from F, Lindop.
The action of the Labour Party NEC in changing the form of the YS National Conference should be opposed by all socialists. Limiting discussion to officially prepared statements (nothing about foreign or defence policies) is clearly intended to prevent the youth of the Party expressing their concern at the decline of the Party's fortunes and their opposition to the Government's policies. It is one more stage in the reduction of the YS to the status of the former youth groups, with no official contacts between branches and no right to decide policy.
The effect of these moves will be to weaken the Young Socialists at a time when a strong youth movement is more necessary than ever for the Labour Party. Labour is in danger of losing the next election. The Government's capitulation before strong capitalist pressure, and its consequent failure to begin more than a fraction of its election programme, have produced demoralisation in the Party and apathy among Labour voters.
Labour badly needs socialist policies and an influx of enthusiastie and idealistic young people who will go out and win the support ofthe working class. How can we recruit young people to a political youth movement of the left if we are not allowed to discuss politics freely at a national and local level, if we have no national committee to make our views felt?
A meeting has therefore been called by the sponsors listed below to discuss what we can do at the Labour Party Conference to raise the issues what issues the YS should pursue at the YS Conference, and in the year following. This is intended to be a discussion meeting; every branch should try to attend en masse or send a delegate to put their point of view, hear others and make up their minds.
The meeting will be held at the Mahatma Ghandi Hall, 41, Fitzroy Sa., London, W. 1. (Warren Street Station) on September 5th, at 2.0. peme There will be several YS speakers, members and ex-members of the National Committee, and, we hope, a left-wing M.P. Watch The Week and Tribune for further details. SPONSORS: D. Ablitt, ex-member N.C. East Midlands; R. Gillespie, exmember N.C. Scotland; R. Rosewell, member N.C. Southern Region; Tribune, The Week, Voice of the Unions, Young Guard.