Right Wing Grou Igh Given Green Light

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John MONDAY'S meeting of the Labour Party NEC Organisation Sub-Committee passed a report on the register from general secretary Jim Mortimer by 14 votes to seven.

First it tried to clear away some problems. After all, the right wing groups *12 have private meetings, EXIT heir own sources of funds. etc. So Mortimer's repor sets out to excuse them one 2,600 Labour activists rallied against the witch-hunt last by one. Saturday, 11th. Report: page 3.

Labour Friends of Israel Having squared the might get substantial sums circle, the report then from outside sources, but deals with the real target. with some adjustment the The recommendation is recommendation is that that the first NEC after they'll be all right. Conference will be charged Trade Unions for a Lab- with dealing with Militant's our Victory and the St "inner core" Ermin's Group of trade There will be a loyalty union leaders [secretary questionnaire to all MPs Roy Grantham] also get a and prospective parliaclean bil of health. The mentary candidates, asking fact that their meetings are whether they are part of not open to all party members, and indeed are secret in the case of the St Ermin's group, is no mortal sin for them. It's just "the way we run things in the labour movement".

Complaints against a "tight, self-perpetuating elite governing... organisatione from the top with very little reference to the bulk of those who may join the group" [Michael Foot in this "inner core'. If they are, then they're for the chop.

The report doesn't deal with how this strategy is going to win. But clearly it depends for success on rapid demoralisation and willingness to give up among its opponents. We shouldn't give the ! Foot leadership either of these. Barry Turner, a Bradford Labour councillor, rep Pat Wall and other Militant supporters adopted i CONSIDER these credentials: a man who has been President of his local Trades Council for the past seven or eight years, has been a member of the Labour Party for decades, has held almost every unofficial office in the local Labour movement election agent, wafd offices], and has been a Labour councillor - and who in doing these jobs has become one of the most respected members of the local labour movement.

Quite good credentials for a prospective Labour Member of Parliament, wouldn't you think?

Well, that's what Bradford North Labour Party thought when they first selected Pat Wall, a supporter of the Militant tendency, as their prospective Parliamentary candidate. That's what they confirmed when, on a second vote, Pat won again - by an increased majority.

Yet the views of the local Labour Party - the people who know Pat and his record best - are not good enough for Michael Foot.

Last Sunday, on BBC Radio 4's 'The World This Weekend', Foot warned that should Party Conference accept that 'the Militant tendency is in contradiction of the Party', then local Labour Parties will have to toe the line.

That means, according to Foot, that Pat Wall and seven other Militant supporters who have been chosen by their constituencies as prospective Parliamentary candidates will have to go.

Foot's naivety in talking as if eight constituencies will ditch the candidates they have carefully adopted and choose other ones without a squeak is incredible