Democracy on why Labour Party members should support Eric Heffer in the leadership contest.
THE ELECTION of a new Labour Leader and Deputy Leader is being presented by the media as an American-style personality contest. meaning Party and trade union members untortunately also see it in this light.
The real significance of this however, political. The choice of the electoral college, with the other NEC elecwill probably decide the Party's woole mure direction. This CLPD is urging all Labour members and trade unionists to vote for Eric One of the major factors which contributed to Labour's defeat was the internal party tension produced by the reluctance of the Parliamentary leadership to accept the two reforms which made more accountable reselection MPs and the electoral college. "ne traghe which was laboriously constructed during the last few months came too late • 5 have an effect on the election result.
Many wellference, to ensure that the process for electing the leadership elevates them above Party policy, and to by-pass the only ettective body monitoring an MPs performance.
A sions, the fundamental principle of democracy is the right of a minority to campaign for change: Eric Heffer is the only leadership candidate who upholds this right.
The manifestos Shore and Hattersley cal for purges opponents, while Kinnock has voted in the trom the Labour Party because of their views.
The most significant aspect of Eric courageous stand against a witch hunt 1s Its. importance for Labour's future. The Party's overriding need is to face up to the lessons of the last Genera Election so as to make sure Inar we wn tue next ore
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SOCIALIST ACTION reprints below an article by the Campaign for Labour Party