Bradford stands —by Pat Wall

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tr dE ivi al ave been deserted at their me of need - and now face le prospect of a military efeat which could decisely weaken them politicly.

They have only one hope I staying on in their Beirut ase - and that is at best a imsy straw to clutch at.

The resignation of US ecretary of State Alexander aig is evidently seen as the come of differences ithin the Reagan camp over is unashamedly hardline ro-Zionist policy.

But even were this the case, it is far from certain that Schultz has the immediate leverage to stem the progress of Begin's armed forces: indeed the Zionist leaders may even be prompted to preempt US pressure and rising anti-war sentiment at home by mounting a rapid final onslaught on Beirut.

The scale and ferocity of opposition to the war within Israel itself has plainly shocked the Begin government.

The weekend demonstrabefore they set off on their 26 miles.

Wirral, Merseyside.

iser, 28 Middle Lane, London N8 8PL.

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finish. final bloodletting in Beirut.

But it will also reinforce the political dependence of the PLO leaders upon the reactionary Arab states and even upon the USA as a means of support.

This can only be reversed by a tenacious fight in the labour movement of the imperialist countries and within the working classes of the Arab countries and Israel for active solidarity with the Palestinian struggle, and perspective for socialist revolution in the Middle East. THE crashing defeat last Friday for Bradford North right winger Ben Ford was described by his opponent Pat Wall as an historic vote and indeed it may prove to be so, Eight months ago, Wall defeated Ford after a selection process which lett no doubt in the minds of constituency members as to who would win.

Ford had received only four nominations, compared with around 20 for Wall and the vote was quite decisive.

What followed is now well-known to Labour members throughout the country. Wall was to be vilified throughout the national and local media. What may not be appreciated is the level of slander and hostility experienced by Pat and his family.

Accused

National newspapers phoned his workplace to ask why he had not been sacked and even accused his boss of being a Trotskyist for not joining the witch-hunt. Poisonous phone calls and letters all joined the local newspapers and Tory controlled media in a massive campaign to attempt to decide who leads and represents the Labour Parly.

This campaign was designed, Pat Wall stated, to return the Party to the 50s and 60s, when the right wing proscribed journals and papers and disbanded branches.

In many areas of Bradford, he continued, we were experiencing the end of civilised life with no employment prospecis, no social life, broken down estates and people afraid lo. walk out at night.

Tribune Rally STOP THE PURGE Camden Town Hall July 20 at 7.30pm Speakers: Tony Benn, Arthur Scargill How could we waste time on internal struggles when the fight must be against the Tories. We were told that Keynesian public spending would solve the problems but now we see clearly that the capitalist system doesn't work.

Whilst there was nothing to fault in Pat's contribution for me the problem lay rather in what was not discussed, such as a perspective for drawing together the massive pay struggles of the railmen; health workers, etc around a drive towards a mass strike movement to remove the Tories and lay the basis for a workers' government.

If such a perspective was not included in Pat's speech it was a million miles from the thoughts of his opponent in the blue corner, representing the Labour Party NEC, Battling Ben Ford.

Arrogance

60 delegates were treated to 20 minutes of apolitical arrogance, the first ten of which were spent reading out word for word a carefully compiled and documented attack on the Militant Tendency.

Stating his intention with the help of the NEC to be the next Labour candidate in Bradford North, lord was shaken by a question from one shop steward who simply asked him if he considered himself a socialist.

As complete confusion descended on the meeting, with many of Ford's supporters despairing of their iot, he surfaced finally to read a touching personal letter sent to the constituency from Michael Foot which described in suitably vague terms Ford's great contributions as a running boy in the House of Commons.

The result speaks for itself - with a greatly increased majority for Wall who won by 49 votes to 12.

The problem now rests with the NEC. Twice we have now selected Pat Wali and we have absolutely no intention of selecting anyone else.

30 years We wait to see how the NEC will attempt to invalidate our decision. The whole Labour Party in Bradford will support Wall throughout all three constituencies and the District Party.

He has been in the Party over 30 years and done just about every job possible for the Party and has the respect of the trade union movement as the President of the Trades Council for many years.

He is our candidate and we are pledged to fight tooth and nail to defend him and our right to decide our own representative. We will expect massive national support if that right challenged again.

Interview with Peter Tatchell - page 6

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