If your organisation/CLP/union branch wants to sign this, please email info@defendtheleft.co.uk and we'll add their name below. 

Instead of opposing the reactionary Tory government, the Labour leadership is turning its fire against many of its most committed members. The July 20 meeting of the Labour Party NEC proscribed a number of left-wing groups, including Labour Against the Witchhunt, Labour in Exile Network and Socialist Appeal. There will now also be a panel whose job it is to investigate yet more groups for possible expulsion.

Apparently, the motion states that membership of the groups is “incompatible with membership of the Labour Party”. The rule book already allows for the exclusion of members who campaign against the Labour Party. These organisations do not do that. 

The same cannot be said for right-wing factions within the party that consistently and openly campaigned against Labour under Corbyn’s leadership. Yet none of those groups are threatened with proscription. 

This is just the latest salvo in the right’s full-blown attack on what remains of the pro-Corbyn left in the Labour Party. It follows the denial to Corbyn himself of the Labour Whip for more than eight months. It follows the silencing of free speech and democracy across the party with whole branches and CLPs being suspended and whole areas of discussion being suppressed, including legitimate expressions of no confidence in the leadership. Expressions of solidarity with Palestinians have been ruled out of order on the basis of unfounded antisemitism claims. Expulsion is no way to deal with political disagreements. 

We should be debating how to end draconian anti-trade union laws, reverse privatisation in the NHS and education, combat racism and discrimination, defend our right to protest, resist Fire and Rehire and cuts in benefits, and many more issues of grave concern to the trade union and labour movement. 

We urge everyone who wants to build a united, fighting opposition to the Tories to join together against the attempt by the right to reintroduce a list of proscribed organisations.  No doubt, other socialist groups will be added to the list, should this first round of proscriptions go through without a hitch.  

Hundreds came to protest on July 20 against the proscriptions and the lack of democracy and justice in the Labour Party - pictures and report here. 

Show your solidarity!

• Please sign and share this petition 
• Get your organisation/trade union branch to support this petition and our campaign - email info@defendtheleft.co.uk

Defend The Left - against all bans and proscriptions! https://www.defendtheleft.co.uk

Initial supporting organisations:
Jewish Voice for Labour
Labour Against the Witchhunt
Labour In Exile Network
Labour Left Alliance
Labour Party Marxists
Labour Representation Committee
Socialist Appeal
Socialist Resistance
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Other supporting organisations:
Jewish Voice for Labour
Labour Against the Witchhunt
Labour In Exile Network
Labour Left Alliance
Labour Party Marxists
Labour Representation Committee
Socialist Appeal
Socialist Resistance
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Other supporting organisations:
AntiCapitalist Resistance
Barnet Momentum
Brent Momentum
Bootle for Socialism 
Berkshire, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire (BOB) Unite Community
Cambridge Unite Community
Cumbria Unite Community 
Dulwich and West Norwood Labour Left/Momentum
Ealing Labour Left
EL4C
East London Unite Community
Hackney and Islington Unite Community
Havant CLP
Hexham CLP
Labour Black Socialists
Labour Campaign for Free Speech
Labour International Left Alliance
Newham Socialist Labour
North Cumbria Labour Left
Portsmouth & District Unite Community 
Reading Socialist Club
Red Flag
Sheffield Labour Left
Streatham Labour Left
Unite Community Southampton Area
Welsh Labour Grassroots
Workers’ International Network