from Geoff Crossick This is the text of a letter received on October 13th by the Chairman of Cambridge University Labour Club, from Transport House: Dear Mr. Pritchard,
A few weeks ago you wrote to me concerning the Cambridge University
Labour Club and Labour Party recognition. The NEC has decided that recognition and assistance be given in future to only one student organisation in any one educational establishnment,.
In accordance with this decision, recognition and assistance as regards Cambridge University will only be given to the Democratic Labour Club. 2 ” yours sincerely, H.R. Underhill.
In terms of the situation in Cambridge, what Uncle Reg is Saying is that CULC has had its long-established links with the Labour Party broken off, A club with close on 900 members last term has been ejected, and in its place the NEC is recognising a small right-wing breakaway group, the DLC. In fact, the key figures on the Labour Club right who formed the DLC contained among themselves the leading organisers of the unsuccessful Transport House alternative to NALSO. The context in which this latest act must be seen is clear, The Labour Club in the last two years had been too critical of the Wilson Government, and so hatchet-man Underhill was once again given the job of rooting out dissent. The attack on the whole democratic basis of the Labour Party continues: this is just one more example of what it does, and will, involve. In the largest and most militant demonstartion that Cambridge has seen for a long time, Wilson was shown last week just what students thought of him, But this is not enough, Everywhere actions such as those reflected in the letter above must be resisted. Democracy must be reasserted by constituencies, trade unions and students. John Palmer, Nottingham, NALSO, and now Cambridge. Next year Uncle Reg will disaffiliate Party Conference.