North Hull: intolerance could lead to defeat

It is tempting to describe the Hull North byelection as a farce or a pontomime; so many people seem bent on leaving their mark on history. But the situation is getting serious, not because of factionalism, or even the intervention of Richard Gott, but because of the incompetence, the intolerance, the monumental stupidity of the local parties* “hard case" elementse This segment of the local establishment is 2 tiny but influential clique of councillors and would«be dignitaries, vindictive and fearful of ideas. Their prejudice and stupidity has repeatedly brought the Lobour Party into disrepute, as the party of intolerances On Sunday 16th Jenuary, Richard Gott was ejected from a by then chaotic neeting for trying to ask a question after the chairman had refused hin permission to speaks This incident dominated the press reports of what was clearly a major meeting, On the following night, Gott was listened to with respect at a Tory meeting, and Tories congratulnted themselves on maintaining free speech, At Labour meetings now, Gott is txboo and all beards are highly suspects On the Tuesday night, a for more alarming incident occurred, when & promin-~ ent and respected locnl left winger, Mre Tony Topham, was deliberately and insolently ignored, throughout question=time, by the chairman, a local councillor. For 10 minutes before the meeting broke up, the sudience of 500 Labour supporters, jeered and shouted and demanded that the chairman allow the question (which was bised ‘on Ulitise Four). Candidate McNamara, .. , Press Agent Paul Rose, and election agent Fred Hall are known to be disturbed by the appalling chairmanships Mre Topham feels that Kevin MacNamara would have been «ble to give a fair answer to the questions It is too early to assess the full electoral implications of this appalling situations Wake no nistake, whereas free speech and lively debate stinulate interest and enthusiasm, the present trend will do only harm by arousing the -nger of the very many Labour supporters who just happen to believe in democracy and free speeche We have only to think of Islington and Scarborough, of Ken Coates and John Palmer, to realise the damage that these petty tyrants are doing to the Labour movement throughout the country, Only when trece people are cut down to size will the whole party move confidently foxward as a democratic organisations We have suffered them for too long. NeBe Mre Topham's question: ‘to Kevin MacNamara: "Would you support pressure on the Minister of Transport, to note that the British Trqnsport. Docks Board is composed.of one trade unionist, the chairman of the Port Enployers' Association, a merchunt banker, and five directors of companies with interests in shipping, and would you support their dismissal, ond replacement with an elected workers council?"