THE OUTCOME of the TGWU elections are just the latest in a series of blows to Kinnock. The results are still coming out as we go to press but it is clear that the left has won a significant victory. It appears that all but one of the trade group seats have been one by the left. Most spectacularly of all right wing TGWU chair Brian Nicholson was smashed in Region no 1 — London and the South East.
The votes for the lett wing candidates in Region I were 19,800 for Pete Hagger and 17,800 for Steve Riley. Right wing candidate Nicholson and Davis received 11,900 and 8,000 respectively. The only gain made by the right appears to have been on Humberside.
Left There will now, doubtless, be a series of attempts to legally block the results.
headlined its report of the results (IGWU ballot blow for Kinnock': Coupled with the rora strike and the up.
SUHS all this has halted the struggle in the long of the left.
'hatcher is still on the orfensive but she is encountersignificant resistance. As a result Kinnock's hold the CaLL being weakened.
Unity That process tact started after the immediate post-election 'honeymoon' period when contradictions began to appear in the Kinnock camp. The first symptom was. apparently obscure fight between Kinnock and the right wing.
The traditional right represented by Smith, Cunningham, Hattersle their trade union allies found themselves minority DONES the PLP after the 1987 election. This was an historically unprecedented situation. They attempted ICaDoCil themselves through attacking Kinnock's allies This period was brought to an end when David Warburton of the GMB, editor of the right wing Labour Forward made the tactical mistake of proceeding to an le was promptly sacked t secretary iohn Edmonds for his trou ble. Kinnock made clear that he intended to keep his own grip on the party. Support Prior to the crushing of Warburton Kinnock productive and competitive was despite the fact that Smith WaN shadow chancellor of the exchequer.
This key position was given to Bryan Gould These manoeuvres were aimed at strengthening Kinnock's position against the right. But reality created enemies there. Furthermore the right is, finally, Kinnock's only real base of support in the party the 'soft left' is too. weak and unstable to be a solid base support. By clashing with the right Kinnock left himselt in a more unstable and exposed position with some of the gloss taken off the hype of the Following this the alternative projects of the 'soft • left went nowhere • abour Listens' has turned into a the second meeting at Milton Keynes turning into a brawl. The NEC, with its main immediate project gone, was left primarily dealing with - around 20 CLPs:
SUCCS -are now suspended or under investigation.
Problem Kinnock then went on to alienate a further part of the soft disgraceful handling of Prescott. Inere was considerable opposition to Prescott standing for deputy leader against Hattersiey.
public humiliation of Prescott, after a secret deal, showed Kinnock for what he 1s not merely right wing bụt a petty individual But all these petty annoyances eroded Kinnock's support without breaking it. it nas been une poles issues that have really brought matters to a head.
Weakness
The first, and most significant, was over the nurses. "he one area where the party leadership had been gaining credit since the election was over the NHS where most members considered relatively effective campaign was being run.
But this generally supportive position turned to anger over the issue of the nurses strikes. At a rough per cent of the population support the nurses - and 95 per cent of potentia. • LabOu porters. The working class voters consider: 'if even the nurses are driven to going on strike the situation must be dreadiul!
Yet. Labour's front hard left but by Tribune, Robin Cook, and sections of the Labour right wing. Despite that Kinnock ap pears determined to press ahead with a vote on it at this year's party conference which will meet fierce opposition and, in the CLPs, also from much of the centre ground of the party.
The net result of all this is that Kinnock's forces are more tattered on the ground in the CLPs, and loyalty Is more strained evén in some unions, than for many yvals Advances This situation gives new openings for the left The real priorities are rebuilding the left throug! • relating to the struggles taking place outside parliament, mobilising against the Kinnock/Hat tersley document presenting alternative to it, winning the tight to defend which is made tar more possible by the • TGWU elections, carrying through the fight for the demands of Black Sections and women in the party, again aided by the situation the basis 10 the helping lay SUDOULI economic policy for for the left Solidarity the internal exists this Bryan Gould and Michacl Meacher off tuency section of the NEC and replace them with left wingers.
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kept John Smith off the key the predective and coon-