WITCH HUNTS are far from over, but they've left the centre of Labour's public stage. That was the message from the meeting of Labour Against the Witch Hunt, held at County Hall, London, last weekend.
Council took reports on Whythenshawe (van chester), Blackburn, Acocks Green (Birmingham), Stoke, Southampton and Liverpool. They indicate that, while the days of an up-front witch hunt openly led by Labour's national leadership have passed. they not necessarily gone forever.
Since annual conterence. witch hunting has changed into a lower gear.
Nowadays, right wing constituencies and individuals spearhead local witch hunts, away from the glare of national publicity.
Whythenshawe constihas finally been reconvened after month fight. It will hold its 1984 annual meeting at the of this month, and looks likely to 'go left' despite the antics of national David Hughes.
But the five refused admittance to Acocks Green branch of BirminghamYardley Labour Party still face delays Small fires are being fanned elsewhere. Stoke South constituency is calling for an investigation of Socialist Organiser, was recently forced to suspend a local branch which refused to issue 1984 membership cards to MiliRUSHCLIFFE LABOUR PARTY are holding. a consultation conference for constituency Labour Parties in Nottingham, on Sunday 25 March. follows a fringe meeting at last year's Labour Party conference, attended by visitors.
The Nottingham conference will workshops that on fighting the workplace branches, defending demo.
In a circular letter advertising con ference, the joint signatories Audrey /ise, Ken Fleet and Tony Simpson OUL Tories are moving quarterly National Council tant supporters.
Southamoton. local councillor suggested Militant supporters should not be allowed to hold office in his Labour Party branch. After he was told his proposal was against the constituency's antiwitch hunt policy, issued a statement to the local press.
Liverpool, MP Frank Field complained to tne press Inal ne was being 'witch hunted' when Merseyside Briefing Cal ried an article critical of his non-adherence vally policy.
Switch hunt is not dead. The decisions of annual conference open the door to right wing constituency parties pursuing it at their own pace, in many with full support Lasco regional headquarters.
Far from the election of a new Labour leader. ship laying to rest the years, has passed a neat piece of enabling legislation' for right wingers by confirming Tariq Ali's and the editorial board's expulsions, and the sales ban on Militant newspaper at Labour Party meetings. 1 nis nas removea tne onus Labour's national Icaucis:
Nottingham conference This 200-plus delegates swiftly and ruthlessly to the Party's trade union Cancells which spell bankruptcy for our party.
tacks abound government independence, general welfare provision, and on the NGS.
'Meantime deployGreenham, and the expanAll this makes the job of LAW more vital than ever. Party activists must Stall into the trap believing witch hunts have stoppea because they longer get national publiciMaterial LAW will continue to compile Circult material on the witch hunt signiticance for the whole drawing attention to the real threat which still exists, as well as offering advice and support to constituencies and individuals For this reason, LAW producing a leaflet for regional conferences and will be Darl fringe meetings there. It is also circulatill: slalculcul from the Campaign Group of MPs calling for an end to the witch hunt, which will be orescuilcu to National Executive Committee in April.
The next National Council meeting will be in London on Saturday 7 April, in plenty of time to discuss and circulate model resolutions for this year's annual (Copies of the Campaign Group Norement details of LAW secretary Keith Lichman, Il Wilderton Road, Londor N16 (01-802 1709). Affiliation LAW open CLPs, unions, Labour Party affiliates and individuals details from the address above.
sion of the American bases in Britain are imposed on us with a brutal disregard for public preference and national sovereignty.
It is more than ever necessary that CLP ac-VISIN exchange experiences and agree practical plans.
Constituencies are invited to send up to four delegates. Information has already been circulated to constituency secretaries.
More details available from Tony Simpson, Rockingham Not. tingham, View from hottest