ACTION THE RESULTS OF the shadow cabinet elections revealed the fact that the parliamentary party is way to the right of the party as a whole. The split among left MPs, the Campaign Group and the Tribune wasn't particularly helpful of course. meant that Tony Benn and myself weren't elected.
We received the support of the majority of the Campaign Group, but, clearly, lots of Tribune MPs didn't vote for either of us. Instead they voted for others who weren't such staunch supporters of the party's socialist programme.
Tribune Group were influenced not to vote for us because we've miners ath along. Tony miners along. Tony especially has been public ly critical of the lack of support for the NUM that parliamentary should have offered right from the word go arguments the shadow cabinet last year: about Liverpool, about the about the role of the Campaign Strategy committee of the national executive, other things.
Now there is widespread reporting in the press that Neil Kinnock is pleased by Many consider this year's annual was unle best for years. First, and contrary DICOS reports, because it was a very well but Devel more importantly because it took some good, solid decisions on policy.
VULC for Tony Benn, Dennis Skinner and myself on the NEC was high. The party will con sider that the moves made against us by LICi parliamentary totally out of line with the mood of conference and the policies of the party. Photo: There's going. to be a strong feeling in the conthat the MPs cutence who support party policy aren't represented shadow cabinet But I must stress the role Solidarity Group the shadow cabinet elections. They put forward a complete siate candidates. They didn't want their members vote ior anyone else. And they got 10 of those 15 seats.
The only Campaign Group member elected was Michael Meacher. The party will not consider this representative those sistently been whose voices have raised consupport of the miners, Liverpool, and against the class laws that have been increasingly used by the Thatcher government.
Interestingly too, Robin Cook, who oppos ed the Evans amendments on reselection, scraped onto the shadow cabinet. That very significant indeed. reveals the true situation the parliamentary If anybody's moving towards taking control the party and usurping the role of conference, it's the Solidarity Group.
remember what happened to the Manifesto Group: a large section of it joined the SDP!
Those on the left in the parliamentary party have a job of work to do this year. First, the left has to begin to act cohesively And second, it's got to fight for the socialist policies of the Labour Pariy, in parliament and the country as a whole. AY