By WILLIAM CLARK,
Scottish Political
Correspondent
SIX Glasgow Militant Tendency members face expulsion when they appear
before the Labour Party's constitutional committee in Glasgow this
weekend on disciplinary charges.
They face a variety of charges, including being members of the
Trotskyite group, and bringing the party into disrepute.
Those appearing include Bob Wylie, once listed as a member of
Militant's central committee and its Scottish spokesman. Militant
newspaper's former West of Scotland correspondent, he is now a freelance
journalist and a member of the Glasgow Central CLP branch.
The others, all members of the Glasgow Pollok branch, are Lynn
Sheridan -- sister of Tommy Sheridan, chairman of the British Anti-Poll
Tax Federation, which has led the demonstrations in the south; Kirsteen
Walker, former Young Socialist Scottish Labour executive member;
Strathclyde regional councillor Margaret Dick (Pollokshields/
Shawlands); activists Bill Bill and George McNeillage.
It is believed that another six members of the Pollok branch could
face similar charges in coming weeks.
This weekend, the six will be allowed to present witnesses before the
committee headed by Labour's national constitutional officer, Mr Walter
Burley, and national organisation director, Ms Joyce Gould.
Last autumn the NCC expelled six Militants from the Cathcart branch,
and a month earlier expelled Mr Sheridan.
If all the Glasgow expulsion go through it will be the biggest purge
of Militant Tendency supporters from Labour since Liverpool.
While Militant supporters label it a ''witchhunt,'' there are claims
that Militant is about to set up a separate political party. Several
expelled members are believed to be preparing to stand in the
forthcoming regional elections.
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