MORE than Never the battle lines being drawn over the party leader are bound up with the question of party democracy and the policies of the next Labour government.
The right-wing Gang of Three - Rodgers, Owen, and Williams — are pro-NATO, pro-Common Market and business. They against party democracy.
For them policy should not be binding on the next Labour govern ment. And they are determined to overturn the decision that the party leader should be elected by more than just the MPs.
The left's victories at the Labour Party conference boosted the confidence workers fighting the Tories. They gave the green light to i a Bein go to ent in tre linked to the prospect future.
There can be no doubt that a victory for Benn in the election for Ine special conference would be a VICIOT Lne broughout the labour movekhat is why Socialist Chalienge supports Benn's indidature in that election But the struggle for ac:cuntability ader to the rank and file :annet left to a battle mithin the constituencies. The right should be taken into the rade unions.
It is the unions that determine outcome of the _ 200ur Party conferences Those in the right and left alling for reducing _the influence of the unions in the party miss the point entirely. the election of the party leader, DAVE how the left should organise for the 24 January special Labour The integration Labour Party and the trade unions at local and national level OlIC use strengths of the Hiuvculcill LOUS However the decisive union block votes should be brought under the control of the rank and file.
Every affiliated should thoroughly. throughout the the method of electing the Labour leader. delegate conterences be held to decide the issue. There should be resolutions to mandate the unions' delegations to the special conference.
Socialist Challenge always argued that the election of the party leader and the content manifesto should be decided the annual Our supporters will argue for this view at the special conference.
But if such a position is defeated, delegations special conference support any proposal that broadens the franchise, rather than continuing the where only MPs decide..
Conference Engineers' leader Terry Duffy believes that know best working class when it comes eiecting the party leaders. We disagree.
At present MPs have no VOte party That's how it should stay on all policy matters. should be no special status or privilege for those of any other member of the party.
Party conference shouid be the decision-making body on policies, the manifesto and the party leadership.
great workers' country.
union discuss membership Special has the election conterence to the should system MP's the conference.
There above According to Shore, Denis Healey has 'splendidly thuggish qualities' note now.
be Michael Foot BELOW is the text of the resolution passed week the Genera Management Committee of Islington North Labour Party on the question of the election of the Labour leader.
It is a model of how to thwart the attempts of the right wing to overturn the decisions of the Blackpool conference 'THIS North Islington CLF regrets the decision of the party reader to resion in advance of the special conterence in January decide on a new method electing a leader.
the serious and divisive moves of sections of the PLP to subvert the decisions special conference by seeking to elect a permanent replacement for James Callaghan 'We call upon our MP to take no part in such moves and to support the temporary appointment of a caretaker until after the new election procedure to decided January Photo: CHRIS DAVIES comes into effect.
'In the event of the PLP proceeding with an election for leader other than a caretaker, we instruct our • to vote for no can didate other than one who gives a firm undertaking to stand for re-election under the new procedure to be decided in January.'
the valuable gain for the workers
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HUDSON explains Party conference.
Boost conference
Socialist Challenge 23 October 1980 AS Labour right-wingers try to wriggle out of the Blackpool conference decisions on
Constituency attacks 'subversion' of Blackpool decisions