COMMUNISTS MAY CONTEST BRITISH BY-ELECTION

Chronicle (Levin), 30 December 1947, Page 5

COMMUNISTS MAY CONTEST BRITISH BY-ELECTION

Received .Mondav, 7.0 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 20. It is reported tluit the Communist Party may noniinate either its general secretary, ".Mr. Jlarrv Pollitt, or -Mr. •lumes Ilaiunioiid, ('onimunist president of the Lancashire branch of "the National Fiiion of .Mine workers, to contest the Wigan by-election where a vacaucy was created by the recent death of the Labour niember, krr. William Foster. If the Conimunists d nominate a candidato it will be the first time since the general election in 1945, that they have contested a parlianien.tI ary seat. At the general election 12 of 21 ('ommunist candidates lost their deposits and only two of them, Mr. Wiliiam (lalfacher, West Fife, and Mf. Phillip Piratin, .Mile End, were suecessful. At tlie recent munioipal elections the Communists put forvvard 19-f candidates all of whoin were unsuccessful. Of S5 Communists who have foughl parliamentary elections since 192f), ti.'! have lost deposits and until 1945 Only oue — Mr. Uallache^r — succeeded in reaching the Coiiimons. • Arcordiug to the Daily Herald, Communist inclination to intervene a Wigan, whicli has always been a Labour strongiiold, is part of a general cam-, paign against- t4ie Labour (lovernment. Further evidence of this is to be seen in the struggle now developing over the elections of executive niembers in four of P.ritain's most intiuential trades unions, the Transport and General Woi kers, the Tailors and Garmcnt Workers, the Llectrical Trades, and Fnion of Railwayinen. The elections I for the new executive are already pro- | reediug in tlie l.'l difi'erent areas into whicli the Transport aml General' Workers ' Fnion is divided and the other tliree unions mentioned will shorl. Iv eloct new general secretaries. The Communists are taking a very active part in these intcrunion election campaigns with the object of increasing their represenfafion.