LAST WEEKEND'S Communist Party emergency congress marked a further decisive step in the split of hat party.
confirm the expulsion of Morning Star editor Tony Chater and deputy editor David Whitfield. The apeals against expulsion, or suspension, of 40 other communist members similar margin.
Three other fundamenal decisions were also aken the Firstly every single oppopent of the line of the pary leadership was excluded "W LIC 4 æE cecutive - a fitting comnent on the 'democratic principles', of the Eurocommunist wing of the barty.
Secondly, the openly Eurocommunist wing of the ma Today, supporting Marxism gained for the first time a clear najority on the party exacutive — - 25 votes to 20 by calculau un. pompared to the 'centre' «wuUllE eneral secretary Gordon around AcLennon.
Third the congress of he party was put off for wo and a half years — unNovember sext round of the internal party struggle will be the ight for control of the Horning Star — a fight to be waged during July at ihe annual meetings of the People's Press Printing society.
The net effect of these decisions is to leave the Communist rarly more dearly than ever in the ands of a bloc betweer Marxism Today and party senelai seciclaly Gordon McLennon - with MarxToday acting as the political cutting edge of fic bally.
The political implicaions were spelt out by pary organiser Dave Cook in the Guardian on Saturday He decisively supported the new 'realigned left' of David Blunkent CLONI sawyeI, David nside the Labour Party Inland 6 months £8; The congress voted by a two to one majority to were rejected by a This means sharply opposing Tony Benn, Arthur Scargill, Dennis Skinner ind te lott ike oi ures the ett willg Labour Party.
The result of this policy has already been spelt out not simply Marxism Today but also in party industrial organiser Peter Carter's draft pamphlet on the miners' strike which was extensively leaked to the Daily Mail.
But Marxism Today's support for Neil adherents will CULC N IU SULUEACIUC confusion may be created by the Morning Star wing of the party's turn to an attempted explicit alliance with Tony Benn and the left wing of the Labour Party - an alliance which Tony Chater has been trying to push through the pages of the Morning Star trying to cement in rebuilding organisations such as the Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions.
The Labour left should have no illusions regarding the line or the Star. Its policy is based on bureaucratic repression eastern Europe. While today, for its own purposes, the Morning Star has a tactical line to the left of Marxism Today, if it ever suited the reCu CHe o covicu leadership it would readily daopl a poncy Just as lignl wing as its Eurocommunist rival.
Tony Benn, Ernie Roberts others making a major mistake in becoming associated with manoeuvres the T'he of the Labour left should have to the deepening solit in the Communist Party is quite simnle it should welcome it. It should take no side in the dispute between the two factions but explain each is as bankrupt as the other. It should appeal to all to leave the Communist Party and join the Labour That is the sole road forward for the militants who are today trapped in the twin dead ends of Inside: 'The alternative to the Communist pages 2 & 3.
Laster appeal ia
----- pull-quotes -----
'Expulsions can't produce unity' SUBSCRIBE
* Morning Star E5 Bread not bombs' is