CLPD votes to fight on Blackburn

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Joe Macaulay reports on the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy's Annual General Meeting Labour Party conference 1983 was Kinnock's triumph. The CLPD AGM showed the resulting pressures - but did not entirely Where to find Socialist Organiser THE CLPD Executive Committee's official reason for holding this year's AGM in three different places was to increase participation by supporters outside London.

In these terms, their SDPstyle conference was not a success.

By far the biggest of the three meetings was the one held in London, representing nearly 75% of the aggregated AGM votes. Scotland was the smallest with about 25 votes. Overall there were about 240 votes cast, less than 50% of last year's unitary AGM, held in London.

Many of the votes cast were little more than postal ballots.

Votes were registered on forms handed out at the beginning, and - certainly at the London meeting - many of these were simply filled in by people who left well before the end. This happened side-by-side with one of the main debates on the 'One member One Vote' system -in which the CLPD EC criticised Clause 4's proposals because they would reduce active participation in debates in the Party!

It emphasised that this year's AGM structure was designed to enable the EC to get the results they wanted whatever the effect on CLPD democracy.

The only deteat suttered by the CurD leadership was on the NEC's new Party Campaign Committee (in a resolution moved by John Bloxam).

Should the CLPD oppose and campaign against a Committee "not under the control of the NEC and therefore of Party Conference ... (which) represents a major threat to Party democracy and the fight for the implementation of Conference policies? The EC said that CLPD couldn't jump to conclusiofs and argued for the remittance of Bloxam's - resolution.

They were defeated 93-87.

On the other issues pushed by the left the EC won by an average margin of 2 to 1. On the central issue of response to the witch-hunt, however, the vote was closer. The EC said yes, the CLPD opposes the witch-hunt, but this is not 'a central" part of its work.

The reinstatement of the expelled Militant supporters is not for the 'immediate future"

CLPD will not support those SCOTLAND EDINBURGH. Contact Dave 229-4591. SO is sold at Muirhouse (Sat.10.30-12.30) and at the First of May book shop, Candlemaker Row.

GLASGOW. Contact Stan Crooke, 63 Dixon Ave, G42. Paper sales: Friday lunchtime, Springburn shopping arcade; Saturday morning, Coatbridge shopping arcade; Tuesday morning, Maryhill UBO; also, West End bookshop.

NORTH-WEST HYNDBURN. Contact Accrington 395753.

LIVERPOOL. Contact 733 6663. SO is sold at News from Nowhere, Whitechapel, and at Progressive Books, Berry St.

MANCHESTER. Contact Tony, 273 5691. SO is sold at Grass Roots Books, Newton St, Piccadilly.

ROCHDALE. Contact c/o 28 Middle Lane, London N8.

STOKE: Contact Arthur Bough, 23 Russeli Road, Sandyford. SO is sold at Kermaise Books, The Market JOHN HARRIS DURHAM. 64088. SO Community Elvet.

HUDDERSFIELD. Alan Brooke, 59 Honley, HD7 2LX.

give way to them.

CLPs that "refuse to with the purge" • This was carried by 121-90.

Last year's AGM decidea to oppose a 'left' version of the legister but this has now beel hanged. The EC now has AGN sanction for supporting restrictions on the right of Party members to organise. Their margin of victory was 124-97. ut on the more general issu f opposing the expulsion of s Militant supporters by Blackburn CLP, there was nearly a 3 to 1 majority for an emergency resolution committing CLPD to "mount a major campaign in defence of these members of Blackburn Labour Party and other Party members who are similarly victimised for their political views." The 50 votes Arcade, Newcastle-u-Lyme.

STOCKPORT. Contact 40 Fox St, Edgley (429 6359).

WIRRAL. Contact Lol Duffy, 3 St James Court, Victoria Rd, New Brighton.

YORKSHIRE AND NORTH EAST Contact Andy, is sold at the Co-op, New HALIFAX. Contact: 52156.

SO is sold at Hebden Bridge Books.

HARROGATE. Contact Dan 69640. SO is sold at Harrogate Market, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday lunchtimes.

Contact Magdale, HULL. Contact c/o Middle Lane, London N8.

LEEDS. Contact Garth, 623322. SO is sold at Books and Corner Books, Wood house Lane.

NEWCASTLE - ON - TYNE.

SO is sold at the Days of comply position Hope bookshop, 115 gate Road, SHEFFIELD. Contact Rob, 589307. SO is sold at Boots in Fargate (Saturday 12 to 1) and at the Independent Bookshop, Glossop Rd.

SUNDERLAND. Contact c/o Durham.

YORK. Contact: 414118. SO is sold at the University (Friday mornings), Coney St (Saturday mornings), the dole office (most mornings), and at the Community Bookshop.

WALES AND WEST BRISTOL. Contact c/o Middle Lane, London N8. CARDIFF. Contact MIDLANDS BIRMINGHAM. Contact Godfrey Webster, 169 Barclay Road,:. Bearswood, Smethwick. SO is sold at the Other Bookshop..

COVENTRY. Contact Keith, 75623. SO is sold at the Wedge Bookshop.

LEICESTER. Contact Phil, 857908 SO is sold at Blackthorne Books, High St. against the resolution were the hard-core of Clause 4/Labour Coordinating Committee members present. Vladimir Derer voted for this motion.

The most significant result in the EC elections was the successful attempt by the EC majority to oust Francis Prideaux from his long-held position as one of the Trade Union Organisers. Prideaux's 'crime' was to have opposed the EC on a number of occasions.

A proposal from the LCC/ Clause 4 for 'One Member One Vote' was defeated by a margin of 3 to 1 because it would downgrade participation and cut out Leader.

The Derer-Willsman NORTHAMPTON.

Ross, 713606.

NOTTINGHAM.

Pete, 585640. SO

the Victoria Cent day 11 to 1), and room Bookshop, Street.

BASINGSTOKE. Contact 75 Freemantle Close. SO is sold at Good News bookshop, London Rd.

OXFORD. Contact c/o 28 Middle Lane, London N8.

SO is sold at EOA Books, Cowley Road.

LONDON BRENT/ NORTH-WEST.

Contact Mick, 624 1931.

CAMDEN. Mike, 267 4806.

HACKNEY. Andrew Hornung, 76 Carysfort Rd, N16.

HARINGEY &

Nik, 278 1341.

HOUNSLOW. Chris, 6961.

ORPINGTON. Contact Siu Ming, 691 1 141.

PUTNEY. Tom, 789 7587.

Contact Contact is sold at *e (Saturat Mushteathcote the EC won a majority to commit the CLPD to campaign for CLPs to "have a vote at Annual Conference more commensurate with their material and financial contribution."

Whatever the arguments for and against a change in voting proportions it is likely that this issue will now dominate CLPD's activity.

The CLPD will now, for the first time, campaign on an issue that will immediately and directly affect the trade unions in the Party. Instead of supporting campaigns to democratise the block vote, they propose to reduce the trade union weight in the Party.

The resolution on the organisational character of future AGMs was put at the end of the agenda and hever reached.

The EC's exclusion of longstanding President Joan Maynard, and Vice-President Jo Richardson from the list of nominations was also not discussed. They also had committed the 'crime' of opposing the EC majority. But any discussion of the purge was ruled out of order at the AGM because it was only the EC who had the right to nominate • and therefore there was nothing to discuss!

There can be little surprise at the outcome of the 1984 AGM, given the Executive's firm grip on the CLPD and the faet that many leftists have now turned their backs on CLPD.

The AGM, despite its faults and failures, shows that those who have turned away from the CLPD are mistaken. The CLPD still clearly opposes the witchhunt and supports the fight to defend and extend the democratic reforms in the Party - unlike the Labour Coordinating Committee and Clause 4.

*Despite the decline in its membership (both individual and affiliated) it still remains the largest organisation on the left, and retains a real influence in the CLPs.

*And despite the fact that many on the left boycotted the AGM this year, there is still a sizeable hard left opposition within the campaign that does want to put teeth into the fight against the witch-hunt and which is fighting for democracy within the CLPD. On atleast one vote at this year's AGM we defeated the entrenched EC majority.

RICHMOND. Nick 876 6715 S.E.LONDON. Siu Ming, 691 1141.

SOUTHWARK/ Jeff, 635 8468.

TOWER HAMLETS. 377 1328.

Socialist Organiser is sold at the following bookshops in London: Central Books, Colletts, The Other Book. shop, Bookmarks, Bookplace (Peckham Rd, SE15), Kilburn Books, Reading Matters (Wood Green shopping centre).

THON :

THE GO!

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local trade union delegates in the votes for Leader and Deputy