Plot to Save Prentice

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Top level collusion between left' talking ASTMS leader Clive Jenkins and the extreme right wing of the and unconstitutional expulsion of Tony Kelly, Secretary of Newham NE Constituency Labour Party.

The right-wing, desperate at all cost to restore rabid anti-union MP Reg Prentice as candidate in the safe Newham constituency, have been continuously manoeuvring for months to reverse the democratic decision of the local Party's AGM which ousted him.

This came to a head at the ASTMS Conference when discussion was prevented on a Charing Cross Branch resolution which condemned the General Secretary for "declaring Mr. Tony Kelly not to be a member of ASTMS"

Jenkins, however, was given the platform to launch a vicious witch-hunt against Kelly, saying ASTMS was not going to assist "Trotskyists" to 'infiltrate into Newham NE Labour Party" chance Kelly Was, of coure, given no The means of victimisation used by the bureaucracy - declaring he "has never been a member" denies him any constitutional rights in the union.

An 80-strong unofficial meeting of delegates from a broad section of the union, held during the ASTMS Conference, pledged to fight to reverse this bureaucratic abuse by Jenkins.

The WSL calls for full support from all principled • ASTMS members to this fight. Motions must be passed by branches and Divisional Councils in every area and bombard the NEC with demands to endorse the Branches acceptance of Kelly in November and reject the disgusting manoeuvres of Jenkins.

Meanwhile, the second prong of the pincer move against the left in Newham came into play when the Labour Party Regional Committe declared void the AGM at which Prentice was removed - and outlawed any discussion on the question of . the constituency's Parliamentary candidate.

This is to give more time to local bureaucrats to consolidate a right-wing group of Prentice supporters.

But like every one of the current attacks on workers' democracy the Labour Party Regional Committee's decision relies upon suppression of discussion and exclusion of the rank and file from decisions. And all in the name of "moderation"!

The fight in Newham NE is. therefore inseparable from the crucial fight nationally against bureaucracy and for new leadership in the working class.

Workers Socialist League Public Meeting OXFORD UNIVERSITY "Why the Moderates" Attack Union Democracy"

Thursday 27th May at 8pm The Blue Room, Wadham College

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Labour Party bureaucracy is exposed by Jenkins' brazen