LAST WEEK'S by-clection in the East London constituency of Newham South should serve to reinforce the case of those fighting to deny racists and fascists a public platform.
The National Front candidate in Newham South was able to increase his proportion of the vote from the 756 he raceived in the general election to 12% pushing the Tory candidate into fourth place.
The low level of political concern in this solidly Labour scat was reflected in a very low turnout of voters-just over 253, Because of this low turnout the National Front's increased proportion of the votes did not represent an increase in the number of votes it received in fact this dropped from 2500 to 1700 But this only serves to sharpen the warning. What is important abour the election result is precisely the NF's success in turning out its voters at a time of generally low political interest. Only about a third of those who had voted for the three main parties bothered to vote in this by-election, but more than taothirds of the NF's voters went to the polls.
This shows that the NF is much more than a flash in the pan, It is There will be firm action to defend the 104 students who were arrested on the This was decided by a General Meeting of the Essex Students Union on 23 May.
The meeting accepted an IMG proposal Jot a mass picact or trage Wanists aBu students when those arrested appear in count on la bune, le aiso aerood to enconrtake solidarity action on that day.
supporters atgued lor a taken delegate picket outside the court, but the majority of the meeting agreed with an IMG com"The attempt of the Lairencty administranion and the police to smash the staLars isa sen of what is in store not only for stadents but for the trade union mossmAn A masane response to student picked bens dressed Lough the courts not just getting the casual support of confused or disgruntled voters. Its to the ideals of the NF, and aware of the importance for the orgnise tion's image of a good electoral perTormance, to go to the polls while their Tory, Liberal and Labour neighbours stay at home.
It is only a short step from this kind of electoral support to the organisation of a real mass base for the National Front. If they can nccomplish that, we will really have the nucleus of a fascist striking force on our hands in Britain.
organised through elections and the ballot box alone-it reguires widespread open and public activity by the NF. It is for this reason that the 'no platform" campaign becomes more urgent than ever.
We must remember that the choice is not between fighting the fascists and 'free speech'. It is belween lighting the fuscists now, before they have acquired any mass influence or support from a substantial sector of the ruling class, or having to fight them after they have become an effective striking force and pone onto the offensive against the workers movement. labour and student movements, speaking lour of other student unions, and to prepare a pamphlet on the case. This al Essex since the occupation lo November for lower rents and prices, and better facilities. It was this occapstion which sparked off the administration's disciplinary action against 35 stadents.
The Communist Party and Broad Left' foronce on 15 June were mandated to fight to get the NUS Executive to initiate a natsonal campaign in detence of the 104, und any otber students vie treised for their part in the grants campsign picker which had hackaded the trades antrance to the University soo the expul sloos of studeces begun three mooths ago The mass picker won the R-instatement of too at the capelied students, and las inade It unpossible for the right wite of the Uni versity Senate td push through even toughat Imperial,' supporters are sufficiently committed factory:
However, such a base cannot be committee.
The meeting also agreed to arganise a will deal with the whole sequence of events The Union's delegates to the NUS conthe University store.
The meeting also decided to and tho campus.
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