Oxford is not the only place which has vivon Geitskell a ho reception lately. Speaking at an ijast Midlands Conforenco of the Labour Party, Gaitskell was on January 27th faced with a barrage of hostile questions, Ho may have wondered whother thore would be a recurrence of last yoar's domonstration in Derby whon several people were thrown cut by the police in order to allow Gaitskell to carry on speaking. Questioned later about this by the press, Gaitskell said that the trouble was caused by "two busloads of Trotskyites who came from Nottingham". But this time the left considered vory seriously what to do at tho mooting.
The situation inside the Labour Party is very different from that of last year and in addition many left wingers folt that the tactics of disruption had cut off middle of the road people, The main issuos now democracy inside the Labour Party in genoral and the seletion of Parliamentary candidates, more autom— ony for the Young Socialists, and tho relationship of the annual conference and +t the Parliamentary Labour Party in particular.
At the meeting,and aftor Gaitskell had stabbed the trade union movement in the back by denouncing unofficial strikes, tho quostions reflected tho above issues, Before the mscting began, the delegates as they entored were handed a reprinted article from Tribune. This was dono by the Contral Nottingham Young Socialists who had been infuriated by the facts brought to light by tiis article (seo issue no.7 of the bullotin). This time only one person was escorted out but a big section of the audioneoe by its reactions to Gaitskoll's answers showed its hostility . _, All in all the tactics of the left soemed to have beon successful. It is very diificult to do a great deal under such conditions when the whole machine control of the mcoting is against the left, However, the left made common ground poople worried sbout imer—party democracy, it retsined its identity as an inteyral part of the Labour Party and not sor sthing coming from the outside, finally and most important of all it put Gaitskell on the spot showed by his evasicns. and un= convincing argumonts the gap between him and tho bulk of the constituency workers, TRIDUNS STARTS A YOUTH SECTION
Tribune has recently started a youth section which although modest can be of big importance. Tho oxtont to which it is supported and contributions arc received will determine the extent to which it dovelops. ‘ith an ostimated readership of 40,000 Tribune is an excollent medium for reaching big layers of the loft. Wo urge all comrades to support the section, send in reports, interest others in the section and genorally give the asked for cooperntion, Correspondence should gO tos
Brian Lynan,
Sditor Youth Section,
Tribune,
222, The Strand,
London WoC. 2.