Four good reasons not registeril

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Model resolution from 'Labour against the Witch-hunt' for I P reginnal conferenres• This an in be regula summer cares. mo Regional Conference declares its opposition to the decision to establish the National Executive Committee's Register of non-affiliated groups of members operating within the Party and believes that it should be reversed at the next Labour Party annual conference. Expulsions and other bureaucratic action represent a witch-hunt against socialist ideas in the Party, and will weaken and divide us. The NEC should be fighting the Tories, not the socialists. This Conference therefore declares its complete opposition to any expulsions under the NEC's Register and also any attempts to close down or restrict the activities of the Labour Party Young Socialists. It declares its full support for any CLP which refuses expulsions and stands firm anninet thrantr of dinffilintinu Party representatives, in their capacity as representatives, represent Party policy as not mean accepting gag laws imposed Dy Dock vores un ine woour movemen. not get on the register an important role in stoppwhatever they do; and that ing the Tories' attempt to once the mechanism of cripple the unions. Likethe Register is working wise with the NEC's then it can not only start Register. A boycott, to create havoc in the combined with a refusal to Party but also that is will expel, provides the best With Conference over and stop our effectiveness, the fight for a boycott is just not credible. The be much more difficult means to stop the purge to change. He would like and defend the Party. is now really starting. It right are now talking about is the last time to be trying to expel Nigel talking of throwing the Williamson for writing an like the CLPD to apply boycott can be organised, towel in. Mortimer's article - and Tribune concern for groups to don't even have to register!

for us to fight, not give CLPD 'traditions' . Surely in. one of the most important Socialist Organiser Alliance THERE are four main arguments why CLPD should not apply for registration now.

First, that the Register is not like the curate's egg - good in parts, bad in others. It is a mechanism of witch-hunt and purge, immediately aimed at Militant supporters, and already being implemented.

It is a blatantly rigged device — Labour Solidarity is accepted while Militant is outlawed, and one of the reasons given for this is Militant's ideas.

Militant, however, are the chopping block for the real target, the serious left who organised for the democratic reforms and policies like unilateralism. The Register gives the Party establishment the power to regulate, vet and, it they choose, outlaw everything that moves, thinks and organises in the Party. Foot and Mortimer might want to limit its use, but others don't, and already they have lost control of the process of the purge.

Second, that our arguments for democracy do not oblige us, even temporarily, to acquiesce in this mechanism.

Our argument for Conference decisions • to be binding was that Party leaders and MPs, in their capacity as representatives of the i -ty, should abide by Party policy. This is what the CLPD supporter's card says!

We have never argued that Conference 'sovereignity' gives one section of the Party - the trade union leaderships and their block votes - the right to impose a system of internal regulation over and against the wishes of the vast majority of individual members 180% of the CLPs voted against the Register).

Most importantly, and whatever its democratic credentials, the decision on the Register strikes at the very roots of Party democracy and will do damage that may prove irreversible to the democratic life of the Party. It has bever been part of the CLPD's argument that the Party rank and file do not have the democratic right to resist any measures, which will weaken and perhaps destroy democracy in the Party.

If comrades now want to deny such a right in the name of Conference 'sovereignity', then they should think carefully where it will lead the CLPD. Presumably and logically, we would then have to acquiesce in the expulsion. of our own supporters as long as it had been rushed through Conference with a cobbled together majority - and then go and argue against any CLPs refusing to expel for being 'undemocratic'. Do comrades seriously think this would be a way to defend democracy in the Party?

Third, that for the C.I.PO to annly for redia- sun, suga tration now would give the Register legitimacy, and immediately help to tighten the noose around Militant's neck.

Why has Mortimer been anxious to persuade certain groups (e.g. LARC) to apply to register? Because he knows that the more who apply, the greater the credibility of the mechanism; the easier it will then be to isolate those like Militant who will 11. -nothing better than a group Democracy means insisting decided by conference. It de now when the Register is just being 'established' and has begun to be used, and when it is in danger of being exposed as a blatantly rigged device.

Exemption

At a time when Labour Friends of Israel and the Labour Committee for Europe get their 'exemptions' when Labour Solidarity is accepted but Militant supporters expelled, the CLPD should be denouncing the Register, not trying to join it.

The boycott of Edward Heath's Trade Union Register, brought in after an election victory, played Fourth, that an effective and that the CLPD can and should play a major and probably decisive role in this.

With the exception of Militant, no other 'boycotting' group has sought to register since Conference. They represent the great majority of groups in the Party.

Of them all, the CLPD has probably the greatest influence and 'weight' Any comrade who doubts that should just look at nur liat of affiliates. as well as our record of success. With the CLPD even a majority of the groups now boycotting would be a substantial force. Without the CLPD they could very well be decisively weakened.

Towel

register should be a sign Will this tactic not dangerously expose CLPD? Not if we organise enough groups to stand together. The right is certainly determined and well organised. They have captured the NEC, but they are opposed by the great majority of • individual members and CLPs. They have chosen to pick on Militant because it is a relatively soft target, and they want to split up the left. They do not yet feel atrong enniich tn attack their real target - groups The alternative of not fighting, however, will not bring us 'safety' '. The idea that if CLPD refused to give the lead, if it ditched others and applied to Register, then the right wing would leave us alone, would not try to hound us Comrades talk about case for boycott.

LInal untan an the lahnow manoment like the CLPD. ones has been the refusal to opportunistically retreat on fights because the cause might appear • 'unpopular'. Remember positive discrimination at the beginning. Instead, CLPD's tradition is to decide what is right, what can be fought for, and then go and convince comrades in the Party.

The CLPD has a democratic right to oppose the register and boycott it. We have a duty to stop it.

It can be stopped. We shoula organise an enieceive boycott of it, and oppose any and every expulsion of socialists. A boycott will be a major help in the campaign to resist expulsions, and if 80% of the CLPs refuse, come what may, to expel socialists outlawed under the Register then the purge will fail. Like Edward Heath's Industrial Relations Act after the dockers faced him down in 1972, it will be a busted mechanism, an harassment incapable of doing the job it was designed for. Then we can repeal it.

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The Campaign for Labour Party Democracy is circulating position papers for its ballot on whether to register. John Bloxam the