South Paddington C.L.P. domands probe of Gaitskoll and opposes witch—hunt
The following report appoared in Paddington Morcury of 29/6/62:
South Paddington Labour Party have asked the National Council of Labour to appoint a comnittco to investigate the "factional activities" of lir. Gaitskoll and his "anti-party group." The party have passed a resolution deploring the recent activitics of the leader of the Opposition. The resolution, which has beon sont to the National Gxecutive Comnittco of the Labour Party, states:
To oppose his rejection of Labour Party policy on tosts, his vote with the Tory Governnont on May 17 and his pledge that a Labour Government would not nationalise I.C.I. ‘Ye resent his description of Labour Party mcmbors as 'tho clectoral peanuts,! and his support for attempts to drive Sarl Russell and others from the party.
Me accordingly ask the National Council of Labour to appoint a comnittoe to investigate the factional activitios of Mir, Hugh Gaitskell and his antiparty group.!
Of the May 17 vote in the House of Commons, Councillor Bill Dow, hon. sceretary of the party, said Labour li.P.s asked the Speaker to allow a debate on tho question of British troops bcing sont into Laos. After mich deliberation the Speaker said he would take a vote among membors as to whether a debate would bo held or not. "Mr. Gaitskoll thought fit that a debate should not take place in. the House of Comions so he and four other Labour M.P.s voted with the Government whilo 34 othor Labour members voted against the Government," said Mr. Dow.
The Party have also raised a resolution deploring tho action of the National ixecutive Committee in their proscription of the newspaper "Keep Left," which is run by Young Socialists. ‘Je oppose all bans and proscriptions." they soye A third resolution protests against the refusal of the National Uxecutive Committee to ondorse the prospoctive Parliamentary candidature of Paddington Councillor Illtyd Harrington "after boing domocratically sclected to contest on behalf of Labour the constituency of Dover." Councillor Harrington is a C.N.D. mombere Right wing constituency pleased about climb down over Russell
At the last meeting of the South Nottingham Constituency Labour Party the following resolution was passed:
"This South Nottinghan C.L.P. congratulates the N.i.C. on its wise decision to set aside the roccommendations of its organisational sub-connittee that Lord Chorloy, Lady Wootten, Lord Russell and Canon Collins be disciplined, This C.L.P. regards this action as a salutary contribution to Party Unity in a pre-clection situation."
The same ¢.L.P., which is contTolled by a right wing nachine woll knowm for its unscrupulous methods, did not send any resolution to the City L.P. for that organisation's meeting to decide upon its annual conference resolution, This was becouse the South 2.C, meeting took place one week later than usual (without explanation) and therefore missed tho closing date for such resolutions, One of the wards had submitted a resolution calling for the N.E.C. to set up a working party to cnquire into radical reform of local government finance, .