There have boen a number of attacks against democracy in the Labour Party in the last few weeks. Tho adoption of the new Standing Orders for the Parliamentary Labour Farty in a most high-handed way against the minority who opposed them is among the latest moves. (For an account of this comrades should read Michael Fo t in this week's Tribuno) A number cf casos of the Dxocutive refusing to endorse left-wing Parliamentrry candihtes has takon place, tho lates being the rejoction of Ernio Roberts, Assistant Sccrotary of the A.3.U.. <All this takes place in the background of tho appointmont of that most vicious of all right wingors, George Brown, as boing in charge, in offect, of party discipline.
We should not see things out of proportion and conclude that now all the left is to ‘be expelled or that thero will be a grand witch—hunt. Under presont conditions it will be vory difficult for tho right to carry-out a largo scalo purge. All the more difficult bocause of the oxistonce of a firm loft wing trade union contre based upon the Transport and Goneral Workors Union. Ilowevor, there is no doubt that unless the loft oppose in an organised wiy those moves a scrious situation will develop. It scems likely that the aim of Gaitskell at this stage is to consolidato his Blackpool victory and intimidato the left, os »vcially in tho Houso of Vomnons. He will be oncouraged in this by the lack of fight of the M.P.s who had tho whip takon from thom and the goneral lack of support for these people. Combined with moves to limit the discussion at next year's Labour Conference on defence, this wholo affair marks ao stage in tho struggle to complete bureaucratic control of the Labour Party. It ccn bo ospocially damaging to tho left as it can have the offect of intensifying disillusionmant amongst tho unilateralists. This could lead to a wholesale contracting-out of the Labour Party struggle and, instoad, a concentration on Committco of 100 typo of activity. Thus Gaitskell would get what he wants without recourse to a goneral purgo.
Tho left should oppose these moves by all means. In particular wo should prod those in Parliament who got the whip withdrawn to make ao more decisivo stand. In that way they will be able to mobilise far more support behind them. They could become the spokesmen in Parliamont for those who take part in Civil Disobodionce. Tribune should stop sniping at the Committoe of 100 and ses that the Labour Party left until it can offer the sit-downers some real medium of protest and action, cannot criticise thom. Arising cut of the oxpericnces of the December 9th demonstrations a whole new discussion will tako place amongst those supporting the Committoce of 100. Voices OF, cing heard now for a greater concen tration upon industrial contros rather than’ activitios which provide amusoment for tho cows and sheep. Tho coming together of those pooplo, tho left in the Labour Party and tho industrial struggle in 1962 would bo a force which could relogate Gaitskell to tho leajuc of ox Labour leaders in the House of Lords.
Pod. 14/12/61