesia diat orders change; STIC Richardson and Margaret HeckeT Ge not vole However, inwas teresting to note that party last week LAST FRIDAY, 18 April, the national executive committee of the Labour Party met. It voted to revise the standing orders for NEC meetings — a change taking disciplinary action against the 12 Liverpool party members, of course — and to call Pat Wall, selected as Labour parliamentary candidate by Bradford North, for questioning by the executive before his candidature is ratified.
Both decisions represent a setback for democracy secretary Larry Whitty proposed changes in the procedure whereby the charges Liverpool 12 will be heard.
After legal advice, he said, he will now be submitting a revised procedure when Benn, Heffer and Maynard, three of the seven who stopped the March NEC 'trials'.
Whitty recommended the NEC adopt the procedures the seven had demanded THE LABOUR Committee on Ireland holds its anthe 12 appear before the NEC meeting.
In fact, Whitty has acooted une VerV that the seven who walked CACCuLIVe meeting were demanding:
DICCISC charges presenteu alle that the NEC is given the judge's decision in writing.
Raise apocals that charges against one of the 12 will be dropped The date for this hearing has not been set. The executive decided that will take place during May, after the local government elecons. BOL •WICH As Dennis Skinner pointed out at the meeting, the ma played a decisive role in jority want to hold the meeting after they find out when their supporters can attend At least the walk-out at the last executive has forced the leadership to adopt the procedures which we argued at that time were demanded natural Nonetheless, it is quite clear that the overwhelming majority have already made up their minds on this issue. The hearing will be anything but a fair one. on Pat recall tronation The BOLTO HU orgainisation subhad already been referred back IC them. In effect that was a decision not STO support their recommendation that he appear before the NEC But at last Friday's meeting the organisation sub-committee brought back the same proposal -this time 11 through by 13 votes to 10. Those who voted against were: Margaret Becket. David Blunkett, Eric Eric Heffer, trances Curran, Eard Mere Man, Eric Joan Richardson, Tom Sawyer, Dennis Skinner. answer to the NEC bet te Wall will he is endorsed as a canthat could well mean that he won't be endorsed The decisions of last Friday's national executive committee are regrettable. By continuing with the expulsions of comrades fron Liverpool we are going to do untold harm to the par ty. Throwing people out of Me DarLy. orreusue to eu dorse their candidature because of their politica positions is simply wrong.
Anti-apartheid got 7966). March for Freedom 28 • PREPARATIONS are well under way for the Saturday 28 June march for freedom, which is likely to be the biggest anti-apartheid march Bri tain has ever seen. It starts at 12 noon in Hyde Park and marches via Whitehall to Clapham Com mon. A2 black and red posters and A4 black and white leaflets are already available from AAM at 13 Mandela Street, London NW1 ODW (01-387