All of the seats contested by the Socialist (IMG) candidates were held by Labour. In Bethnal Green and Bow, Claire Weingarten polled 354 votes — even more than the 'Abolish the GLC candidate who had been given a free one-page plug in the Evening Standard on the eve of the poll.
Weingarten's campaign was winning increasing support from the Bengali community. Particularly in the area around Brick Lane, the immigrant population has been subicet to violent racist arracks spearheaded by the NaBoBa Frost and the Brilish Movement. Supporters in the campaign helped local Bengalis in successfully routing the fasc ists from the streets the weekend before polling. Campaigners are now mapping out how best to continue their efforts to promote black self-defence and to ward off the inroads being made by the fascists in the East End.
SUPPORT In contrait, Mick Sullivan in Islington Notth and Piers Corbyn in Lambeth Central organised campaigns in areas where the West Indian community in ilese constituencies traditionally vote solid Lahour, Sullivan was able to will support from many Labour supporters, sickener with tae ment wing poncies dau sanguer machine in their local compares equally to that polled neighboring Islington where the CP received 380 votes. This was down from the CP's SKI wore In the Inst GLC elections.
Judith Cook's articie in Labour Weekly came under heavy atlack Labour was hammered out of sight in the London GLC elections, thanks to the failure of the Labour Party to mount any challenge to the anti-working class policies of the Government. The Communist Party's vote was also down. One ray of sunshine in the elections - in the face of an all-out electoral effort by the National Front - was the support won in the campaigns mounted by the four Socialist (IMG) candidates.
In both these areas, candidates have called on supporters to step up the fight against the closures of local hospitals — the Blizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital in North London and the Weir Maternity Hospital in the South.
According to Mick Sullivan, public sector workers on 11 May, NUPE's Day of Action, will be the next step in this fight. On he has acreement TrOm bospital workers at the Whittington and Royal Northern who Socialist INTERNATIONAL MARXIST GROUP Hornsey seat - where the local Labour the Front on 23 April - the fascists got an even lower vote of And in Lambeth Central -where the All-Lambeth Auti — their vote was 760. This Is a couple of hundred more than the combined vote of the candidates in the Angell ward by-election (for only one fifth af the constituency) a few months AgO.
SOUTHALL IMG candidate Gerry Hedley in Southall wan 996 votes - an Impressive 3.2 per cent poll of the votes. His vote was neariy dou ble the highest Communist vole anywhere in London. The Labour candidate — Yvonne Sieve - was nowhere to be seen when being organised, Local MP Syd Bidwell was fresh from covering himsell in glory at the London LOVE SEV COCTOICE WICE he successfully gration controls" from the com poste and racist resoldon.
In contrast, Hadley supporters have isoned out that alY in the months to come. First on the lists the aston organisat when Powell visits Hounslow in the near fucure. Second, is the proposal for a commemorative action on the anniversary of the date when Gurdip Chaggar — the Southall Asian youth — was killed last SLICHBICE only 871. In the neighbouring MICK GOSLING turned up to work to find NF Apris stickers plastered on the broken Hornsey She subject to physicar threats while burn down the Centre - with her Party played a major union boss Jock Jones wal never make tas apen!
JACK Singer Jack Jones appears at Night Out club in Birmingham. With a strong picket line ilke this, trade JONES
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London: 23 April Committee