side the Labour Party.
Eric Heffer's proposition to the NEC - which would have accepted black organisations as affiliated bodies to the Labour Party was a genuine attempt at compromise would have leadership withdraw from its head-on confrontation with the black community The national black sec. tion had indicated that it could not drop its campaign for black sections in the under any circumstances. ever the black section was prepared to put the Heffer proposal for discussion to ts membership as a possi ble compromise at the present time while further discussion took place in the party. Sham But Kinnock was determined to smash any self-organisation by black people and would accept 10 Come tse wanever! Eight members of the NEC - benn. Clark, HefRichardson, Skinner, Wise voted against Kinnock and to support the Hetter proposal.
Particularly notable in the vote was that Michael Meacher David Blunkett - two out of three members of the realigned left' the NEC — voted solidly with Kinnock against black sections.
Mark Wadsworth, national vice-chair OI the black section, indicated the tactics that would now Last week the Labour Party NEC voted by a majority not only to reject black sections but also to oppose a compromise resolution put forward by Eric Hefbe adopted by the black sections.
Firstly the black section would turn to campaigning outside the party as well as continuing th fight within it. • Inis would mean in particular closer linking up with the strugtaking place in the Secondly the black secton wowd be supportins its national chairperson - Marc Wadsworth Sharon Atkin for the conNEC — and Diane Abbot for the women's section of the NEC Thirdly the national committee the black section would be discussing specifically supporting black woman candidate being selected in Hacknes North.
With five black hall didates having beer selected, but all men the black section would be putting its full weight tion challenger.
through excluding outsiders wnie inal ex perience is developed into collective political action Therefore if women, black people and workers in parHular LIUS come to selforganise groups within the Labour party it is grossis patronising for the leader. ship they WONT "all member so happen Members these groups themselves make the decision organise in the way they must recognise the right of autonomy.
The Labour leadership will have at conference : R further opportunity NUM, women, and large section of the CLPs, lo suppor black sections.
Traditlonalists have the notion that there is an automatle unity of all serlions of ine britist work ing class. But the fact is suf porters are made up of people from a socie divided along Ihree main lines - ilars. pender 9o Tale
----- pull-quotes -----
fer. The result shows the complete contempt of Neil Kinnock for the right of black people to organise in-