[John The Campaign for Labour Party Democracy AGM…]

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John The Campaign for Labour Party Democracy AGM in December passed resolutions in favour of the left continuing to organise for democracy and an accountable leadership, and defeated proposals that we should take a step backwards and seek an accommodation with the right wing. Probably decisive in this outcome was the fact that the right wing had already launched a 'civil war' Some reports of the AGM, however, have painted a somewhat different picture. Instead of votes being mainly determined by events in the Party and the political . arguments over recent months in the CLPD and on the left, (not least in the pages of Socialist Organiser), the outcome, we are told was the product of a small meeting and "a large Trotskyist vote" (New Statesman), "careful organisation by the SCLV" (Tribune), or " ... pushed through by members of Socialist Organiser" (Financial Times).

Similar The argument, of course, is remarkably similar to the right wing's dismissal of Labour policy as the product of unrepresentative meetings packed by well-organised "outsiders'.

Similar in content, and in their lack of concern with the facts.

The 1981 AGM was not an unusually small meetingabout 120 attended this year against the figure of "over 150" in 1980. The weather and the London Labour Party Special Conference certainly had an effect but on supporters of both sides of the argument. As an issue has been made of Socialist Organiser supporters, it is worthwhile pointing out that there were fewer attending than at the 1980 AGM.

Downgrade

That fact doesn't fit the picture, and nor would the fact (not emphasised, and not even mentioned in some reports) that one of the most contentious resolutions was moved by Wood Green CLP.

Socialist Organiser has no reason to disavow whatever influences our arguments might have had. But these reports are not concerned with the correctness or otherwise of our ideas, so much as with an attempt to downgrade the significance of the results of the AGM as being unrepresentative, to discredit them, and perhaps to evade having to abide by them.

This widely publicised conspiracy theory of the AGM, in which Trotskyists land the weather) are the main element, has of course a significance well beyond the internal debates of the CLPD today.

HEDUP Similar ideas, including the view that majorities are legitimate as long as they don't involve Trotskyists, are not new on the right or left of the Party. To push them at a time when there is a witch-hunt based in part on the idea that Trotskyist are alien forces, is at best to provide the right with ammunition.

The arguments about the AGM give direct assistance to the witch-hunt. Having 'established' that the votes of the Trotskyists in Socialist Organiser and the Socialist Labour Group were decisive, Patrick Wintour in the New Statesman makes clear his view that there is a basic difference between the "average constituency lettwinger" and the "ultra-left" that they must "chart a course between (the) two extremes"; and that not only are "Trotskyists and other hard liners intent on a battle to the end" , but also that "Trotskyists have no interest in the party"

Aberration

So Dennis Healey, Roy Hattersley and Shirley Williams were right after all!

Wintour's article might be nonsense but it is not an isolated aberration. It fits very closely with the call by the Clause 4 dominated majority on the LCC Executive for an open register of groups in the Party, and Nigel Stanley's appearance on the TV Eye programme against Militant.

There has yet to be an assessment of the AGM in CLPD. As last year, it should take place alongside the implementation of the decisions reached.

It should also distinguish itself from the reports mentioned above, by being based on facts and not conspiracy theories, and by being firmly rooted in the policy of the CLPD to unequivocally and firmly oppose any witch-hunts. NINETEEN Labour MPs have signed a motion endorsing the views expressed in London Labour Briefing by Peter Tatchell, in the belief that "nothing in that article is inconsistent with our support for democratic socialism and parliamentary democracy"

The nineteen are. Race,_Maynard, Huckfield, Richardson, Litherland, Roberts, Allan Roberts, Skinner, Lamond, Ross, Atkinson, Ellis, Canavan, Mckelvey and Meacher.

The names were collected in one afternoon, and it is hoped that at least another 20 MPs will add their names when Parliament resumes later this month.

The Labour Coordinating Committee is collecting the names of prospective candidates in

DEMOCRACY &

ACCOUNTABILI CLAUSE FOUR order to issue some kind of solidarity statement, and all candidates at selection meetings should be asked whether, if selected, they would be prepared to write to the NEC expressing their agreement with the views of Peter Tatchell.

A full-page Labour Weekly advert, signed by MPs, prospective candidates, councillors and others, may also appear in the near future.

If large numbers of MPs and prospective candidates publicly endorse Peter Tatchell's article, not only will the heat be taken off Bermondsey, but the action of Michael Foot and the NEC will be exposed for what it really is - an attempt by the Right to force out good democratic socialists and pave the way for a coalition between a right wing Labour rump and the SDP.

NIGEL WILLIAMSON

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