of electoral reasons, must said its criticisms of the party and its policies are tempered by this. As a result, a sense of what Peter Hain a lc cent paper to the LCC executive called "drift and even inertia" has set in."
This crisis came out clearly at Labour where sharply positions were put forward the Clause Livingstone 4 grouping the LCC. Livingstone attackea une wilch null al the Tribune rally at con'There can be no suport for the Those who warned at the beginning that the witch hunt would actually widen have been proved right.
The Clause 4 controlled Labour Activist, sup the LCC however, started off its with CONC CI IDoUC witch stating: 'Militant asked for what it got.
The crisis announced in Tribune, and the differences within the LCC expressed publicly Blackpoo. continued at the LCC's AGM an extreme right wing bloc around Clause 4 and the LCC's new chair, Paul 1 nompson, wilmig must of the key votes Thompson's unopposed election as chair was in fact a significant decision registered AGM. Thompson, as well Clause represents the extreme right wing of the His politics judged by the article he wrote in Tribune's 31 Ocentitled ing the 'Debunking myths about "state interference"
affairs' Thompson strongly argued in favour of state intervention in the unions and claimed: we need to recognise that individual members of organisations have minimum rights that need to be guaranteed by the state. stated:
*Practices, traditional some unions or industries, such as accision maklig Dy that: *Balloting to begin Tronny clu lustrial action, to elect executives, Is in our view basic minimum right which is best backed up by legislation and legal He Teles WaN Loce to sionit evidence submit evidence arguing for expulsions the enquiry into the Liverpool District Labour ParThompson supported all the most right positions the LCC AGM On sucn questons as relations with LLL.
Charlotte Atkins defeated Anita Pollack by 48 for vice VULC chair. Both candidates represented significant shift to the right compared to the LCC's previous vice chair reler rialn wilo was for reelection.
The meeting on the Knowsley not even LIVthe On both Thompson so-called practice, stituency tees. was it LCC was system.
to but referred This is obviously going to be a crunch issue for ine LC. Hain debatet seaingstone's view on the issue are unknown. that on relations with Labour Left tation to ally either with the lelt wing relations with the political choices LCC has to take.
already come up at Labour Livargued lor the LCC to link up with the LL. He followea inis up ambiguously after conwith an article In the Chartist which said: the shift in power within Left Liaison of WAC Black lavour Sections and those groups who have always made rese that there is greater comus mon TIU1 zulu awai ween and LLL than could have been imagined six months ago.
But Livingstone also attacked the destructive oppositionalism of the Campaign Group'. ever, he drew the conclusion that the LCC should work with the rather than the perspective of a 'centre/ Tribune majority' In the same issue of the Chartist, Nige stanlev. one of the central figures in Clause 4, used his 'Inside Left' column for diatribe against the LLL.
Totally counterposed resolutions on relations with LLL were submitted Io the LCC annual meeting. Hain. adopting the same as Livingstone at Labour Party conference, put forward a resolution calling discussion with the LLL. This concluded: 'Although recognising that some involved Left Liaison display a sectarian hostillity to the LCC, nevertheless welcome LEt's invitation to explore the basis for joint cooperation and links. THE CRUCIAL debate at the LCC conference was because this summarises the LCC's choice of orien wing inside the party. A few people with their heads in the clouds might want to avoid that choice, but, in reality, the LCČ has no option but to make it. Its LLL in fact define the basic calling for detaching , rather asking whether the their discussions LCC and LIL. put forwhich was the policies of Kinnock support for this against left' criticism Thompson's Many links coalitions its motivation was deleted Thomas Clause However, only Hain's amended having no by by LCC with Air •uLY The Thompson they don't count for If LivNUPE OI LCC allow take place Wild ingstone NUPE The idea they what Paul Clause decide ridiculous.
The has made manoeuvrist. clear that Ill sonalities but only policies.
the the tee, the Sections, for British are well on the tne camLCC discuss with the LLI or whether winchause sectarians type, seen. thing is clear, which characterises the ultra-left. damaging to our strategy is For in the trade unions. rethe basis of this resolution.
Socialist Action 21 Nov 1986
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Thompson resolution