EXPELLED MEMBER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 27 January 1939, Page 5

EXPELLED MEMBER

BRITISH LABOUR PARTY STATEMENT BY SIR STAFFORD CRIPPS 'U P A.—By Electric Telegraph-Copyright! LONDON, 26th January. The executive of the Labour Party which expelled Sir Stafford Cripps from the Labour Party, later issued a statement describing Sir Stafford Cripps’s campaign over a long period as calculated to weaken the unity of the party, and his present action as harmful. Sir Stafford, in a statement, said that he trusted his friends would redouble their efforts to secure the combination c.f alt anti-Fascist forces in order to get a Government which would effectively protect democracy and freedom. The Labour Council in Bristol East. Sir Stafford Cripps’s constituency, later passed a motion of confidence in Sir Stafford. OTHERS MAY FOLLOW LONDON. 26th January. The possibility that others may follow Sir Stafford Cripps out of the Labour Party is indicated by Mr Aneurian Bevan’s statement that if Sir Stafford had been expelled for wanting to unite the forces of freedom and democracy, “they can go on expelling others. They can expel me. His crime is my crime. He has given a lead and many of us will follow.” Sir Stafford Cripps. in the memorandum whjch the Labour Party Executive condemned, declared that the time was ripe for a great forward movement toward democracy.

He advocated “concentrated opposition." adding, “it is not right for any party in a time of crisis to insist on the full measure of its doctrines and policies."

Sir Stafford Cripps, famous British barrister, was Solicitor-General in the Inst Labour Government. He has been in conflict with the Labour Parly for some time past. In 1937 he left the Labour Crusade Week because of “gross unfairness" to his colleagues, charging that the national executive had been guilty of high-handed action in refusing nomination for Parliamentary seats to some of them.

That 3'ear he was told by the Labour Party that he must leave the left-wing Socialist League or be expelled from the party. The Labour Party opposes the creation of a Popular Front, and has issued several manifestoes explaining its position. It believes that the formation of such a front would result in its being “distracted from its main purpose" by the need to circumvent Communist manoeuvres.

At the end of 1937 Sir Stafford Cripps declared that he retained his views, though the move for a Popular Front had been rejected by the Bournemouth conference by a large majority. A renewed move for such a front was mane by the Communists last year when they determined to “fully accept the constitution of the Labour Party . . . and abide by all decisions of Labour Party conferences.”