(Cont'd. from page 1)
quently, he may be able to appear to be carrying out some of the wishes of the rank-and-file. For all these reasons a struggle for a left based upon a programme is vital, Lest we sound pessimistic let us say immediately that we are more optimistic about the formation of the mass left than we have been at any time since October 1964. Boldness and a fighting spirit are, however, needed. A fighting spirit is needed to mobilise all those who have become faint-hearted about the possibilities of beating Wilson. But a fighting spirit will only come from clarity about the aim, that is, an understanding that the Wilson Government is a vicious enemy of the working class. There are also great, and previously hidden, potentials of support for such a fighting left. Loyalty to organisation and leadership is one of the basic - and finest - characteristics of a workers’ movement. Now thousands of Labour supporters who had previously defended the Wilson Government because of that loyalty are capable of being won for a fighting left; the growing unemployment being the last straw. Moreover, a struggle to impose conference decisions and other democratic norms will tap a vast reservoir of support. This year the relationship of forces can be dramatically changed by the use of such a strategy. So what are the perspectives for Scarborough? Firstly, almost certainly the Government will suffer a series of basic defeats - our first aim must be to make those defeats as resounding and as clear-cut as possible. Secondly, out of this new situation there are very good prospects for the emergence of a broad, fighting left with an anti-capitalist programme - our second aim must be to make that left as broad and as politically sound as possible. Thirdly, there is every possibility that this left will institutionalise itself into a continuing body - our third aim must be to make this possibility a reality. Fourthly, it is very likely that this institutionalised left will represent a big political step forward in understanding. A fighting left on a political programme, making neither the error of over-estimating the immediate potential nor of holding back because it does not fully understand the new situation, must come from Scarborough. If it does the British working class will have taken a dramatic step forward: that is a very fine perspective for Scarborough, indeed.