Party members in London have the chance te build a new Labour Party whose influence can, in time return the movement to its socialist principles, This is why Transport House is determined, at 211 costs, to gain control of the new party organisation in Greater Lendon which it hopes will be established next Sunday (31 March).
Having resisted rank and file pressure to set up a new Greater London Labour Party ever since 1962 - when the London Government Act was first published — the NEC have presented the London membership with a model constitution for a highly centralised organisation whose officers are to be appointed by Transport House. This has been done at less than a month's notice; many organisations have not hed time to meet to appoint or mandate delegates and no amendments to the propcsals are to be allowed. Why is it that having resisted pressure for reform for 3 years Transport House should ride roughshod over its London membership in the period : immediately before the most crucial borough elections in the Party's history? The press suggests that Transport House fears a rival centre of power,but this is hardly credible as the new body,whatever its form, will be constitutionally restricted to local and regional affairs. Short of capitulation on the principle.of regional democregy-that is, the right of the Party in London to appoint its own officers—the London membership has no alternative but to maintain the London Labour Party in existence at its Conference on March 30,until its successor has been agreed at a properly constituted delegate conference. The 'establishment conference! of the 3lst.would then vote for an adjournment until after the borough elections,by which time the NEC's final proposals could have been circulated and amendments sought from affiliated organisations, Whatever the outcome,one thing is certain.For Transport House to force through its proposals at this time,against the wishes of the Party's active members in London,is to court electoral disaster. All who can should attend as delegates on March 31st and vote for the - "democratic" ticket.