Big Lobby for Democracy at Brighton

The issue of democracy in the Labour Party came forward to the very centre discussion at this years' Brighton Conference. First, the platform showed in its speeches that it felt very jumpy about this matter. At the preconference rally, on Sunday evening, Dick Crossman went right out of his way to outline what he thought were the democratic norms which should govern the party. Mr. Wilson, not to be outdone, gave his peroration, in his Tuesday speech, to the subject of the growth of democratic freedom. From time to time other leaders made their verbal concessions to the spirit. But it was John Palmer, the barred parliamentary candidate frm Croydon, who, speaking at a meeting of 100 delegates on the Tuesday evening, on the subject of party democracy, pricked this bubble. The disciplinary outrages of Croydon and Nottingham, which were in every delegate's mind, had to be linked, said Mr, Palher, with the fact that the Government was taking totalitarian powers against the unions, and launching an overall offensive against traditional labour rights, In the circumstances party democracy was bound to be a casualty. The appeals of messrs Coates, Gregory, Price and Cogan against expulsion and suspension from office, were never heard by conference. Ray Gunter, speaking for the N.E.C., denied that they had any right to appeal, "There are literally hundreds of these cases every year" he said in a revealing slip. This frightening news scarcely reassured delegates, who came out of the private session even more troubled than they had been on entering it. Hundreds of delegates had signed an appeal that the Nottinghm victims should be heard. Very incomplete returns to hand show that over one hundred constituency delegates wished to give a hearing to the expelled and disci, 1ined persons, while even more trede union delegates supported the petition. Among those who signed were: 4 members of the Agicultural Workers delegates; all three of the Seamen's delegations; 15 of the N.U.M.3; 6 of the Foundryworkers; and members of 5.0.G,A.T., N.U.R., S.C.E.B.T.A., and many other bodies. /ipart from the petition, which merely asked for a hearing, promises of support for the reference back of the Organisation Report were received from DATA, the N.U.S., the Tobacco vorkers, and a substantial part of the U.S.D.A.i, delegation, and members of N.U.P.E., the N.U.R., the A.E.U. and other bodies, A highlight of the conference was the Tribune rally on ednesday evening, which was packed out to hear Frank Cousins, Stan Orme, M.P., Ifichael Foot, M.P., Tom Driberg, M.P., and David Pitt, Numerous references were made to the struggle for party democracy, and both Stan Orme and Michael Foot referred in detail to the Coates and Palmer cases, Both references were greeted with enthusiastic applause, significantly joined by Frank Cousins from the platform. Delegates began to feel that if a million votes were to be stacked for democracy in the party, perhaps the cause would not be lost, Unfortunately, the votes were never counted. Mr. Cunter got his waye But it is fair to say that judging by the delegates! disquiet about these cases, and the ferment caused, the platform will not continue to get its way on such matters for very long.