Tribune editor opposes purge
Socialist Organiser1982 1982-08-26Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 2 →
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Chris Mullin, the new editor of Tribune, spoke to Jane Ashworth Rise the great danger that Benn, Ray Buckton, they might manage to set Joan Maynard, Michup their register and ael Meacher. Chair: expulsions. But provid- Walter Greendale. ing we all stick together, Admission £1 waged. THE history of our Party shows that whenever the right wing lose the political arguments, they go for a purge rather than coming back with better argument. You won't find the right wing publ iely arguing in favour of the Bomb, the EEC or mass unemployment.
We've won the politics which are ultimately attractive to the Party and the public, and we have to keep on pushing them.
The right wing are strong enough now to push for a purge because they won back seats on the NEC last year.
The battle for democracy in the Party and the trade unions will continue to be fundamental for a long time to come. We have to concentrate. on getting elected representatives in trade unions and the Party sufficiently in touch with the grass roots to want to carry out the policies they're supposed to be carrying out.
Yes, we have to join forces with everyone prepared to fight the register, but we must not become insular and totally absorbed in our own battles. The rest of the nation needs to know what's going to happen about bombs and so on, otherwise they will lose interest in us.
Even though we have to keep up the policy debates, we have to resist the purge now. Reclaiming control of the NEC will be an important battle. We note with regret Pat Wall's decision to stand against the left slate. Surely Militant have most to gain from a left victory.
And the battle for trade union democracy will have to be stepped up - it's the union block vote which will win them continenses ate ne 11U4 vole.
Illn on barn te ronnan. we au nave lu retugu there will be a rash of there's no problem. It Chris Mullip (second from left) at ti against the witch-hunt. Pat Wall is si won't be possible to expel unless the constituncies cooperate, and I see no sign of them doing that.
There will be a Tribune meeting, 'Resist the Purge'R • at Manchester Free Trade Hall on September 14, with Tony Benn and local speakers.
Tribune rally against Monday September 6 Corn Exchange, Briahton. with Tony