AcTioN obstructing prime for after the election. call a general election any tour or tive vears. his 1s a benefits and living Led in greater support for strong enough during the last three and a half years once again declined in reStop to bottom to reverse this trend in time for the be making this their all-out of Labour MPs by holding asatalioli THE POLICIES advocated by the right wing in the party, pursued by Kinnock, are threatening Labour with defeat at the election. As the right wing are in reality conscious of the electoral consequences of their policies they are already preparing their moves These are not simply on the unilateral nuclear disarmament. The right are also moving to smash any elements of democracy in the party that can resist their drive to the right.
The first target in this is to smash the democratic reform achieved in 1979 gaining mandatory reselecif this can be overturned the ability of Labour MPs to ignore the wishes of their constituency parties will be greatly strengthened. A 'consultation paper' on this is already being circulated by the The Campaign for Labour Party Democracy (CLPD) has launched a major effort in defence of reselection. We are printing here the introduction to the special broadsheet produced by CLPD.
sysicil. taken in by the claim that circulated by the NEC to for remission. In 1984 it rejected. In 1985 the NEC A00vt DuL hastily NEC disregarding the views culatea Its no fewer than ten possible even the minimum level of accountability proLine means that many Members of distracted DO VICOlve NEC's opions will reopen the bitter disagreements of reason is that it is deter DONE S seem to be as follows: On victory.
reply. On the other hand it resist ine nalural Inchillato ignore this sultation. his would onl that the mood was over.
and file.
Challec. CPD has power of reselection from Ually respond.
Government otherwise Never see them.
Composite Resolution 39
This Conference welcomes the National Executive Committee's statement to the 1985 Annual Party Conference that it would not be proposing changes in parliamentary reselection procedures to the 1986 Conterence.
It notes that the National Executive Committee has since set up a special working party on proposals for a new system of selection and Conference is not opposed to improvements, especially if these further develop the accountability of Labour Members of Parliament, but believes that the rights of trade unions, cooperative societies and parties, and all affiliated organisations, must not be marginalised but maintained in a form which reflects their importance in the movement and in the Party as a Conference also considers:
a) it is essential to maintain accountability of Parliament at, at least, the level provided by the so as to ensure that the Parliamentary Labour Party carries out the policies decided by annual Party Conference;
b) the only way this can be done is if reselections are carried out by the same body to which the Member of Parliament reports month by month on the work of the Parliamentary Labour Party in opposition and in government.
At the same time, Conference recognises that the issue of reselection is both complex and divisive, and that to reopen the argument over new proposals at this time would seriously damage Party unity and divert the Party's energies from the over-riding priority of working for a Labour Conference therefore calls on the National Executive Committee to refrain from bringing up such proposals before the general election.
CLPs must therefore conassist those who wish to release Labour MPs from accountability to the rank Defend therefore produced this broadsheet reselection out the implications of the NEC paper. Distribute to your CLP and suggesting how best to and trade union brand We also copies of the CLPD reproduce the options pro- broadsheet defending posed by the NEC, as it is reselection. Available unlikely that free or revuest rom most Party members will CLPD, 10 Park Drive, London NWIII 7SH.