that our mobilisation is growing, that the Morni Star is advancing and that there is a "very great improvement in attendance at our public meetings" does not help. Selecting certain positive features is not a substitute for analysis, These always exist and must be seen as part of the whole, There is a decline in practically every measurable aspect of our work since the last Congress. The claimed membership is slightly up, but the dues payment a better reflection of the real situation, is down to 58 per cent. Sales of Comment declined by 1,096 (13 per cent) in 17 months. The Morning Star sales, despite the large expenditure of reserves and its increased size, are below the paid circulation of the Daily Worker at the time of the lest Congress. This includes a loss of one-quarter of the weekend extras. The financial situation has caused staff cuts in many districts and at party centre. ‘ These facts are a reflection of the serious and growing problem in many branches. Despite the new councillors elected our overall vote is falling steadily. Between the two General Elections our vote dropped by 16 per cent. In this year's local contests the votes in most big towns fell, e.g. Glasgow by 7 per cent and Greater London by 28 per cent! Among the reasons for this are serious errors wnich the Party leadership is making. Our electoral policy is a distortion of The British Road to Socialism, giving us the worst of all worlds. It helps isolate us from the Labour Movement and not only hinders the development of left wnity, but our independent work as well. As our votes fall the mobilisation of our members around our candidates -gets less. It has led to a neglect of the mass movement ea failure to fight sufficiently on Vietnam and other peace, industriel and social issues, and not enough help to the various broad organisations' campaigns. Above all this is seen in industry, where our support of the campaigns against TU legislation, the various wage demands and .the lock-outs has been totally inadequate.
~ The aim is apparently a new respectable image, but with it we have unfortunately lost much of our campaigning fervour and fighting spirit. Two examples were the disastrous decision to change the name of .the Daily Worker and the way it was rushed through immediately after the Congress, for which we paid a heavy price; and our attitude to the world Communist Movement. Out Party refuses to support the proposal of 67 Communist Parties for a world conference, This undermines the feeling of international and class loyalty. - The new EC must give a dynamic lead to overcome the problems. It should be
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