Right wing to blame for election results

The Newsletter, vol. 9 no. 396, 22 May 1965 · scan pages 1, 2

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GEORGE BROWN's statement to the rump movement claiming to be the 'official' Young Socialists, to the effect that Labour had 'taken a toss' in the local elections, is the understatement of the year. What happened was a massive vote of no confidence in the two-faced, treacherous policies of the Wilson government.

Seven months after Labour's General Election victory, the Tories gained 562 seats in the Borough elections in England and Wales. There was a swing of 10 per cent to the Toriesthe biggest since the end of the Second World War. A similar swing in a General Blection would mean a massive Tory majority.

In many key industrial areas the swing to the Tories was over 10 per cent. Labour even lost seats in the safest of safe districts-such as Wakefield, Pontefract and Featherstone in the Yorkshire mining area. Due to the rates to T from this 1 9s. for 12 Certainly, no tears need be shed for the displaced councillors. Many of them have been leading right-wing witch-hunters for years. The fact is, these people allow the Tories to regain power.

BROKE PROMISES Wilson and Brown broke their promises to the old age pensioners and the aircraft workers, they give massive handouts to the steel profiteers who spend millions on anti-Labour propaganda, they • crawi servilely behind American imperialism in Vietnam and the Dominican Republic and they attempt to force a wage freeze down the increased postal charges, he Newsletter will have veek. The new rates are: issues. £1 16s. for a ye: throats of the working class.

Then they and their right-wing supporters (and also those on the so-called 'left') talk about 'apathy' and 'ingratitude' when they are rejected at the polls.

The lesson of the local election results is the need for a socialist alternative to Wilson and Brown.

Many hard-working rank-and-file Labour Party members suffered bitter disappointment as a result of the policies of their leaders-policies over which they have not been consulted.

Every Labour Party member must now ask: Would not the clear socialist policies of the Socialist Labour League and the Young Socialists have given the working class something to vote for?

the subscription to be increased

large units in automated plants. May 22