THE LATEST Labour Party national executive committee witnessed the first significant victory in the campaign against the political expulsions that are being carried out across the party: Amir Khan and Kevin Scally were accepted back into party membership following Sparkbrook mous decision the night before to reinstate them. But the wave of witch hunts in the Labour Party is still continuing.
The same meeting decided to continue 'disciplinary action' against the Liverpool city council Labour group, agains st officers Helens parties, and against Redcar CLP.
The November NEC also set up an enquiry. to be conducted by national party officers into whether or not Knowsley.
should be 'disbanded and thereafter reconstituted'.
months of waiting, the prediction the Knowsley party has proved well-founded. The three Derson hit sque December back December NEC Writing in Campaign Group. News last month, Knowsley ficer Dave Kerr explained:
media has widely reported the threats of Nei Kinnock to "deal with Knowsiey when une by-election is over. I believe suspension and disbandment of our party is a very eal possibility The local party attemp tea to resist be poston of a candidate by the NEC, by appealing to the High Court. But their case was never heard.
Nonetheless, even general secretary Larry Whitty is reported to have told the NEC that he believed its unprecedented decision to install a candidate over the head of the local party was exceeding the constitutional powers of the national executive commitRATES:
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Address constituency's unaniThe question of witch hunts in the Labour Party, at root, is one of internal The Knowsley North decision represents an attempt to further erode the rights of local parties. As the appeal leaflet produced by Trade Unionists for Democracy in Knowsley North says: 'every CLP has ine democratic choose their own candidaLe It is that right which is under attack the NEC's decision to impose George Howarth. The decision to hold an enquiry. simply an attempt to justify the leadershin's action by creating yet another smearand-scare campaign against a local party NEC is claiming that the Knowsley North general committee delegation is not properly constituted, that some branches have been prevented trom sending representatives.
NEC's real were the concern then the amendmoved Audrey Wise at the November exCulive that the party supervise the annual meetings of Knowsley North branches and of the constishould have tuency party -been sufficient to satisty the executive that party business being properly conducted.
Clearly that wasn't what concerned the NEC.
massively defeated.
The left in the party has already lined up in support of the democratic right of select their own candidate. Labour Lett liaison nas circulated the financial apSend to: Socialist Action Subs, PO Box 50, London NI 2XP peal from Trade Unionists for Democracy in Knowsley North. The Campaign Group of Labour MiPs is supporting the local party against this latest witch Resolutions of support other parties already beginning to find their way Walworth Road. And last weekend, the executive committee of the LCC passed a resolution opposing any disciplinary action against the constituency It ever there was a clearcut case for supporting a COLLUCICi Dally aralisl unwarranted attacks by the Labour leadership, Knowsley North is it.
The massive success of The came ces ale Amir Khan and Kevin ScalV (CRAKKS) show that a united campaign can be mounted across the party to defend victims of this latest purge. CRAKKS points a way towards the sort defence of Knowsley North CLP that urgently needed.
Donations are urgently needed towards the £14,000 legal costs Knowsley North have incurred fighting for their parliamentary candidate.
Cheques and postal orders should be made out to •Trade Unionists for Democracy in Knowsley North' , and sent to:
Mrs I Rowe, Treasurer, 12 Linslade Crescent, Northwood Kirkby, Liverpool.
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