Looking back on Brighton

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The Labour Left's debate on strategy after the Brighton In Socialist Organiser of September 10, we printed an appeal to Tony Benn - Time to Organise the Left!' An article by Nigel Williamson in Socialist Organiser of Septem-. ber 24 sketched a possible form for a new movement of the Last week's Socialist Organiser (October 8) printed a call by Reg Race MP for a united movement of the Left in the constituencies, the unions, and the Parliamentary Labour Party. Bob Cryer MP has also argued (Socialist Organiser, October 1) that a new left group of Labour MPs is needed, now that several Tribune MPs have abstained or voted for But many on the Labour Left disagree. An editorial in Tribune of October 9 argued that left-wingers should turn away from internal struggles in the Labour Party and towards convincing the electorate. The same issue of Tribune carried an article by David Winnick MP and a statement by 12 other MPs who voted for Benn on the first or second rounds, opposing the idea of a new left group of MPs.

This week, Reg Race MP reasserts his view, and Vladimir Derer of the CLPD argues that 'aggressive tactics' would be We welcome more contributions to the debate.

for democratic reforms and . Comrades who adv Democracy conference continues.

Labour Left.

Healey. dangerous now. view we clearly need an organisation which will first unite the Left in Parliament with the Left in the constituencies and the trade unions - on the principle that such an organisation will campaign actively and publicly for the policies agreed by the Party conference.

Secondly, the organisation must seek to bring together the broadest possible group of supporters to win back control of the NEC and to fight for other agreed objectives.

The Tribune Group cannot carry out this obfor democratic reforms and Party policies - the platform on which Tony fought his Deputy Leader campaign - is not won so far as the mass of the members of the Labour movement are concerned.

More importantly, the reluctance among the Party activists to press for demojective, as it has largely set its face against campaigning in the broader labour movement, and now contains such a disparate group of MPs that it is difficult to see how one could have meaningful discussions with some members of the Group -those, for example, who voted for Dennis Healey in the Deputy Leadership election.

What we need now is clear discussion of the objectives of the proposed new grouping and of the way in which it can best go about its work.

Comrades who advocate attressive bacco Dresent sinuadol CArE S41 clearly carned away by the euphoria generated by Deputy campaign. They are simply that Campass ende refusing to the WILL C • declaration of th final result.

All this • mea