KNOWSLEY NORTH Labour Party met last Sunday and decided to decline the 'advice' of the NEC to select George Howarth as its parliamentary candidate in the by-election which is now underway. Instead Knowsley has decided to continue its fight for the right to choose its own candidate against the undemocratic imposition of a candidate by the national party. In October the Knowsley GC voted to boycott the election campaign — but recognised the right of individual party members to participate. These decisions reflect the strength of feeling that exists locally precedented ference and impose a pro-leadership candidate on Knowsley North.
dent to take the witch hunt in the party one step further, by intervening to stop a local party selecting a left winger. It is no accident that the front runner in the constituency, Les Huckfield, is a member of the Campaign Group of MPs, the only serious alternative in parliament to the line of moving to the right to try to win the next election. A central part of Kinnock's course is trampling right of the party's HUCKFIELD explains it contains for every single constituency. THE Labour Party is pro bably unique throughou Europe in permitting a loca. choice parliamentary candidates. In socialist parties in Europe, to varying degrees, the party hierarchy picks the candidate.
The Labour Party nablunting local choice of candidates. Hitherto it has relied mainly on its power to retuse endorsement. But.
Knowsley North precedent this context, is especially worrying.
Right from the start national otticials insisted that central office would take OVCI the running of the campaign. Knowsley was told it could have a 'free selection Road would campaign and y the the whole selection process would be organised by the regiona against the national executive's undecision to prevent a selection conAfter Blackpool the party leadership felt confion the democratic rank file. LES the significance of the Knowsley North decision and the enormous dangers office.
From that day on they have set up office, brought natona socakes trailed prominent MPs around the constituency with hardly a word of consultation with the CLP. The Knowley party officers usually know of the they see them on TV.
Well before the conclusion of the NEC's 'enquiry' into tne Merseyside East Euro-CLP, full-time officials were openly preparing members for an NEC imposed candidate.
Throughout all of this there had not been one complaint about the selection process.
Clearly the national exCCULVC HOLC WON DUIC This was why it was so vital that Knowsley North CLP should test out the NEC's powers in court.
The executive relied SUBSCRIBE mainly on clause XIV, section 5 of CLP rules, under which it can 'advise a constituency on a nomination, and clause IX section 4 of adjudicate disputes. (The fact that the didn't even know there was any dispute within its ranks was something on which affidavits were provided for the court.)
Knowley did not lose its case. All that happened in the Hịgh Con the High on October 23 Court and the Cothe HAp High peal - they were denied the ight to have a trial of the NEC's powers Knowsley North nominations closed on 3 November.
That's Knowsley comrades still feel that these powers to impose a candidate need be tested quickly, lest the leadership now feels it has acquired by default the right not only to impose candidates in all Tuture by-elechols bul intervene politically in all through their refuse chubiscuicill. If the NEC wants to play power politics, constituency parties beware Though assurances have OCCI given shadow cabinets and the PLP that the Knowsley precedent will not be repeated, what is there now to stop it?
The trade unions affiliated to Knowsley North have formed a committee to the constituency and to raise the f7000 for legal bills still outstanding. We hope you will respond not just in their interest but in yours as well.
Donations and messages Anowsel North should be Maguit, Copplehouse Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L10. of Samora Machel proxy 'contra' forces, such