London Labour Party Conference

The London Labour Party's Annual Conference last week end opened with a motion of censure on Bob Mellish as Chairman, and revealed once again the folly of attacking personalities rather than promoting policies, Although there was considerable disgust at what Mellish had said at Blackpool, delegates could not connect with his function as London Chairman, the unions in particular swung in solidly behind him ~ and in the subsequent election his chairmanship was overwhelmingly confirmed. On the new executive the constituencies voted for progressive candidates almost to a man = Ellis Hillman, Stephen Yeo, Illtyd Harrington, Hugh Jenkins, Joan Lestor, Gladys Dimson and others were elected, In the union section the move was the other way = most of the places being secured by paid officials who enjoy taking the occasional afternoon off, (Those who do their jobs with the most enthusiasm are too busy to attend.) It is high time the trade union rank and file woke up and exercised the powers which are rightly theirs. At present we have the Transport and General Workers voting for Bert Fry, the District Secretary, who voted in favour of the Immigration White Paper ~ in flat contradiction to his union's policy. Unless officials are called to order by their executives or delegations they nominate and vote for themselves and their luncheon partners in other unions year after year. Active trade unionists should demand that at least half the elected positions should be taken by lay members, A motion calling for Executive meetings to be held in the evenings was quite closely defeated - further strengthening the position of the paid officials. In the debate on party structure, the Executive said it would press the N.E.C. for a new democratic Greater London Labour Party. This raised some hollow laughs; particularly when Mellish side-stepped repeated demands for a rank and file all London delegate conference to discuss the party's future. Highlight of the conference was the unanimous support given to the seamen in an emergency resolution = the tone of the debate was highly critical of the Government and there weTe widespread boos when Wilson's television speech was mentioned, 70 delegates attended a scratch lunch-time meeting organised by the Campaign for Socialism, and addressed by Ellis Hillman, Illtyd Harrington, Richard Fletcher and Hugh Jenkins, The call for a more democratic party structure was strongly supported, and Hugh KJenkins reminded the Government of its commitment to abolish the City of London. This issue was raised again on the Conference Report and the Executive will have no peace until this long overdue reform - the abolition of the last rotten borough = is carried through.