the register organisations on the list several are local left wing Labour Briefing supporters.
According to the Birmingham Post of 26 March a spokesperson for the NEC said: declaring the Summertield Group ineligible for affiliation, anyone who continues to belong to the group is ineligible for membership of the Labour The Summerfield Group was formed in the run-up to the Birmingham city council Labour group GM in May 1986 by black councilors and prospective councillors in Birmingham, Black Section number of their white colleagues. Its aim was to fight for the implementation of existing district party policy and for greater democrac n the Lal bour group.
The response of the right wing leadership was a campaign of intimidation THE NATIONAL executive committee of the Labour Party is threatening left wing councillors and party members in Birmingham with expulsion. The threat comes after the March NEC meeting which voted which was established by the 1982 party conference. Of the 58 groupings, including Iribune, Campaign Group and using the local press and the threat of disciplinary Much this campaign was explicitly racist, Labour's loonie left. The nerfield Group a • The campaign of vilification black councilor Phil Murphy is no different that Bernie Grant.
Unfortunately the response of many of the soft left was to beat a retreat in face of this oftensive.
Confronted with the prospect of losing their positons as chairs and vice chairs of committees, they made a series of shabby compromises which just encouraged further attacks.
The NEC's decision is Black party members in Birmingham. the inevitable result of these But the decision Just wildl sueDs the Kinnock leadership prepared to take to defend right wing leaderships at a local leve For the second year running the Birminghan District Labour now faced with the prospect of a local election campaign based on a manitesto im posed over its head. In SelAfter the successful reinstatement campaign for Amir Khan and Kevin Scally, the right wing continue to attack ly Oak the constituency is in a protracted struggle with the NEC its right to recruit Bob Whitehead.
In Small Heath the NEC has endorsed local candidates although the DLP has decided that short-list and selection meetings should ve rerun. Incy now 1ook sel to do the same in the Handsworli waru ol relry barr.
Meanwhile in Sparkbrook the right has taken new measures to shore up Is posinon allel lne Allan and Scally victory. As Gina Altal. Haula vice chair of the Black Section, explains: 'It's a witch hunt against the left as a whole, including Black people 'In Sparkbrook where the ledacishe Teet threatened after the events ot last vear the right 1s Ol the offensive. While the left has held onto the Sparkhill ward, the right it making sure it has overall control of the GMC.
It has packed the annual meeting of women's section and it has increased the number of right wing There are now sevel EETPU delegates from one tions because they say they are divisive, they are pro even division in the community in The Summerfield Group will next meet on 25 April when a response to the NEC decision will be discussed.
Socialist Action 10 April 1987
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against the Birmingham Summerfield Group joining of non-affiliated organisations,