Exeter Labour Brieting. always be resisted. the situation in Exeter is particularly crucial since the Labour Group of the city council went into coalition with the Liberals after the 3 May local elections.
The decision by the Executive Committee of Exeter Labour Party to start expulsion proceedings against the three editors of Briefing follows long argument over the name of For some uhne. cc have been trying persuade the editors to change the name of the publication, claiming that the views expressed there might be mistaken for Exeter Labour policy the March general committee meelig resolution was passed instructing Briefing to cease publication under that name. The issue was not discussed the resolution was passed on the nod as part of a lUng report trom ine CA" ecutive without being noticed by Briefing supporters at the meeting.
The three editors Peter Bowlg Mike Hingley and Mark Wilkinson- woo vc ov ccnz expulsion have refused to change the paper's name, wanting. identify with policies Tat uldr Briefing. Apart this, no reading of the Labour Party constituL01l possibly the general committee power instruct members change publication's name.
theretore carried on publishing under the Briefing name, but included a disclaimer on the front page. Ihe expulsions constitute discip. illial y allU1 While witch hunts must from this defiance of the general committee resolution.
reality DOlLica hehind the arguments about the name is that, in a party where policy is rarely discussed. a small group of activists are under attack tor irving io keen socialist principles alive in Exeter. This is particularly important since the city council elections in May.
By lan Clifford, Exeter Labour Briefing Following both Liberal gains, the control of the Tones OSL council. Without any consultation with the constituency party, the Lahour Group entered a 'working relationship' with the smaller Liberal Group.
Lib-Lab majority control all council committees. Long, leader of the Group, is now leader of the council with Liberal backing. Needless to say, the policies pursued by this coalition are unnkely change much for the city La point conceded bv ClIr Long in the local press recently. •Hlte tIC manifesto had to become the hasis tor the working relationship with the Liberals, it was necessarily levoid of socialist cotent have been among the first to consider parlamentary coalitions. in exelel we are already living with One Labour councillor who considers himself left wing relied on the recent Eric Hobswallles bawm when explaining to the Univclsll LavouI Group before the elections why it would be necessary to go_into coalition with the Liberals after the elec.
The same councillor Lull. launched the most bitter, witch-hunting attack on editors when HC DCE calling for their expulsion And it was ClIr Long who proposed the expulsions at the executive.
It is imperative that all talk of coalitions is vigorously attacked. Tony Benn recently referred to Hobsbawm's ideas as 'the strategy of pesimism, the tactics or aereal . Quite right. Coalitionism is based on the oer tildl socialism is no longer achievable.
But it is more than this. It is a politics rooted in fear generated by the present econonC CIsis. provides an excuse for those who are afraid to take their place the struggles now facing ordinary people. It provides an excuse to abandon real struggle against capitalism and to mount witch hunts against anyone who tries to draw attention to these struggles.
The supporters of Exeter Labour Briefing intend to carry on fighting such fearless, democratic vision starting by sUllalsil fighting witch hunt itself.
• For more information contact Peler Bowing.
Powderham Crescent, Exeter, Devon or phone E.teter 58692.
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THREE MEMBERS OF the Exeter Labour Party are under threat of expulsion over the production of