change in the procedure This is an attempt to get rid of reselection.
That's what Eric Hefter. Labour Partv chairperson had to say when Socialist Action asked for his views on the move to introduce one member one ¡ole as a new opton Tor choosing MPs. It is a clear attempt by Labour's right and centre to protect the seats right wing MPs. According will grouping So dar isk 25 sitting MPs including Peter Shore, who has distinguished himself by attacking le miners, Frank Field of Rainbow The proposal going to Wednesday's of Hicculls the Labour Party national executive, wholefor reselecting MPs. Nobody can be against the principle of one member one vote, but that isn't what we're arguing about.
heartedly backed by Neil Kinnock, is an attempt to claw back the gains of four years ago, by reopening the whole reselection Then the right wing fought reselection on the grounds OI parliament's sanctity, just as they later fought the electoral college the grounds that only WelC CavaDic deciding, the party's leader. At that time thev introduced the idea of one member one vote too late to gain any headway.
Now they are coming back for another nibble at today as they were in 1980.
Fleet Street's lie machine is already geared the media are championing the new option at the same time as they are denouncing the Target LaDOUT Government's campone plot. campaign •LivJust like right wing, they are posing the defenders of democracv. But what they want is an individual vote without any discussion. I ney Deneve such a volt would be a vote more influenced by the rantings of the bosses press than by reasoned within the party One member one vote an extension the Selecting private ballot makes them local parties.
By severing the link with the general management committee the party's policy mak. ing body the relationship between an MP and her/his local greatly weakened. the role of the wards, which send delegates the GMC are undermined as well.
Ultimately, makes belonging to the Labour less relevant by eroding the collective structures of the local pary, structures by which or dinary members make their presence felt.
The direct relationship between an MP and each con. does away win une meda of controlling the party's public [corescuilalives.
This system lays the ground-work for robbing annual conference of its right to determine party policy ana to ensure representatives publicly JUDOOr anu that policy Not only would this new option tend to reduce ordinary volvement in the affairs of the party, but would disenfranchise whole section of the membersno the hundreds of thousands affiliated through their unions.
At a time when the anti-union legislation is attacking the links between the party and the unions by threatening their political funds, the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy: the argument for reselection was won in 1980 Eric Heffer: 'an attack one member one vote opchosing MPs would further weakendelegates felt that those councils due to be ratecapped face no choice other than to unite ano refuse to set a rate. The il legal budget strategy also had support at conference particularly the no single Sureral support commanded recognised that confrontation and illegality necessary.
The old-style right. wing municipal politics of those links. Participation party at a local level by trade union branches 1 vital component of drawing the two parts of the movement closer together.
The Labour left must take up the argument that the party's future rests on the greater involvement of members in the collective structures and activities of particular Photo: GM COOKSON women, black people anc mama workers must won to the party be given a real say in its direction and its policies.
This means positive discrimination in the selection of candidates fight tOl ac countability at all levels in the Labour Party. Only ar active informed membership can achieve challenge LOIS reselection must be tackled neal on.
Photo: JOHN HARRIS the represented by Birm ingham leader LICH Knowles was clearl marginal. The final ference statement read by party chair Eric Heffer emphasised non compliance and illegality (no voles were allowed).
The need to take the battle into October's party conference and to win sup port from the trade unions Waich the conference end- was highpoint ed.
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