morning, leader Michael Foot returned to haunt him.
In the aftermath of the defeat, rumours are circulating that Foot will lose the party leadership to Labour's right wing. Why did Tatchell lose in Bermondsey?
And what does this signify Chances he general election!
ITOl ally angle, the result is a massive defeat tor Labour. Ine big question now facing the this round. 'PETER TATCHELL will go to parliament over my dead body.' In the small hours of Friday the 15 month-old words of Labour the witch-hunt hasn't let It continued throughout the Bermondsey campaign, reaching dramatic climax with the eve-of-poll decision to expel five members of the Militant cantonal leadership has OCer COUS SICILEY NOTe concerned to fight the Labour left than to win the The main responsibility for Labour's defeat in Bermondsey must be laid at the door of the national Of course, the personal smear campaign against helped.
But this whole press cam Foot's public opposition Tatchell. Such smears best take hold in a witch-hunting climate, like that created by leadership.
Fierce During the by-election, the Party, and LaDUul activists throughout London, fought fierce against big national odds. Support for Tatchell came first and foremost activists committed to defending a candidate who too in the Bermondsey Party's campaign. in the circumstances, concentrating on Tatchell's credentials as a local candidate LOCCUICI keeping too low a profile on issues such as nuclear was the WOTSI possible campaign to wage. But the real proLOOKS LIKE AN INSIDE JOB TO ME SARGE...
blem was the fact that their candidate wasn't seen to be backed by his national party. Tatchell has never seen presented publicly as part of a national Labour alternative to the Thatcher This approach of the Labour leadership was simple. They would rather WALWORTH RD lose the election than come to office on Labour's preSCIL OCC - Bermond. sey's result is a shot-gun Labour left. Tatchell's campaign ha UliC thing clear. Soft-pedaling on Labour's programme 1s no road to victory at the next election. We face a Well not exactly ... O'Grady was thrashed at the polls clear-cut choice: dump policies or fight to present a real alternative.
The left must campaign now to take Labour into the next election on a manifesto committed party policies, supported by a leadership per cent behind it. The result of the Bermondsey • cam, makes organising a socialist campaign for wavour victory even more urgent.
In the words of Peter Tatchell: 'We've lost the Don't mourn the loss of . but not the war Ul gallis now for a Labour victory.
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TO JOHN O GRADY THIS IS THE