Left victory in Notts | Socialist Action 1983

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for the release of Dave Payne, imprisoned in Pentonville for months. Tuesday 28 MANSFIELD, Sunday Notts coalfield. By retiring from politics at the next election.

Concannon , has long been ine political lynchpin of the right wing within the Notts labour movenient opposed the 1984-85 miners and has supported the formation of the breakaway UDM He also earned notoriety for his slavish support of the British octies in In particular, he gave tul sun port to Thatcher at the time of the hunger strike in the H-block.

His decision to bail out of politics, and the selection of Meale, represents a profound change in the politics the Notts coalfield. It marks the first fruits of the movement of 19 October. Today the general committee of Mansfield Labour Party took a decision that will change the face of politics in the 45 votes to 39 it chose Alan Meale, secretary of the Campaign group of Labour MPs, to be its prospective parliamentary candidate. He will take over from Don Concannon, who is NUM WAPC allu their . supporters into activity in the party as a result of their ex. periences during the strike.

Local activists explain that when Concannon first announced his resignation, they thought that a strong left wing candidate would give the right 'a the campaign especially The Notts NUM gave Meale their support his campaign was championed by leading NUM SuCI Peter Heathfield. By the time of conterence, sufficient support had been musterea to win comfortably on the second ballol.

Alan Meale told Socialist Action that his victory represented: triumph for democracy in Manstield CLP. It snows the value of campaigning for socialism and the value bold policies More than anything it represents socialism British labour movement.' This victory is the first step in transforming Mansfield CLP HULL campaigning As Alan Meale put it: 'The real hard work still lies ahead of us.

• Stop press: The UDM has responded to Alan Meale's selection. According to its Nottinghamshire secretary David Prendergast, it will be putting up an alternative candidate at the next election Labour's majority in 1983 was 2216.