Manifesto talks - behind locked

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Led in during the meeting to say that it would be inopportune' for the Labour Party to get involved' It looks like a similar fate awaits Labour's more radical policies as the election manifesto is drawn up.

After the rank and file revolt of recent years, an open and contemptuous veto (as with nationalising 25 companies in 1973, and abolition of the House of Lords in 1979) is out of the question for Labour's establishment. Now they are cobbling a deal in secret.

The manifesto is being prepared by an NEC sube committee called the Campaign Committee. All its members are right-wingers except Eric Heffer.

At the NEC, Foot reportedly boasted that the committee was 'leak-proof' and it is certainly sealed off from the Labour Party and trade union rank and file -and even from the NEC.

Refused

Even the NEC gets no minutes from this committee. When Tony Benn asked to submit a paper to the committee, he was refused. When it was proposed that Jo Richardson and Frank Allaun attend as observers, this was „rejected.

As with Basnett: 'inopportune' for Labour to back his members on strike others have easier access. Jack Straw put a paper to the committee. Political advisors for Foot, Healey, and Shore have got in as observers. So, apparently, has David Basnett.

The leaders' intention is clearly to keep the manifesto under wraps as long as long as they can, and then present the Party with a gutted and lame document as a fait accompli just before an election. In the meantime they are all innocence. They just denied the report on Channel Four that unilateralism was being dropped.

At the Labour Against the Witch-hunt secretariat last Wednesday evening, The NEC meeting last Wednesday also included the following:

• Register: agreement to admit both the Labour Movement for Europe and Labour Friends of Israel.

• People's March:" Foot said he would reconsider his position. • • Peter latchell was endorsed - with opposition from John Golding, Betty Boothroyd, Gwynneth Dunwoody, and Ken Cure.

• Rejigging the NEC: on reference back the vote was 13-13, which meant that the principle of the proposal was accepted. The NEC then decided to let it 'lie on the table' • Militant. Foot moved the resolutions to proceed, and both were carried by 18 votes to 8. This commits the NEC to expel all 'members' of Militant; defined as those financially supporting it or organising its activities. People will be given a chance to make an undertaking that they will immediately cease to be 'members' John Golding moved that a case be immediately prepared • against the five members of the Militant editorial board, to be considered at the next NEC, and that lawyers should be instructed to be ready for possible legal proceedings. This was also carried 18-8.