ONLY SIX SHORT months ago there was a contest for the Labour leadership. As far as the left candidates were concerned it turned out to be pretty one-sided. Neil Kinnock clocked up some 70 per cent of the vote, while Eric Heffer, who was supported by Socialist Action among others, three per cent.
We know that a lot of people on the left thought it was sectarian to back Heffer against Kinnock and there is no doubt that many constituencies who have a long-time record of supporting the left went behind Kinnock. Our support for Eric Heffer did not derive from the fact that we endorse his every position. We disagree with him strongly on matters like abortion and black sections in the party, disagree with him on these issues.
Our support was based on the fact that we were confident he would support the mass workbelieve sat Kies not readin We such believe that cking to those types of struggle.
we can draw a balance sheet. On the two big revolts against Thatcherism, Kinnock has On Thursday the NUM delegate conference called for all-out strike action and now the Notmembers to come out. So Kinnock then joins up media in calling for a ballot. On Liverpool he has expressed his concern for that city, comes down on the wrong side by telling the On both the miners' strike, and on the stand of the Labour councillors in Liverpool there is no doubt whatsoever where they stand. They have given their unstinted backing and support to They have shown by their actions that the real dividing line in the Labour Party is between those who stand on the sidelines when the chips port a real fightback against the Tories. glad to say this is the conclusion being drawn by tremendous response from constituency parties and considerable support from the Campaign We are fairly confident that among those parties Peter Heathfield refers to were many who cast a vote for Kinnock last year. Everyone who is building solidarity with the miners and suporting Liverpool is acting in the best interests had to act without Kinnock is regrettable but he has broken the ranks of solidarity, not them. All those who have rallied behind the miners and stand with the Liverpool councillors are helping to rebuild the labour movement and are taking the kind of action that can defeat the Tories.
They are right and Kinnock is wrong.
Whenever Kinnock does give his support to these struggles, that's good. But we must never let his support or otherwise determine what we do. Our actions must always start from what serves and helps the interests of ali working peoEditor: ALAN FREEMAN Published weekly except two weeks in August and the last week of December.
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only got and we will continue to would readily give such Six months NUM leaders have told their with people like Eric Hefter, Joan Maynard and Dennis Skinner. and those who wholeheartedly sup the general secretary of the NUM, unorganised model of a class struggle left wing OFFICIAL Photo: NEWSLINE