'We will not go down in history as the ones who buckled and paved the way for a general assault on the left' BERMONDSEY LABOUR PARTY is to meet David Hughes, Jim Mortimer and Russell Tuck of Labour's NEC on November to discuss what it will be doing in the forthcoming provoked by Mellish's resignation. Socialist Challenge spoke to Peter Tatchell who selected as candidate but not endorsed by the NEC, on Tuesday 16 November.
Do you think you can win Bermondsey for Labour?
Yes. But it will be hard. In the done more Labour Partv's standing the Tories, the SDP and the Liberals combined.
Stacks have given credibility to all our opponents' accusations.
This means we're our authority undermined. But stand firm and resist an imposed candidate.
The leadership are sending down three people to a special meeting of our Executive on the 23rd'. We think thev're going to try and persuade me to stand dowi and withdraw its support. don't comply, that there will be an imposed Bye- shortlist of 3 and that I will not Bob be endorsed.
Our mood
We're defending the right of all CLPs to choose was didates. If we surrender it will be a betrayal reselection Party members to choose their own candidates.
We don't want to go down history buckled betrayed CLPs and opened the way for a general assault on the left.
the witn But Spellars, for example, claims that the right CLP starting determined to Party AlI We the rumour is Under threat: Bermondsey to fight Labour Party's candidate, their can- Peter Thatchell of the right of wing will Labour's chances of victory by restoring a traditional Labour Would this apply in Berwho mondsey? pressure, travesty Healey and the Labour Party's traditions. pioneers firebrands who believed in extraparliamentary fifties leadership tinguish.
you want to ignite?
ideological 1979, defensive skirmishes.
devote ourselves campaigning. this on increase protest side.
Party'.
campaign say that a very weak Golding represent witch-nunting were radical action and PETER TATCHELL interviewed Do that broke mistake to with this tradition. People like paigning myself have been re-igniting the flames which they want to exBut how damp is the fuel The Tories have been on the since tion and our Party is on the because hasn't mobilised mass opposition and has confined itself to defensive This has perhaps had some effect, and we have to to outward expe We'll be doing Clause Wednesday when we the property speculator's carve-up of Surrey members. Docks and Bermondsey RiverBut the problem is that in who've the face of a sustained media hate and ty members. misrepresentation, we have had and unpositive leadership spending more time campaigning for democratically agreed policies like nuclear