Legal hitch sets back right's WITCH-HUNT IS STILL ON!

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Calling all youth !

YUN PAY US A LIVING WAGE noCAMICEn as ter conterence - November 20-21, at the Wyvern Centre,

Nik Barstov Nik Barstow and Vidya

Anand are

members of Steering Committee Against the Witch-hunt.

They report.

on the move taken by Lal our's right wing LEONID Brezhnev, "a bureaucrat, cautious and conservative, but always relying on brutal repression" is dead. But his spirit lives on among the ageing bureaucrats who have taken control of the Organisation Sub-committee of Labour's National Executive.

Their caution was clear when they deferred the expulsion of leading Militant supporters "in the light of legal advice". They gave a brief stay of execution to the Militant editorial board, because expulsions under their hastily-devised fig-leaf for a purge, the register, turned out to be technically in breach of the constitution.

But the delay doesn't mean the witch-hunt is off. The very opposite is happening - the brutal repression is becoming more blatant.

The real targets of the witch-hunt, the left wing constituency Labour Parties, are now first in the firing line, while the Right decide what approach to take to Militant.

Hornsey Labour Party was given an ultimatum over the Tariq Ali case by the Organisation Subcommittee. Either Hornsey abandons its rights under Foot: the right wing are on the rampage the constitution to decide who can and cannot be a member of their party, and debars Tariq Ali on NEC orders; or the party will be closed down next year.

This move means that the basic rights of local parties are under attack.

In Labour's constitution the CLPs are seen as independent local sections of the party, which affiliate to the national party provided that they stick by the nationally determined rules.

No-one has suggested that Hornsey is breaking any section of the constitution + it is simply refusing

"carry out orders'

The attack on Hornsey could also produce a 'bonus" for the Right - overturning the selection of a left wing prospective parliamentary candidate, Jeremy Corbyn. Jeremy, chair of Hornsey CLP, could be a non-member if Hornsey is closed down - and ineligible to be candidate for Islington North.

The Organisation Subcommittee left the selection of a candidate in Bermondsey 'in the air' → despite a by-election looming. They refused again to say if they would endorse Peter Tatchell.

The delay and confusion the NEC have created gives every opportunity for the much talked-of, but as yet unannounced, 'independent Labour' friends of Bob Mellish to find a candidate and begin a campaign.

As with Hornsey CLP no-one has suggested that Peter Tatchell has broken any rules of the Labour Party - his face simply does not fit the sort of party John Golding wants to see. Tatchell is being forced to take every hurdle at least twice.

It is similar to the situation faced in the 19th century by the radical Charles Bradlaugh, who was the first declared atheist elected to Parliament. He won three elections in his Northampton constituency only to get turned away from the House of Commons when he tried to take his seat.

But the working class and radical voters of Northampton eventually defeated the ruling class attempts to stop bradlaugh taking his seat.

Bermondsey can teach a similar lesson to the new ruling clique in the Labour Clace Finhton

TRANSPORT drivers at the

BL Cowley Assembly Plant

gave solid backing last Monday to their sacked shop

steward Alan Thornett.

Recognising that the

TGWU had given five days' notice of possible strike action at the completion of the discipline procedure, they voted to strike from Monday November 22. At the same time they called on the convenors to call a mass meeting of the plant once they were out, and make it a full-scale strike.

Higher level

Things, however, were already moving at higher levels within the TGWU. District secretary David Buckle went in to the press to announce that a meeting would be held on Thursday of thisweek, November 18, before the drivers are out.

That mass meeting is now crucial to the defence of Alan Thornett and therefore the unions in the plant. - Already a familiar scenario is in progress. Yesterday management circulated a lying reply to the shop stewards statement issued on Monday, which had had a very strong impact.

Having seriously distorted the facts of the case and answered none of the main points made in the stewards statement, they concluded with the usual threat that strike action would not persuade BL to change its mind over the sacking.

There is little doubt that the local media will carry thic ctatamant Intan tnda.. to statement later louay as their preparation for to"morrow's mass meeting.

Despite. the propaganda war being levelled against them, Cowley workers must draw the line at this sackin FOUR PAGE Industrial Special detailing Edwardes' Reian of Terror Thornett's ation.

OPS for a minor road traffic offence, allowing his HGV licence to lapse, under conditions where road traffic offences even of a far more serious nature have never been subject to the disciplinary procedure in the past.

BL workers should not be confused by the company allegations, and che trivial nature of the cise. BL have seized on a minor mistake to carry out a major strategic move.

This sacking must be seen for what it is: an attempt by the new post-Edwardes management under Sir Austin Bide to establish its authority and demonstrate that hard-line management will continue.

BL workers must say enough is enough. If Thornett is successfully victimised, it will be another major blow against the trade union movement in Cowley, in BL, and elsewhere. If he remains sacked, the atmosphere of fear and intimidation which exists in the BL plants will be intensified.

Like Derek Robinson's victimisation in 1979, it will become another milestone in a long campaign by BL to effectively smash trade unionism in the plants.

INSIDE to Alan victimisJOHN HARRIS

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Socialist Organiser no.109 November 1982 by Jane Ashworth AFin -.c nes-amat -.. doing his job'