RON TODD's victory in the second ballot tor general secretary of the TGWU is a major blow to the efforts of the new realist right to shift the balance of forces in the movement their favour.
In a 40 per cent turnout, Todd 76,840 more votes than George Wright. Thin the 48,000 provement on the maiority ne won in the first ballot. It represents a rejection of the right and their using the media to attack the union.
This is a strong enough prevent any repeat of the campaign run by Chapple and the Daily Mail to discredit TGWU voting system and setrel postal ballots.
The Daily Mail campaign, which started months after the original ballot, hoped to build on the defeat of the miners attack tennocracy and draw the TGWU into the camp of Duffy and Hammond.
However it is clear that the majority of TGWU members have not drawn the conclusion that it is all up with the class struggle that the only alternative is the total surreght. While Ron Todd is render offered not an Arthur Scargil, the result does mean that the TGWU will continue to be an obstacle to open 'new realism', and will also not Todd's victory helps maintain unilateralism be a clear instrument for attacking the Bennite wing of the Labour Party. The TGWU will have a pro-Kinnock, but not an anti-Benn position, and will continue to be an obstacle to the open right.
addition its stand on issues such nuclear will remain unilateralist.
The TGWU will not make any swing to the left as a result of this election. There will be no major changes. But is does confirm that the defeat of the miners has not given the scab right a clear road to week, Brent South constituency Labour Party candidate for this safe Labour seat, from an all-black shortlist of Sharon Atkin, Paul Boateng, Keith Vaz. Paul was chosen by an overa! majority in the first round of 31:12:12. ent should ope that Brent take stand it did. The 1981 census showed that 46 per cent of the population are from the New Commonwealth the closest official estimate of the size or tne DIach population in this country.
Because Brent decided to go ahead with its selection on the general committee frozen for that purpose before the Brent black section had elected delegate: to the GC - Paul will be officiaily endorsed by the national party.
He's not the first black candidate chosen of course. Put Russel Pro. litt recently selected by Lewisham yet been endorsed by the national executive because his selection took place with the full participation of the local black section. Week, Brent Sout con Labour's second chose its next parla black candidate selected FIGHT FOR BIACK