QUEER KIND OF SOCIALIST FIGHT—AGAINST

There are signs that this body of opinion is growing, and can soon become decisive. The experience in Leeds is highly instructive and heartening. An ‘expelat-any-cost’ executive has received a salutary warning. DELEGATES to last week’s meeting of Liverpool Trades and Labour Council were amazed to see unity between Right-winger Alderman John Braddock and _ three supporters of Socialist Fight against a resolution protesting at the proscription of The Newsletter and the Socialist Labour League.

Socialist Fight is a monthly which by misunderstanding is sometimes called ‘Trotskyist’. Recently it carried a short piece in general opposition to bans and proscriptions.

But what happened in Liverpool? On the executive committee of the trades council a resolution was carried strongly protesting at the ban.

Then a supporter of Socialist Fight moved an amendment. This, after declaring (without mentioning The Newsletter) that ‘to ban or proscribe Labour journals is an unwarranted censorship of the free and frank exchange of ideas’, ended with an attack on the Socialist Labour League.

The League ‘can only hamper the development of the movement in its struggle for socialism’, the amendment said.

With Right-wing support the amendment was carried by the EC.

Covered themselves with glory Socialist Fight supporters covered themselves with further glory when the amendment came onto the floor of the trades Said Councillor Brian Deane: ‘These resolutions of protest commit you to the policy of The Newsletter... Which was, of course, untrue and a poor cover for a capitulation to the Right wing.

‘The Newsletter knew the NEC would try to expel them,’ continued Deane. ‘They were going to be the big boys and kick the NEC on the backside. Now they are asking you to support them.

‘They’re so big-headed that they try to tell you that to belong to the Left wing you have to support The Newsletter. They brought the NEC into this and encouraged them to take note of other minorities.’

What a miserable and unprincipled way for one of these other minorities to try and protect itselfi—by helping the Right-wing attack on The Newsletter!

‘Minorities should have rights,’ said Laura Kirton, another supporter of Socialist Fight. And then, speaking like any Right-wing bureaucrat, she added: ‘But we should not allow organizations to have one foot in and one foot out of the party.’

The trades council meeting was adjourned before a vote on the amendment was taken. If its next meeting fails to go on record against the latest proscription from Transport House, then the responsibility rests solely with the supporters of Socialist Fight, who disgusted and angered Left-wing delegates.

INDUSTRY FIVE DAYS’ STRIKE, THEN VICTORY FOR From Our Scottish Correspondent