The following letter has been sent to many Socialist newspapers :-
last June, our General Management Committee re-selected John Palmer as Prospective Labour candidate for North West Croydon, with only one vote against. He had been our candidate for the previcus: election and had received the wholehearted support of the constituency in what was a tough but successful fight=- we cut the Tory majority from 10,000 to 5,000. John Palmer made it clear throughout the campaign that he was a full blooded socialist, that he was a unilateralist, that he opposed immigration controls, that he supported comprehensive public ownership under worker's control of the ‘commanding heights! of the economy, and that he was opposed to anti trade union legislation from any Government. In this, he had the active support of all our Labour workers, After two interviews with the National Executive's Organisation Sub Committee in the past few months, John Palmer's candidature has not been endorsed by the N.E.C. This is thought to be probably unique since it a case of a candidate who has previously fought an election. The N.E.C. has not even deigned to give North West Croydon a solitary reason for its action and has refused to receive a deputation from the Parties officerse, As the whole Labour Movement faces a critical period and as rank and file militants see Labour leaders prepared to ignore socialist principles on so many issues, it is vital that every constituency party in the country raises its voice in protest about what’has happened in Croydon, lest it become a presecent, whenever left wing candidates are selected,who do not find favour wiit “he powers that be at Transport House, John Palmer is not connected wiih cay proscribed organisation, He has worked hard for the Labour Party, Ali he demands is the right to speak out in public on such issues as Vietnam and trade union legislation. We appeal to all constituencies to send resolute ions to the N.E.C. condem ing its action and to send copies to the Nozrth- West Croydon Constituency Labour Partjs Secretary.