ference, that women should elect the women's places on the NEC. organisation should be democratically accountable to women, with real power in determining young people and reflects their views, whateve the views of the party leadership -Until these elementary steps to ensure the democracy of the Labour Party itself are taken, then all talk about democratic socialism is simply hot air. Rather than building and creating a women, black people, and youth to control their A related issue is raised by the expulsion of supporters of the views of Militant. A democratic discussion, where all views can be expressed and developed, and fought and defeated where they are wrong. The bureaucratic expulsion of Militant supporters cuts totally against that. It is also worth noting that those most infavour of expelling Militant supporters are most against the demands of women and black people in the parThe left has to learn the lessons of what is going on in the party, and take to heart the rising tide of protest, from women and black people in particular about the lack of democracy in the party. The demands of women and black people, building a strong youth organisation, and opposing expulsions must become and remain among the key items in the agenda of the left. both deal a blow to the frightening attack of democracy being spearheaded by Kinnock, and Pertyide an agenda for new steps forward for the OR SOLDE built that is controlled by be buit on socialist debate and LAST THURSDAY Labour's fake Black and Asian Advisory Committee held its first press conference which was widely reported. But far from achieving the objective that the Labour leadership has set -heading off support for Black Sections universally used by the media as an opportunity for an all-round attack: on black people, on the Labour Party and on Labour Party Black Section.
ference broke up in chaos because Black Section attacked chair Jo Richardson, as a racist. Black Section chair Marc Wadsworth explained to Socialist Action: 'Black journalists Walworth Road fed this information to the press as non-attritubable quotes. This is totally reprehensible mischief-making. They have put it about that we are responsible for events at the press conference but that view cannot be defended. They are trying to pit black person against black person know that they can't win with their sham, bantustan committee.' ment in response to the calling of this press conference. We reprint it in full below.
THIS morning the Labour 'still born' Black and Asian Ad Committee climate of almost universal hostility. The committee — 01 it was It was widely misreported that the press conhave told us that because they Labour Party Black Section has issued a statepurports to be a national ody, taking representatives trom regions. The London Labour Partv ha: decided to withdraw all of its representatives, the South East, Wales and the Northern regions have nominated no on Even before the launch there have been a number individual resignations including Inese or nein Vaz, Black prospective parliamentary Candidale for Leicester East Trudie Dehanev. a senior trade union official. They WCIC from the East Midlands. the two delegates Faceptinge the West Midlands, areas the country with the largest black populations completely unrepres ented (40 i per cent of Britain's black population live in London alone, the West Midlands followed by the East Midlands have the second third largest black communities respectively)
The Black Section calls for the immediate disbandment of the black ana Aslan visory Committee. Black Sections been recognised by both the black community most of the Constituenci legitimate voles of black Parties people. •There are now 37 constituency Black Sections across the country, all making a valuable contribution to their parties.
Many of the nominees on the Black and Asian Advisory Committee won their places by zealously obeying the instructions of the hard right the by vociferously opposing Black Sections. We regard them colonial appointees.
Party's approach to black people been lla. fashioned by the British colonial experience. On the one hand black people have been denied rights of representation by tional racism which exists in ine labour movement On the other, advisory committees have been set up which pretended to seriously the prolake 'blems of black people. These committees largely comprising white 'race ex. perts' have a long history of failure.
The Black and Asian Advisory Committee is the seventh such committee in the last 26 years. The last the Positive Discrimination Working Group, produced a report • after wide consultation with the Slabour ment. This report recommended fully constituted Black Sections.
This report like those of other committees was ignored. Instead the leadership propose yet another advisory committee.
The Black and Asian Advisory Committee has no muscle, represents no one and its lells or reict ence specifically exclude formulation. Its role is simply to advise on how to solicit the black vote. In other words it is more than cynical vote garnering unit for the Labour leadership.
Socialist Action 6 June 1986