HESITATE to question the very knowledgeable Dr Eamon Phoenix (Exminister strikes Jack Beattie, On this day, October 31) but I believe there is an inaccuracy in his footnote. The anti-partitionists who left the Northern Ireland Labour Party along with members of the Socialist Republican Party in fact formed the six-county executive of the Irish Labour Party. This party then went on to win the West Belfast seat at Westminster, Falls at Stormont and council seats on Belfast corporation for Falls and Smithfield Wards. Gerry Fitt and Harry Diamond did not form the Republican Labour Party until much later.
BRIAN MURRAY
Belfast BT14
