In an interviow given to the Observer, printed in the December 24th "jissuo of that paper, liorgan Phillips, tho rotiring General Secrztary of the Labour Party, suggested that the an mal conferonce of the Party be dono away with ‘and replaced by a biennial one. Between the conforences a national council would bo the supreme body. This national council to comprise of the National Executive, the Shadow Cabinot, tho Womon's Committeo, the Young Socialist Committoe and ropresontatives of the of the regional councils, the unions and affiliated groups. Whon asked about the time taken for these changes to be introduced he said that the national council could be established at once and that tho 1962 annual conference could be askod to postpone the 1963,
Morgan Phillips backed up his propositions by arguing that tho preparatjons for the annual conference take up his staff for 8 months of the year, that 'Year after year, the same sorts of question aro discussod, with the samo speakers bringing forward tho same arguments! and that 'Frankly, these debates sorve little useful purpose,!
In — Morgan Phillips! argumonts and suggestions wo must romombor that although he spoke as an individual it is unlikely that he would have brought forward such detailed proposals unless he had: discussed thom beforehand. It has buon the practice of the presont right wing clique to to have their propositions ‘sounded out ' before putting them forward, comrades will romember specches in which Jay, Woodrow Wyatt and co. launched tho right wing campaign on such questions as Clause Four. This interview could be a similar tactic.
If successful, the effect would bo to enormously increase the bureau~ cratic grip on the Labour Party, Tho annual conferonco despite the ring wing ignoring it, has boon an important,ocbstacle to tho complote burcaucratisation of the Labour Party. In striking at the right wing would be striking at the heart of the democratic spirit of tho wholo labour muvemont.
Another recent development was the ducision of the National lixccutive to instruct the Scottish regional organisation not to place a miners! resoultion on Polaris on tho agenda of a Scottish regional conference, to be held in the Spring. This decision,taken by a vote of 13 to 10,cuts across annual conference policy which came down clearly for a campaign against the Polaris base.
The Scottish miners are indignant about the move and statements by loading figures in the Glasgow Trades Council, otc. have boen made in protest. If tho Gaitskell clique got away with this there will bo further attompts to stifle discussion at all lovels in the Labour Party.