Lewis bites the dust
Socialist Organiser1982 1982-11-04Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 2 →
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Arthur Lewis last week became the. sixth Labour MP to be "deselected" by his local constituency party, Newham North West.
At the selection meeting Lewis received five votes and was knocked out on the second ballot.
Lewis was defeated by Tony Banks, the 39 year old chairperson of the GLC arts and recreation committee. Banks emerged as the victor from a shortlist of six which included Dave Wetzel (chairperson of the GLC transport committee), Mandy Moore, Ken Palmer, a local left wing councilor and activist, and former Lambeth council leader Ted Knight.
Lewis has been in disfavour with the constituency party for several years. A previous attempt to start reselection proceedings was dropped after he gave a firm guarantee that he would not stand again. When he reneged on that promise reselection was started again.
An indication of the type of politics Lewis represents can be gleaned from his respunse lo some of the questions asked. For example, he could not see any political difference between Tony Benn, Dennis Healey and John Silkin.
He wants capital punishment reintroduced, partic. ularly to deal with looters whom he wants to be shot. His racist comments in Parliament and support for Scientology, and his total lack of any attempt to work in the constituency made the end result a foregone conclusion.
Banks' selection is a tiny part of the process of turning a local constituency Labour Party outwards into a more campaigning organisation.
MIKE FOLEY Orgonser don N8 for 60p incl. postage.
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