You Can't Fight Closures Jointly with the Right Wing!

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Ted Knight: voted off Regional Executive same day, the regional offi- out if Dickinson was allowcial and secretary, George ed to stay. The motion was Page, had threatened that lost 264,000 to 451,000. 'unconstitutional, and any jected Keith Dickinson's decisions taken, invalid', if request to make a stateit accepted Keith Dickinson ment. Dickinson left the Dickinson was allowed smith North delegation into the conference, but the went too. by the chair, Arthur Lath- ed at a packed lunch-time am. that. ha was nnlv nra- fringe meeting liointly THE Queen took Hollywood by storm here this week as she and President Reagan stripped off and gave an impromptu performance of Singing in the Rain - writes our court corresAt least that is what it says in my official off-the-record briefing from the Palace. To be perfectly honest (for the first time in my life) I haven't got a clue whether it is true, because I am stuck somewhere between the 16th and 17th A man with a pistol stuck in my throat says he doesn't give a damn whose court correspondent I am, so far as hevs concerned 1 am a potential Irish terrorist for the next 24 I think it was a mistake to come here. The Queen is the most popular person in the world, of course. But she did seem unnerved by all. those reinstate Commander Trestrail' demonstrations that have dogged her passage across CaliYesterday this cunning Provo tricked his way into the hotel by wearing a lapel badge saying. "I am not an IRA supporter" and accosted the Queen in the front lobby. There were some harsh words amongst the security forces.

Seems like the man told the Queen that he wasn't going to shoot her because he didn't think she was worth the cost There was a fresh dust up at the cocktail party given for the US media. They didn't seem to understand the convenLABOUR Party general secretary Jim Mortimer was sitting on the platform of the London Labour Party regional conference when this emergency resolution was carried by • 496,000 votes to 254,000:

'This Annual Meeting condemns the expulsion of the five members of the Militant editorial board from the Labour Party. We also note the scandalous timing of the meeting to expel the five, which took place on the eve of the important Bermondsey by-election.

This Annual Meeting is disgusted at the attempt to sabotage Peter Tatchell's election campaign by withholding : 25,000 election leafiets. We believe that Cambridge Heath Press, as trade union printers, are entitled to print for the Labour Party.

This Annual Meeting demands that the Militant five are reinstated.

In the interests of party unity and a Labour victory, this Annual Meeting further demands that the NEC take no more action against groups in the Party' Some of the main trade union delegations (GMBU, EETPU, etc.) supported the witch-hunt, but the Constituency Labour Parties, together with trade union delegations like ASTMS and CoHSE, were solidly Greenwich The Greenwich constitutional amendment (to recognise the right of groups to organise in the Party) was endorsed, and the amendment from Hendon South la sanitised version of the Register, championed by the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy right wing*) was thrown out.

However, when one speaker told the conference: 'You don't like what the right wing are doing to the Party, but you're not prepared to do anything about it" , there was some truth to it.

Although supported by the Regional Executive, the composite inspired by Labour Against the Witchhunt) which included refusing to recognise expulsions was defeated by 338,500 to 400,500.

And the first vote facing the conference was on the status of Keith Dickinson, one of the five Militant editorial board members.

On the Wednesday before the conference, Hammersmith North GC had voted by 35 to 4 to confirm him as a delegate. On the * Although this proposal was defeated at the CLPD AGM a member of the CLPD Executive told the conference, 'You cannot have complete anarchy in the Labour Party" and the CLPD leaflet gave it 'qualified support'. Despite the efforts of CLPD executive members to win support for it (in contrast to their lukewarm support for the Greenwich amendment - clear CLPD AGM policy) this so-called 'acceptable alternative' was heavily defeated. the conference would be as a delegate.

first item was a statement pared to accept a motion to suspend Standing Orders, to allow Keith Dickinson to attend and speak but not vote: This motion would require a two-thirds majority.

The only way that a vote could have been taken to accept Keith Dickinson as a voting delegate was, by challenging the chair. Rather than doing this Hammersmith North moved the suspension of Standing Orders. The TGWU delegation then informed the conference that it would walk pondent.

floor of the St. Francis Hotel.

hours.

My predicament arises security precautions which American police.

fornia.

of the bullet.

on conArthur Latham then reroom, and the HammerAs Danny Harris explainorganised by London Labour Briefing, Labour Against the Witch-hunt, and London Labour Steering Committee Against the Witch-hunt): "We intend to fight them. This morning was only the beginning of the battle. We withdrew from the conference as a matter of principle"

The voting at the conference underlines the urgency of winning this issue in the trade unions. A number abstained.

Most CLPs voted solidly with the Left. In the regionout of the somewhat unusual have been taken here by the al executive elections, Ted Knight was kicked off by à substantial vote because of the role he has played in leading Norwood CLP's 29-21 decision to break ranks with the other CLPs, and not to resist the expulsions.

There was also a significant vote against a composite originating from the Labour Coordinating Committee/Campaign for Labour Party Democracy right wing, the content of which was strongly reflected in Tony Benn's speech last Friday night.

Witch-hunt

It deplored the witchhunt, but insisted primarily on unity with the 'existing leadership', and hinted that the fight against expulsions 'diverts' trom the campaign for Labour's conference policies. It was probably the declaration of support for Foot's leadership which allowed the composite to get carried, by 408,000 to 333,500.

Both Islington Central and Hammersmith North CLPs made it clear at the Conference that they intend to resist the National Executive. Indeed, defiance; nau been reaffirmed very large votes in GUs Just before the conference, and with the full knowledge of Norwood's retreat.

If anything, the forthcoming boundary changes will strengthen this. Hammersmith North is unaffected; the section of Isling LOn Central where Grant and Taaffe are members will go into the more leftwing Islington South.

MacGregor. has impeccable credentials for Thatcher. He was the power behind Edwardes on the BL board during the time that 90,000 jobs were destroyed. He was moved to British Steel, where he destroyed another 90,000. When he moves to the NCB, his plan will be to destroy another 60,000 or 70,000 there. South Wales and other smaller coalfields what be virtually wiped out, in Yorkshire_ prepared for But it does not end there. MacGregor is a union-buster. Union facilities will come under attack in the pits, as they have done in BL, British Steel, and elsewhere.

These realities now confront the Welsh miners after the defeat in the ballot. (As we go to press, there is no news of the future of the Welsh strike). Welsh miners have no acceptable alternative, despite the difficulties, but to continue the strike. To adept defeat is to accept the destruction of the coalfield. The valleys will be devastated. The Welsh miners should continue the strike and call for support from other sections of workers, particularly from South Wales. The Triple Alliance 7413.00 ONI AIN Seas should be made a reality, with steel workers and rail workers giving full support to the miners.

The NCB's policy of closing 'unviable' pits raises issues such as the profits made out of mining equipment purchased by the NCB from private manufacturers.

It highlights the huge sums of interest paid each year to the banks and government by the NCB. This is surplus value extracted from the pits, but not taken into account when the NCB produces figures to justify closures.

Weish miners should demand that the books of the NCB be opened, and the full facts revealed. This would point towards the more fundamental issues ignoled in such anton be _ the need for workers' control of the mining industry, and a workers' plan for energy.

Defended

in the short term the NUM policy must be defended: no pit should be closed except on grounds of exhaustion. 'Overcapacity' created by Thatcher's monetarist policies should be met by shorter hours throughout AIN NECE the industry, without loss If the strike in South Wales continues, it must be made the focal point of the struggle against Thatcherism, and actively supported by every progressive trade union branch, shop • stewards committee, and Labour Party throughout Britain.

victory WORKERS at BL's Cowley Body Plant have won a victory over jobs and speedup.

On Tuesday March 8 the company backed down on plans to cut manning.

•On Monday 2500 TGWU members had voted at a mass meeting to strike and meet again on Friday morning. There will now be a mass meeting on Wednesday with a stewards' recommendation to return.

The victory owes a lot to a plant policy that if one area of the plant is in confrontation with the company over manning, then they should go out of the plant and the rest should follow them to a mass After a series of manning cuts in different parts of the

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John Bloxam reports London Labour Party

of supporting votes was 1O PIT shown at this regional in t

terence. JOHN HARRIS

NO P11 UR

STOP PIT- BUTCHERYI VOTE