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LABOUR'S National Execulive C'ommittee refused yesterday lo endore the expulsion from the arly ol a sell-coniessed rol artil. union agilalor 200 auarrhist.

"The lefts say they stand against witch-hunts against socialists. They must clearly reject all attempts to use the Underhill Report to hound the Militant group.

But the sharpest point is that where a member of the Labour Party is on the point of being expelled.

«Ted Heslin must be defended. His expulsion must be rejected.

"The lefts must today decide if they stand with those who fight for the working class or with those who expel socialists"

In contrast the SCLV leaflet sim ply accused the right wingers of trying to "create disruption" in the Labour Party and said that the NEC should ensure that the forthcoming Party inquiry did "not go beyond the limits originally laid down".

But weak though the SCLV leaflet was, at least a handful of six fighter squidtons stationed at taus in friendly Blates. 18 capital ships to protert or supubes us the Persian Quit •,t5 Aint Ansara may or about to send some 100.000 mes, and The ral-uP Soviets 'using gas on rebeis' MHIA ino mesent same in transkin.

Ture to Pare 2. tal. 3 supporters of the SCLV did lobby the NEC in the struggle against witch-hunting.

The Militant group however although under the biggest attack, took a decision to stay away irom the looby so as not to embarrass friends on the NEC.

The witch-hunts against Militant are not over and cannot be defended by retreats and accomodations.

Oxford City right wingers were indignant at the outcome. Oxford agent Bryan Keen said plaintively:

"We have no choice but to have him back. Until we know why they have done it we do not know where we stand".

Not all the witch-hunters are so fatalistic. Some will fight on to keep the sharp political edge of Trotskyism out of their cosy world. They must be defeated.

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