Why 3: Resigned From the Labour Party

Before the last election, while I was working 5 evenings a week for the Party, I found time to read an account of the pre-war minority Labour Governments. In this account, to illustrate fluctuations in support of the various parties, by-election figures were given, Looking at these figures, I tried to imagine what would be represented by them - say Labour 13,650. I tried to imagine how Party workers kept going, why they kept going, working to get these votes out in support of a candidate who would probably have supported Ramsay MacDonald in Parliament. How did the whole Party hang together and how did it keep functioning? I believe I can now see why, : although I find it difficult to explain, I have seen Party members carrying out activities - for example, selling "Go-Ahead Britain" - which must help to keep Wilson where he is, These same members (in the bar afterwards) would not have a good word for hardly any of the Government's policy. And why did they support Wilson by their actions? A loyalty to the mere letters L~A~B-0-U=R - a force of habit, skilful invoration of the old-pals act by Party officials, and a self-rationalisation that "I'm stopping in to fight this." I keenly feel the betreyal on immigration, I worked at a vacation job (while a student) in Smethwick at the time Griffith's little friends were running their campaign against the "coloureds", I made myself unpopular by arguing against them - and I know what the Government is surrendering toe I have been disappointed by some of the Government's actions, but I never expected a very socialist Labour Government. I knew this before the election: I was willing to work for socialism inside the Labour Party while accepting and supporting a moderately progressive Labour Government. However, the Government has not only turned its back on what I would call a socialist policy, but also on a principle that I would regard as. merely one of human decency. The Party backed the Government in this! I am, perhaps, a little out-of-date, a little Edwardian, perhaps, : but when I promise to "accept the constitution, principle and policies of the Labour Party" I believe the statement means just that. On a policy that involves an absolutely fundamental attitude -- . I am in disagreement with the Party. I only hope that I will one day be able to rejoin a better Labour Party than the one I lefts; until then I will try to fight for what I believe in any way I can, * Mr. Chapman was formerly chairman of the Birmingham Federation of Young Socialists. He resigned on learning that the Blackpool conference went on record for the Government's policy. We are not, of course, advocating that people emulate this action; however, we feel that our readers will be most sympathetic to Mr. Chapman is his dilemma: that of how to remain in a Party with which he has fundamental disagreements. Moreover before anyone jumps criticise Mr, Chapman they should place the blame for his resignation (and how many more?) where it rightly belongssat the doorstep of 10, Downing St.