A.e.u. Poll Victory

The news that Hugh Scanlon came top of the poll in the A,E.U. election to replace Sir Bill Carron is excellent, , The left seems poised to inflict a devastating defeat upon the right wing in the second biggest union in the country. This defeat would immensely encourage all militants and would help to tip the balance of forces throughout industry in favour of a fight against the Government. However, we must mark a note of caution: the right wing furces in this country are well eware of the importance of this election, they will do all they can to make sure that Boyd wins the second ballot, There is bound to be an unprecendented barrige of press interference in the election. Scare stories will abound and every trick - witness today's story in The Times that Birch hes told his supporters to vote for Boyd in the second ballot - will be used to create confusion and split the left. The supporters of Reg. Birch will, we are sure, stund firm and do all they can to ensure a left-wing, anti-incomes policy and anti-capitalist victory, The supporters of Len Edmundson, despite the undeserved right-wing tag they have received, are essentially against the establishment in the A,E.U.; the logical thing for them to do is to transfer their votes to Scanlon, If the supporters of Birch and Edmundson were to swing behind Scanlon an overwhelming victory would be achieved. This would send a shock-wave through-out the entire British trade union movement, This would represent a terrible defeat for Wilson and his w:ge-freeze policy - let us not miss the chance.