On the day following the announcement of the NEC's confirmation of the expulsion of Ken Coates, the following Press statement was issued by Lord Russell: "The Labour Party Executive's confirmation of the expulsion from the Party of Mr. Ken Coates is far more than an example of vicious intolerance, Under the presidency of Mr. Coates, who is known to me personally, the Labour Party in Nottingham became a vital political force, instead of a vehicle for conservative ideas or the dissemination of cliches passed down from Transport House. "The Party in Nottingham gave a series of leads to the country in attacking evrything from slums at home to exploitation and murder abroad. In stort, the Labour Party in Nottingham, in its vitality, its political honesty and its sense of radical purpose showed its national leaders 4 model which could attract and mobilise the vast number of socialists who, at present, have no political home. The Labour Party leadership took fright at such a possibility and, through a series of sordid intrigues, have made an example of Mr. Coates, whose views on American war crimes in Vietnam are those of all decent socialists.
"This is a witch-mnt. We may now expect the axe to fall on others who dare to challenge Tory rule under Harold Wilson. I urge all socialists to stop the rot at Transport House before this becomes a full scale purge."
Bertrand Russell: 26 May, 19%.