Open letter from the Labour Coordinating Committee A new basis for Left unity?

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Kinnock - 'the kind of Left leader we would never have won before' continued existence as an inde- ant Party, with no left group pendent paper, free from legal putting its own interests above Open Letter from Peter Hain, Vice-Chair of the Labour Coordinating Committee. Our response is to be found on page 2.

THE LCC is anxious to explore the basis for a new unity on the Labour left. Our anxiety is underlined by the different reactions to the Brighton '83 Conference and to the new Party leadership amongst various left groups.

Even before the Conference, the left was severely split, not least between those based in London and those in the rest of the country.

Such divisions reflect a serious fragmentation since 1981, with some groups almost completely marginalising themselves at Brighton, and with the LCC one of the few groups correctly judging both the leadership election and the postGeneral Election mood at rank and file level.

Just as the Party has been damaged in recent years by a rigid left/right divide, so the current fragmentation of the left into warring factions prevents dialogue and joint action on the many points of agreement which unquestionably do exist.

However, the LCC remains EVERYDAY, British dogs deposit 500 tonnes of dung on the streets and open spaces (not to mention five million litres of urine), to the hazard not sceptical about the kind of unity operating in the recent past which - although effective in promoting activity on al narrow range of issues such as the constitutional reforms - has suppressed real political differences between • various left groups.

The absence of an open and honest political basis for the compromises involved in left unity has contributed to recent fragmentation.

In finding out whether there is any basis for a new left unity, the LCC believes a prerequisite for it is a constructive attitude to the new leadership. It has already boosted the Party internally and externally.

In Neil Kinnock we have the kind of left Leader who would never have won as recently as three years ago, before the electoral college. Even Roy Hattersley is more radical and more committed to the majority of Party policies than were many of his predecessors from the right in leadership positions.

We should recognise that the new leadership has created a new political space in which the left can prosper. We must also insist that the Party abides by the democratic verdict of the electoral college — our electoral college.

This applies both to Leader and Deputy who each won majorities in all sections of the College. It does not mean giving the leadership a blank cheque.

Rather it means giving a priority to other matters. In recent years Labour's left has developed almost an obsession with the leadership, perhaps understandable after the appalling Wilson/Callaghan legacy, but strategically shortsighted in its neglect of the overwhelming necessity to rebuild the shattered base of our movement.

For historic and other reasons the left has had to adopt an 'oppositionalist' stance in the Party. In the current circumstances that is a luxury we cannot afford.

Instead, the left must take the initiative in turning the Party outwards to construct a new, wide base of support.

Above all, the LCC believes there must now be an absolute priority given to campaigning to re-create support for socialist values and Party policies. However, such 'campaigning' is not simply a matter of better or slicker presentation of policy, it is or should be aimed at encouraging people to fight for themselves. Within this context, we suggest the following basis for unity:

1) Joint discussion on policy areas which have been neglected: notably, social policy; decentralisation (including devolution); ecology; Ireland; a genuinely non-aligned foreign policy; and an updated alternative economic strategy capable of tackling a deepening crisis.

2) Joint campaigning to win union ballots for affiliation to the Party and to strengthen Party/union links.

3) Joint action to ensure that the Party campaigns effectively from national to branch level.

- 4) An absolute commitment to unilateralism as part of a non-nuclear defence strategy.

5) Building support for the new statutory minimum wage policy, and for campaigns to defend local democracy and the health service.

6) Unless circumstances alter in a dramatic and unexpected way, no challenges to the new Leader and Deputy, at least until after the next general Reselection 7) Defence of mandatory reselection and the electoral college, and opposition to any new witch-hunt. 8) Support for constitutional reforms to extend women's rights. 9) Encouragement of wider consultation and involvement in decision-making through local CLP and union branches, whilst maintaining opposition to postal ballots.

10) Support for Tribune's attacks by Party members.

11) Support for a broad, tolerthose of the Party:

We look forward to your com. ments and to seeing whether you can agree with this 11-point plan for unity in action.

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