(Monday ) The Government's unpopularity is clearly reflected in the opinion polls. A polite ical party requires more firm evidence based on its own internal solidarity and cohesion by which to measure its standing and morale, This evidence is to hand, The TEC Report tells us that total Party membership fell by 104,281 last year, Individual membership dropped by 41,072, Trade union affiliation declined too. The Pottery Workers Trade Union and Lancashire Textile unions suspended payment of their political fund to the Labour Party, in protest against government policies. The massive Labour abstentions at the by-elections at Welthamstow (8000) and Cambridge (5000) add to the doleful record, There is only one way to stem this tide of disaffection and withdrawal. Stand up to the government, demand a reversal of its policies. This way we can hope for the return of those absent comrades. Otherwise the drift will continue unchecked,
/Cont'dsees