within the THIS CLP notes the effects of privatisation and members ot the NEL s * omen's DivisIon be somen, they should also represent women and be accountable to them.
Further, notes that the Women's Division of the NEC is the only one not directly a omen a priviledge long conceded to the trade unions. He soclalisl societies and the Young Socialists.
Conference therefore resolves that the Women's Division of the NEC should be elected by the National Conference of . Conference instructs the Na cional Executive Commita 1o draft amendments to sitution and Standing incorporating this annelpie, and to suomit bese amendments for approval by conference no laier inan uclodel 1904 (This resolution is supported by ihe CLPD Homen's Action Commitite).
Abortion LABOUR'S LEADERSHIP election will be the first opportunity for the labour movement to draw out the lessons of the general election disaster.
The right-wing are already using their privileged access to the Tory press to put their message across: 'Labour's defeat was due to left-wing policies.' Frank Chapple chairof the TUC Illall general secretary of the electrician's •nas that the choice obe. furthest, the where vival'.
surprise to learn that socialism! proposes Norwork for Illall that not leadership Chapple favours the likely to eradicate 'socialism' the Peter Shore.
view. They recognise that onore, along will wells Healey and Callaghan, wide understoou to have sabotaged Labour's election campaign by denouncing conference policies.
Lea by Ine executive committee of the AUEW they al C backing Hattersley, who like Shore, sets Labour's first priority SDP-type polices and expelling the left wing of the Party. Frank Chapple Hattersley's camp makes play of the fact that a MORI poll inLudl Labour voters would like SCe leading the In other words all those who would like the Labour Party to be more like the Alliance and should for VOLC Hattersley!
Roy" Kinnock has, SO far, emerged the favourite to replace Michae Foot. with the backing of ASTMS and the execulve the TGWU recommending him to their biennial conference this year.
• The right wing's main argument against Kinnock is that he would preserve the status quo, simply continuing the failures of the Foot regime without Foot In fact the only difference between Foot and Kinnock is that Kinnock has already statea Inal ne will take the Party further to the right: pursuing the witch hunts and dropping opposition to the EEC What worries the bureaucrats What worries the bureaucrats backing Kinnock is the continuation of tremes' wal between of the 'left' and the 'ex'right within the Party.
What would the price of unity around Kinnock be? Kinnock nas sell already made this clear. His backroom deal Hattersley that both will stand for deputy leader etfectively creates a 'centreright' ticket for the leadership election.
Appeal Nonetheless many on the left risk being seduced Kinnock's appeal party unity: For example, the Scottish Labour Coordinating Committee have already endorsed him.
unity" will be of the sort that continues the witch hunt and discipline parties who refuse to go along. . It will be of the sort 'unity' that gives the right-wing immunity to attack Labour's conference policies and the left, but prevents the left fighting back.
It will be 'unity' which allows the right to organise their forces for a renewed offensive against policy their supporters in the party.
The general campaign itself gave clear answer to those in the LCC, some of leaders of CLPD, who argue that our first priority should be unity' It was the Foot leadership WilO pave Healey, Hattersley and Shore pride of place in Labour's campaign.
It was Foot's refusal to defend policy Healey Callaghan which the media exploited to say thát Labour didn't know what its policies were.
For too long the lefi has been held hostage to Foot and his supporters. As a result the right were able to manouevre Benn Livingstone out of parliament.
It li tor inese reasoll: that Socialist Action will be supporting Heffer for leader Meacher for deputy Eric Heffer paigning for them to unite their campaigns into single left slate for the leadership. That slate should be endorsed campaigned for by Benn and Scargill Thẹ backing. of the campaign for Eric Heffer by CLPD is a welcome step forward.
Hattersley claims that the only major backer EN E AUEW where the membership has no say whatsoever in who the executive supports.
The left must campaign for the maximum involvement membership deciding the will be cast. That means Broad Lefts endorsMeacher campaigning for special branch meetings to hear all sides and vote on candidates.
It means the final decision for the casting of the union's votes must lie with the sovreign bodies of the • IS CONCICIC.
In the constituencies it will be necessary to resist pseudo-unity nock.
Of course. in the last resort, it may be necessary to back Kinnock to stop the right. But meanwhile it would be a massive retreat for the overwhelming majority of CLP's who in the past backed Benn to now give their first choice to The right wing will be wanting to claim that this election marks the end of the 'Bennite left' Labour Party.
The maximum vote for and Meacher will • demonstratior that the right wing will be • step of the lougal cvery way.
will picpare the ground for building a wing -of the Labour Party which through agroust the Tory struggles governthe can can that only rebuild Labour's support.
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Model resolutions for organisation
backing Kinnock is the continuation of war between the 'extremes' of the 'left' and 'right' within the Party