called for Hamilton.
Aware of national executive attempts to brand undemocratic or worse, a full attendance record was kept, including wmen party branch each member Councillot Tony Hood, organiser of the fighting fund for surCalcu councis. the chair.
The main item business was consideration of a resolution moved by THE Campaign group of LADOME NAPS MAAMONS condemned the inquisition Ol Labour rart.
Liverpool. What
should be doing is fighting real ot the working class: the Conservative government, the and the privileged brusn sociely.
We call on the whole to respond positively to this call. Let's with defeating hatcher and winning the JUST 24 HOURS after Labour's NEC launched its purge against Liverpool last week, the Labour group of the city council moved into action. A meeting it Thursday evening saw over members check in, including council leader John Jim Parry , Labour council whip and brother of Liver seconded by Frank Mins seconded by vice chair finance committee.
made clear Liverpool Labour rarly compielely rejected Members are determined to fight them all the way.
The resolution was carWhat they had to say Tony Benn Tony Benn:
WHAT WE are witnessing is an attack upon a wide range of people within the cIl. including leadership during the strike, some of the black some Briefing people, and others. The intention seems to be to have a purge ried by an overwhelming majority of 400:4, with not more than a dozen abstenTOONS NEC's attempt to imply that the district party practice of aggregate meetings (ie of delegates and nondelegate party members) is gerrymandering of the vote, it IS WOrth noting That te crucial to the fate of the city in the last few months have had huge majorities.
It looks just as likely that constituency nor reas Liverpool expulsions. Over ine nexu few weeks, this may raise to win electoral support. But the effect has been to create cause dismay among good hard-working activists up and down the country.
The argument is merely a cover for a political attack. We nave seen il an Delore, and before With the people eff been fended pelled allowed to return to the The speed with which we Call purested depend be strength which should not lead us to counterattacks or division but rallying round the prin ciples solidarity socialism.
TO PUT it mildly. the the question of further party disbandments.
ATLe Thursday's meeting , Eric Heffer told Socialist Action: "The nanonar execuuve are • going to have terrible problems carrying out this purge in LIVeT DOOl inal Wa shown Thursday's meeting. The mood of the members oll Wa totally against expulsions.
'In Sheffield they only Caracu remove the whip from ex pelled councillo Green а папати. votes. How are they going Joan Maynard decision to ask the Labour Parminenthe cases or 16 examine the cases dare overdoo Labour Party and recommend charges is deplorable and a diserace. four million unemployed, people our industrial base S bE ing destroyed, attack — - and the Labour NEC " spent 7 to 7%½ hour last Wednesday ostensibly to get such a thing through the group in Liverpool?
'The NEC decision raises many questions. instance, will they local elections in May? Will there be two candidates in some areas: one put by the partv membership and one by the new rump organisation the NEC is setting up?
'Hundreds working class peopie whe believe passionately working going to be bitterly hit by this witch-hunt.
looking into the operation of the Liverpool District Labour Party The report from the commission enquiry was outrageous. They had closed minds from the vert beginning. I have never accepted that this was an enpotenta witch-hunt and that is exactly what it turncu vul affiliated organisations should flood the national executive with resolutions opposing the decision and Liverpool's tremendous fight against Tory irst Westlands scandal show how fragile a situation Thatcher It Is a tragedy that we should br interna allu ment at a time when we should be concentrating Wur allas ore one
Socialist Action 5 March 1986
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Campaign Group of
Joan Maynard: