At Last .- a Vote Against: Now for a Fight

This journal has been very critical of left M.P.s since the Government decided upon devaluation, with its subsequent cut in the standurd of living of the British people, and no fight was put up. We are, therefore, doubly pleased to learn that some 18 Labour N.P.s oppsed the Government over the question of the letter of intent. We hope that this vote will be followed by others. What we are concerned with is not the size of the Government majority but the effect of a stand being made upon the consciousness of British workers. It is vital for two reasons that there be seen within the Labour Party a focus of opposition to the Government. Firstly, this will stimulate opposition :4m: the Lebour Movement. Secondly, it will help to reverse the drift away from the Labour Party by left wingers and others. But more needs to be done than voting against the Government. Michael Foot spoke in the House of Commons of fighting for an alternative policy and an alternative Government. Very good! but to do this one needs an army, and sad to say that army will not be found in the House of Commons. But a potential army does exist: in the C.L.P.s, in the trade union branches, in the factories, etc. The left wing M.P.s must, therefore, link up with the rank and file movements of oppsition to the Government. They mst ; completely identify themselves with such actions as the December 12th lobby of Parlioment. They mst support all industrial actions against the Government's policies. They have rade a start by voting against the Government;we hope they follow this by storming up and down the country, calling upon workers to resist the Government. It is not too late to reverse the tendency for the traditional left to lose its significance,