Fighting Labour right wing

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Keith Veness, a longstanding active militant in the Labour Party, was expelled from North Islington in 1976 for attacking the local MP, Michael O'Halloran in a community newspaper.

Following protests to Transport House by four constituency parties and prolonged campaigning on this and other alleged malpractices in the notorious party of MP O'Halloran, Bill Jones, Transport House full timer, was designated to! PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report attend GMC meetings and more recently to act as chairman.

His report on the party has never been published.

Socialist Press' interviewed Keith Veness in order to report on the struggle in North Islington but also to highlight his approach to that fight.

Much of the interview centres on differences between the Socialist Campaign for a Labour Victory, What happened after which Veness instatement?

member, and the WSL, with The NEC ratified my reinstatement in July, although it only regard to the fight in the passed through the GMC in November.

In September the GMC Veness for instanc sought clarification and in clearly has an imbivalen October it said I must reapply as attitude towards the Labour a new member. In November, amidst uproar, 'lefts'-distinguishing in a Bill Jones chairing the meeting, quite artificial way between said he ruled me a member "as the old guard lefts' such as an EC instruction'. lan Mikardo and the new, This ruling was challenged and only supported by a noisier, variety such as minority-well over half the Dennis Skinner. delegates voted against.

Yet repeated incidents There was such a hubbub since Skinner's election to that the meeting couldn't continue-Bill Jones had to the Labour NEC have close it. demonstrated that his What is the significance of the political backbone is no less expulsion for the general fight flexible than that of Benn for socialist policies? or Mikardo whenever In North Islington terms it's showdown with Callaghan is tremendously valuable in posed. making people aware of what's going on. It's alerted people to Veness also claims that corruption in a way nothing else the SCLV has a "hard" would. programme which deters It's also shown up the way the expulsion procedures need support and refers especially from giving retorming. It's taken 2½ years to get to its demands on Ireland.

But he, does not explain why Yorks NUM leader Scargill is allowed to declare verbal support for the SCLV while the SCLV itself makes no demands whatever on Scargill to fight for the removal of butcher Mason Report as MP for Barnsley.

Thus although the SCLV PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, programme is largely nonhas centred is crimes on the way that programme is used in the fight to expose the lefts' within the Labour Since the interview was Labour Party has in fact been 'adjourned' until discussions have been held with the NEC.

This was the decision of the GMC reconvened in December, at which remove Bill Jones from the chair physically.

The ward AGM's due in vanuary, have all been