NOTTS East Labour Party is calling on the national leadership to stop the attacks on the party's PPC Sharon Atkin. At an executive committee on Monday 13 April, the following statement was issued: NOTTINGHAM East CLP reaffirms its commitment to the right of Black people to organise in Black Sec within the Partv. Ihis is not a torm oi apartheid but a means of drawing Black people into the party and giving them a voice in the same womets secuons amo une LPYS act to draw women Wi VOLE MO LuC DarV Nottingham East CLP is appalled at the resolution passed by the Labour Party of March attacking Black Sections threatening mount witeh hunt against Back people struggling to eslablsn a ponucal voice. Furthermore we UNCUSLCU the etter which appeared in The Times from Roy Hattersley, IPTT. Rooker others declared BirmWalcn ingham a no-go area tor Black activistsR We consider that the highly-publicised attacks on Black activists cause serious damage to the electoral prospects of the Labour Party and in Daricud candidate Sharon Atkin.
Media coverage indicates that the NEC is now preparing to take action against Sharon Black woman and PPC for Ivollingnam Basl, lor exelcising her right to speak on issues affecting Black people to an audience of black anu wilte deople in kırm ingham on 7 April.
Nottingham East CLP democratically selected Sharon Atkin as PPC because of her vigorous support for socialist nolicies — camnagning Ior Black people, the low-paid, lesbians and gays. sacked miners, pensioners and all those who are victims policies. The CLP reaffirms its support for •urac analaccuo ally altempts at interference in the democratic processes or our Sparkbrook constituency, WCLC trom the None of the three were accused of being members of the Militant tendency nol are lev exDc co ol standing against candidates elections. They were thrown out on wholly fraudulent charge of "bringing the parHELU disrepute represents significant development witch Labour leadership. f nilnEd COlSt LDe The NEC report disciplinary procedure to 1986 party conference in troduced a new 'crime' punishable by expulsion -the one now being, used against Sharon Atkin and others.
Meanwhile, Dennis Skinner pointed out, witch hunt has broadened. North, suspension followed the NEC's decision to forc a parlamentarv candidate on the CLP against its . wishes. Nigel Williamson, then editor of Tribune, opposed the imposition George Howarth. After th Greenwich by-election earber this veat nowever Williamson, marking a further retreat told the New Statesman:
'By-elections are now such a centre of national attention that the Labour Party has a duty to itself and its supporters all over the country to choose candidates who cannot so easibe subjected to such damaging personal campaigns. It now seems clear that had Les Huckfield been allowed to stand in the Knowsley North by-election last November (a rignt l championed in Tribune at elections.
'Black Section has given Black party members the confidence to do that. The HACKI Section pro moted, even though the Sore good in temsere 1 were good in temselves. sunport them all the wa) down the line.' That is exactly why the witch hunt has now been extended to Black Section Because the ideas they ad vocate simply won't go away, the right wing prepared to smash them out o e babuu ranv Dv ut only means at their disposal • expulsions.
Throughout this time, the witch nunt nas progiess ed in tandem with the erosion of party democrac attacks on radical policies. "The witch hunt goes hand in hand with the NEC's systematic dilutior which is now coming -cluding the ates against Sharon Atkin Every single who a sees the disgraceful, racist witch hunt against the Black Section, Sharon Atkin, Linda Bellos, Phil Murphy should oppose it. And draw the conclusion that everyone of the expulsions which has taken place should be opposed. Once you give your little finger to witch hunt the likes of Roy Hattersley always come back for more Those who didn't believe it then should realise it now.
Left Liaison stat ment on Black Section page 4
Socialist Action 24 April 1987 Labour Left Liaison statement on LABOUR Left Liaison, the national umbrella organisation of the left-wing in the Labour Party, met on Thursday 16 April to discuss the attacks being made on the Black Section. It issued the following statement.
LABOUR Left Liaison regrets the attempt by five Birmingham MPs to stop Black Labour prospective parliamentary other activists from speaking at a local Black Section meeting which took place in Birmingham on 7 April — an unwarranted interterence with Labour Party members. However its most harmful effect was to attract the attention of the hostile media, as eager as ever to publicise divisions in the Labour Party. Such action can only undermine credibility.
LLL further deplores the attempt of certain sections of the party to press for disciplinary action, including expulsion, of three members of the Black Section Atkin, Linda Bellos and Phil Murphy. now beoun on the basis of their aleced views. which have been inaccurately out of the context of the meeting and audience addressed.
LLL believes that the Labour Party should do more, not less, to encourage Black people to vote Black Section was an attempt to broaden Labour's appeal to a section of the electorate that previously has not been reached by the Labour Party. Those LLL notes that no such threats of disciplinary action have been made against party members like nuclear disarmament policy.
MP who publicly advocated voting against official baDour candidates In le daverpool local goverment elections, against Frank Chapple who publicly advocated voting for the SDP candidate in Isington North at the last general election, or against Roy Grantham who advocated voting for the biberals in a number or consuruencies al lue lasi disciplinary action taken against Sharon Atkin or discrimination, and in addition will deepen the Labour's electoral prospects.
LLL therefore will defend Sharon Atkin, LinBellos and Phil Murphy and oppose any disciplinary action taken against these comrades. Should the NEC decide to follow this misguided and divisive course, party members must organise in defence of the accused Black comrades.
candidates the democratic rights of electoral who spoke at the meeting: Sharon Action has reported by the he Kirmingham meetie caled by the against Frank Field a blatant THE SLOGAN of this year's LPYS national conference — Blackpool 17-20 April — had an unfortunate irony. Intended to refer to the Tory government it read 'Time to Go', and was printed on every visitor's card.
Labour Party NEC's 'Sawyer proposals' to abolish the autonomy of the YS it had a most unfortunate ring.
campaign all too clear the Terence.
in sharp There were of deceale the this vear of 41 has one vote.
Since the total claimed number of recorded branches Walworth Road is 553 this means just over a third attend conference. Within Militant's vote of 169 in NEC drop of 26 since last year.
Militant did not stand a second candidate in the election as thev usually do The reason for this she biggest decline evident.
LPys' con. terence recent was in March 1985. Held immediately following the end of the miners strike, it reflected the heightened political interest of young people due to the struggle. That conference was marked by nouncing the NUM for not nolalng a Dallor.
have stood against all the positive political develop.
which came out of the political cleavage marked by In particular, as issues — such as the workGiven the effective policy of the argued ghtforward anti-Tory basis promoting the policies On opposed defeated composite for support work Movement, committees, organising ing activity. They instead vitally imactively by ple.
On defeated only resolutions calling for supporting campaigning the resoluextended speeches LOUI allowed The the Committee on (LCI)
LPYS would ACCI rCul opposing two antirepression proposals, which the 'Young for socialist Youth demonstrate in support of teachers' struggle Liaison's Sawyer widely cir at Its lighted by of of the YS was by conthat the politics by the Douglas simply explained that delegates should vote for her becasuse she was the : candidate last year and the Youth Fightback candidate said only that the YS should be more democratic The vote was: : 169 for 17 for LLL, for Youth Fightback and 4 Workers • Power. decline in Steve Jomoa's organisation which failed to mention LWAC.
• 1 nel Chrieding vero meetings were entitled what went right' •Job Schemes 'Where we stand' - hard campaigning alternative to Militant Attacks
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disciplinary action proposed against Black Section supporters