BRENT EAST CLP is fighting for the right to reselect its MP. The present MP is Reg Freeson has put off the discussio until the next full NEC or (delegate to Brent East GMC personal capacity)
Freeson, an ex-housing Minister in the Callaghan Government, lost the supManagement his General Committee He opposed the GaS On a (GMC) some ago. host of issues and on its The majority of delegates want Ken Livingstone call for troops out of for Silkin rather than Benn contest which decided most delegates against him. Ever since, he and his supporters have relied on outcauliacy legalistic quibbles to keep incild him in his seat.
His latest ploy is to allege that Brent East has •delayed reselection so long that it must drop the issue. The many delays are with one exception due to either Freeson and his supporters The GMC did vote to defer the process until agreed whole-heartedly this decision. wune delays officers being too busy' and to a damaging internal inquiry forced on the party by Freeson.
This report by Joyce Gould, Assistant National Agent, was 'leaked' to the press on Friday. It makes no recommendations but it catalogues a list of rightwing complaints report will undoubtedly be used against the locally as Brent equivalent of shredding Bermondsey election leaflets.
Left As against this, the party has received legal advice trom Lord Gifford that selection should go ahead. Speaking Socialist Action, Colin Adams, Chair of the , said: 'We're confident that we've satisfied all the NEC's organisational requirements and we can • see no reason for not proceeding with the reselection process as soor as possible Brent East GMC has given authority to its Ex. ecutive to take nominations, thus beginning the But the NEC is most likely to delay ever further in the hope of forcing Freeson on the party when a June election is called.
Brent East will suceed only with the most forth must show itself willing ty right • action. The implement stitution in spite of the Cull NEC need motions support Irom the Movement drowning the NEC. And we'll need them fast. about his treatment by the constituency. We have never received any complaints from the delegate.
We have refused their demands, and we'll continue to do so. We're not going to let appeals for party unity in the face of a general election make us hostages to the right wing This is the beginning of witch-hunt against the whole left in the Party and has to be fought.
I'll be arguing to the CLP executive that we lob. by the NEC on 26 April and write our case up for distribution to everyone concerned.
I support the Hammersmith North in refusing to expel Militant supporters But our case is a new stage we have not done anything 'wrong al any point