A Need for Politics
INCE this newspaper has frequently de- anounced the Campaign for Nuclear Dis- armament for indulging in anarchism and irre- sponsibility instead of orthodox political activity, we can scarcely take exception to the Cam- paigners attempting to infiltrate and take over Labour Party branches. It is, in fact, a perfectly_ respectable tactic from their point of view. At the same time no reasonable person will expect the Labour Party leadership to sit idly by while this goes on. The National Executive Committee of the Party did the very least it could in the cir- cumstances when it last week decided to set up an official inquiry into the affairs of the Putney branch after the Putney banner had been carried in the Aldermaston march in defiance of the orders of the Labour National Agent. It was all the more surprising that the NEC endorsed the candidature for the Putney seat of Mr. Hugh Jenkins, an avowed CND-er. Those who argue that rooting out CND-ers is a witch- hunting activity which merely drives the Cam- paign into the hands of extremists should ponder on the probable effect on the electoral prospects of Labour if candidates crop up all over the country with Labour labels round their necks and a strong line in unilateral talk which the leadership would be bound, officially, to disown.
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