TOWARDS THE NATIONAL BOSSES, RIGHT WING AND FAKE ‘LEFT’

THERE is a direct connexion between the increasing attacks of the employers in industry and the violent attempts of the Labour Party and trade union Right wing to halt the growth of a Left-wing movement around the Socialist Labour League.

As in the past, the Right wing hopes to ride out the storm and retain its control over the Labour movement.

As the class struggle sharpens, and the bankruptcy of the

experience of the deepening crisis of capitalism, coupled with the growth of the Socialist Labour League.

By taking the most active Left-wingers out of the Labour Party, the Communist Party has helped the Right to maintain its control of the party. It has walled off many trade unionists from participating in the struggle against Rightwing policies and Right-wing leaders in the party.

The Communist Party leaders’ adherence to Khrushchev’s wishes has prevented the party from making use of its influence in industry.

A striking example is on the question of the H-bomb. Everyone knows what great feeling there is in the Labour Left for the unilateral abandonment of the bomb by Britain.

7 Good for the bureaucrats Instead of utilizing its strength in the trade unions to back -up this fight, the Communist Party launches a ‘March for Life’ this week-end, whose main aim is the winning of ttre “Peacé movement away from the concept of unilateral aban’ donment to that of all-round agreement of heads of States.

The Communist Party leaders have fundamental differences :

with the Left on the question of the H-bomb, because they do not start from the standpoint of what is good for the working class, but what is good for the Soviet bureaucracy.

The Socialist Labour League. by its adherence to a policy of principle, is increasing its influence on the Left.

‘Our paper The Newsletter was the first in the Labour movement to campaign for unilateral abandonment of the -H-bomb and industrial action against it—at a time when these demands. were branded as ‘disruptive’ by the Stalinists -.and others.

_-Now our League must redouble its efforts to show the Left why only the Marxists, for whom there is no solution :.to capitalism’s problems short of working-class power, have « been able to put forward a correct and realistic programme on the fight against war and fascism.

Unfortunately, the Right wing is being helped in its witchhunt against the Socialist Labour League by the conduct of some so-called ‘Lefts’ in the Labour Party.

Refuse to fight proscription These people refuse to fight the proscription. They argue that the Left must wait until the crisis between the Right wing and the rank and file sharpens.

But the outcome of the struggle between the Left and the Right will be decided by whether or not the working class in industry can beat back the employers’ attacks.

The employers are not waiting for any crisis to mature in the Labour Party. They are deciding class questions in industry. , Unless the Left intervenes boldly to help the working class in its struggles, and to link those struggles with the struggle against the Right wing in the Labour Party, there can be no victory for socialism.

If the workers are defeated, then the Right wing will throw even the kept ‘Lefts’ out of the Labour Party. And a fake ‘Left’? could emerge around Bevan that would head off the real Labour Left.

This is why it is impossible for Marxists to abandon their right to an open organization within the Labour Party, exposing both the Right and the fake ‘Lefts’.

These questions will be fully discussed at the National Assembly of Labour on November 15, which will play an enormous part in the construction of the Left movement in which Marxists will play an integral part. be opposed to the expulsions that have been taking place in Leeds.

They therefore had their credentials withdrawn, and were replaced by delegates mandated in advance to vote in favour of the expulsions.

They were told that once the expulsions were over they could have their credentials back.

This was the main talking-point at last week’s meeting of Leeds Labour Party, which considered an executive recommendation that Mrs Mary Archer be expelled from the party.

Mrs Archer walked out of the meeting when the chairman, Clir Denis Matthews, refused to give her any assurances that the meeting would be conducted in a democratic way.

Mrs Archer had asked for adequate time to state her case, that she should be presented only with charges of which she had received notice, and that if any new points were raised in discussion she should have the right to reply.

' FOOTNOTE. There are now five branches of the Socialist Labour League in Leeds. Membership has almost doubled since the expulsions from Leeds, Labour Party started.