The North Hull by-election

The Labour Governnent!& policies have developed in the last few months into a blind adherance to old guard imperialist interests abroad, and the pursuit of wage control via the undermining of trade union freedoms, at homes Why then, do we recommend our readers to vote for, and work for, the return of the Labour candidate at the North Hull election ? Would our position not be more logical if we supported the Radical Alliance candidate ? Clearly, socialists must have every sympathy with the frustration and moral anger which has led the ReA. into opposing Labour on its Vietnam policy; though their candidate has said that he recognises that their intervention could bring down the Government. It is the ReA. (despite its weaknesses = and | particularly its failure to recognise the importance of the trade union opposition to Government home policies) which is closer to the ideals of Keir Hardie, than are Wilson and his cabinet. The intervention of the ReA. and the threat this poses to Labour's majority, is the responsibility of the Government, end not of the Left, Let the R.A's election campaign be listened to with respect, therefore, by all humanists and socialists. Our difference with the R.A. concerns strategy, and not principle. They attack us (on the left of the Labour Party) for our impotence, But if they achieve any success, and bring down Labour, the only result will be to let in the Tories. There is no other alternative. The Tories would continue to endorse the Vietnam genocide by the United States , and would develop the inroads into democracy at home which Labour Ministers have initiated. Moreover, there are still substantial sections of the Labour movement who harbour hopes of a reversal of present Government policies; who see some crumbs dropping from the imperialist banquet also, in the shape of improved welfare benefits - who have not yet compared the meagre size of these crunbs with the Vietnam and "East of Suez" policies, If the Labour Government goes now, the lessons will never be learnt, The long hard struggle to develop a viable socialist movement to challenge the proscapitalist strategies of Labour's present leadership, would have to continue (for it has already started) against a background chorus of alibis from the Labour leadership - "We never had a chance 3" It is rather like political assassination. Desperate and idealistic men, living under tyranny, were led to shoot the Tsar, Along came the Tsar's heir, assumed the throne, and nothing changed,