Campaign grows to remove

Scan page 5

The virulence with which Tories and right wing Labourites view the campaign for more democracy in the Labour Party and in particular the process of reselection of Parliamentary candidates is perhaps nowhere more clearly manifested than in Pollok CLP, on the south side Glasgow:

Over the past fortnight we have witnessed a vicious press campaign against those in the CLP engaged in the campaign to oust sitting MP James White who has long been at odds with his CLP on a wide range of issues. that is Davie Dick, the Secretary of the CLP and a well known supporter of 'Militant' A wholly legitimate campaign to remove White has been both vilified by the media as a "Trotskyist plot" and attacked by local right wing Labourites using rather dubious methods.

In Pollokshields, Strathbungo ward right wing local businessman Bashir Maan admitted that he had "packed" a recent branch meeting with members who were either long dormant or hastily recruited so as to remove from office a supporter of Dick.

"Dirty tricks"

We can expect that such "dirty tricks" will grow in number as the reselection process unfolds.

There are two further complications involved in this local tussle. One is in the shape of the consequences of the report of the Boundary Commissioners • which, it accepted in its present form, will lead to a carve up of the present Pollok constituency.

One effect of this will be the creation of a new constituency called Glasgow South which will be undeniably a safe Tory seat, embracing, as it will, a swathe of owner occupier territory, with pockets of well-heeled people.

Constituency

Alongside this will stand another new constituency, Glasgow South West. Whoever wins in Pollok. will then very likely have to slug it out with Bruce Millan, the present incumbent in the Craigton constituency, for the candidacy for tnat new seat.

The proposed creation of Glasgow South has already raised cries in the Labour ranks of "gerrymandering" and there are fears that objections to the proposals of the Commissioners will have problems in surfacing in the period stipulated for objections to be forwarded, that being mainly during the summer months when Labour Party branches do not meet.

A further complication may also arise in the shape of other claims to the candidature. There are widespread rumours that there may be challenges both by a prominent figure in the LCC and by right wingers who are prepared to put forward another candidate and so ditch White Recruitment the broad left in Pollok are well aware, the right wing "cannot be in 1979, and for the abolltion of the power of the District Auditor to surdefeated solely through arguments in branch meetings.

That debate must go alongside the recruitment to the party of new forces seeking for a means to fight the Tories.

Whatever the outcome of the immediate contest, its most substantial • achievement will be in terms of transforming the Labour movement on the south side of Glasgow: