Scargill blow as party aide quits

Just weeks before the general election Arthur Scargill's tiny Socialist Labour Party is in disarray after the resignation of its general secretary. Pat Sikorsky, who was responsible for organising the party's election effort has quit, leaving the SLP in crisis. In a letter to Mr Scargill, Mr Sikorsky says that he was unable to combine the general secretaryship with his job as a guard on London Underground.

While Mr Sikorsky denies any differences of opinion, observers of left- wing politics contend that there was a personal and political clash with the autocratic Mr Scargill, who is also president of the National Union of Mineworkers. Mr Sikorsky has returned to London Transport having served three years on the executive of the RMT rail union.