from a Sheffield reader The following "open letter" was distributed to delegates attending a Labour Party Regional Conference in Sheffield on November 19th:-
We have drafted this appeal from the Hillsborough Constituency Labour Party to you because we recognise time will not permit us to state it orally in the meeting. Conferences are being convened to deal with organisational problems and to correct weaknesses in the electoral machinery of the Labour Party. This is necessary, but in our view it is not a first priority. Efficient organisation is important, but it can never be a substitute for the enthusiastic zeal of the rank and file membership.
The Party membership is losing its zeal; its loyalty is being strained and its leadership is becoming more and more arrogant. Whilst this state of affairs continues, no amount of professional organisation will keep Labour in power. Lest we be charged with special pleading, let us quote from the September issue of the "Socialist Commentary" -
"There is no point in mincing words; the sterling
crisis of July and its unpleasant aftermath have been
a shattering experience for Labour supporters. However
brave a face the Government may put on it, the ugly
fact remains - it won power on the claim that it could
control the economy, that it would break with the stop-go
absurdities of the Tory era. It is precisely in this
that it has failed." Mr. Wilson's arrogant claims that he will continue to govern will have a hollow ring until he can demonstrate he can control the high priests of finance; profiteers in land and property; monopolist industrial interests, as well as his loyal wage earning supporters in the Trade Unions and Constituency Labour Parties.
When Mr. Wilson can convince himself that it is in the "national interest" to put the social and cultural needs of hospital house doctors and nurses; the technicians and designers in industry; the artisans and manual workers; the harassed housewives; the school children; teachers and general social services before the claims of Tory minded bankers; Boards of Directors; Admirals and Generals; so-called military experts; and the whole traditional trappings of an outworn outdated imperialist past, encrusted in the Capitalist State machinery - then he can rely on even an outdated "penny-farthing" electoral: machine to keep him in power. Until he does so, he will be compelled to compete with Tory politicians for nominal control of a State machine designed to serve the interests of the dominant class in our society.
For our part, we stand loyally by the principlesfor which the Labour Party was created and outlined in the basic constitution of our Party as summarised in clause four. We shall continue, with or without the help of a Labour Government we helped to put in office, to give practical effect to the policy and programme as agreed from time to time by the National Conferences of our Party in conformity with its constitutional aims and objects.
On behalf of the Hillsborough C.L.P.Management
Committee, L. Youle (Chairman)
F. Tufnell (Secretary)