Report of OPEN FORUM:- WHERE IS LABOUR GOING? 25 Feb 2000

With about 50 present, an excellent meeting took place whereby individuals were able to express their disquiet about the course the Labour leadership (both nationally and locally) had taken. Much of the viewpoint expressed in the Flyer was reiterated and expanded upon during the course of the meeting and our MP, Bill Rammell (who was present and involved in the discussion) was left in no uncertain terms about how people felt. Most of the audience consisted of long term activists of the local movement many of whom had recently become no longer active; they could now be called (in current jargon) 'Old Labour'.

Although a few local Councillors attended (including the Leader of the Labour Group Mike Danvers), most were noticable for their absence. It was welcome to see Stan Newens (former Labour MP for the town and former MEP) attend and make the first contribution to the meeting.

The aim of the meeting was to have a free and frank discussion, and so I have no intention on mentioning what individuals actually said. But the general view was that activists needed to fight in the Labour Party for a change in direction away from 'New Labour' and back towards a 'Socialist' type philosophy.

On a number of occasions Harlow TUC was congratulated for calling the Open Forum, and was requested to organize further meetings in the town.

by Brian Bostock

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