THE LABOUR Women's Action Committee (WAC)
women's places on the Labour Party year's Labour Party conference to launch a comWriting in last week's issue of Tribune WAC executive member Ann Pettifor wrote: "The 1986 conterence coula go down in mistory de a turning point in the party's. attitudé the emowering of women. For, a his year's conference, mer both in ine constell party and the trade union delegations finally acknowledged that women's interests cannot be advanced forums women's organisation...
"However the consultative process that about to be initiated by the mittee in conjunction with National Women's Committee must have its underlying assumption, one simple but crucial principle: that women should control their own organisations and that should worrier elect their represenLIO ...
WAC has pointed out that any relorms or lne women's conference which cave the election women's places on the NEC in the hands of men will not bring about a real change in situation women within the WAC welcomes moves to increase the power and authority of the and won a signiticant VIcat party with the vote for the mandatory inclusion of woman on every shortlist for parliamentary selection. But it is the election of the women's places on the NEC which is the real measure of whether women are to have real, or purely token, power within the party. A situation where women's connounced his intention not to seek reselection, twist.
The local Mercury recently ran a five-page 'exclusive under the offensive headline The rape of Deptford Labour Party', claimiS year plot by interators have uncovered to take control of the party and oust Silkin.
Much of the material is Surdealt trom the 15-month long membership enquiry by the national executive But the extensive quotes from Silkin himself demonstrate the level of collusion.
members had come to believe that the way was clear at last for the ahead. The reces ship ind selection process vestigation Silkin demanded had failed to stop it. The NEC had found only minor aaministrative errors on ine part of voluntary officers in applications Castle executive meeting on Saturday 31 October decided to launch a major public campaign for the election of the.
National Executive Committee (NEC) by the Labour women's conference. This follows from the decisions of this prehensive review of women's organisationwithin the ference has women NEU members imposed by a majority of men at party conference is a situation of pure WAC is drawing up proposals for the restructuring of the women's conterence, and for the precise form of the election of the women's places on the NEC. however has made it clear that it is prepared to consider meaningful alternative positions on these issues it the basic principle of the right of women their own representatives is accepted.
The WAC executive is therefore circulating an appeal in the party which it is asking for support for. This appeal states: "The 1986 abour Partv women's conference instructed the NEC and the National Labour Committee develop jointly proposals to make Ine Nanona Con. ference of Labour Women Tenterenve thus to increase its weight and authoritv. lo be in hne with the party's declared aim to make the interests of women a major priority, we consider it essential that proposats clude the provision for the tive women's places on the NEC to be elected by the National of To women WAC is asking for signatories for this appeal and it will then undertake a maior campaign around it leading to the discussions which will take place on the NEC and in preparing next year's Labour Party conference. Within this framework WAC will conty, and those who support best detailed proposals for securing these aims. replacement for sitting MP John Silkin who has anlooks like reaching its end. But not without another bizarre passed on by Walworth Road or Silkin himself.
Deptford Labour Party During this Silkin again attempted to reopen an investigation by claiming meetings held under the instruction of the regional organiser to conquestionable. This was seen yel another wrecking tactic.
But in early October a timetable for the selection procedure was agreed with the NEC. Nominations will close on 5 December, the selection conference is due to: take place on December. However this is still dependent on regional organisers checking the branch GC delegate confirmation meetings.
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THE LONG struggle by Deptford Labour Party, to select a representative and accountable parliamentary