[ROY Hattersley and I agree on at least…]
Socialist Organiser1983 1983-10-13Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 12 →
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ROY Hattersley and I agree on at least one thing - we prefer Labour Conferences in Blackpool.
Brighton is a sad place, cold and damp instead of bracing and lively, faded glory instead of repainted brashness; hotel bars instead of Yates Wine Lodges.
The feeling about Brighton is even stronger if you're staying , in an overcrowded cellar with a duplicator and two typewriters, without enough 50ps for the meter.
Socialist Organiser Conference Briefing's little team got off to a flying start. On the Sunday, instead of doing our regular, 'Welcome to conference, and by the way we're backing the losers for the leadership' two-page tract, we were forced into a frenzy of activity, doing a 5page bulletin and running off leaflets for the Women's Action Committee of CLPD.
From then on, it was all hard slog. Days and nights spent working out explanations of the resolutions. Fending off the worst jokes provided by Bow & Poplar delegate Stephen Corbishley and cutting his 'in the bars' column.
Stopping SO • Briefing from being the Ann Crowder appreciation sheet, after she managed to be one of the few CLP delegates to make two speeches, and even got to talk about action going on in the world outside - the residential workers' industrial action that she is involved in. Pushing workplace branches against a wall of apathy from the party hierarchy.
All the effort - advice on resolutions, comment on conference and fringe meetings, gossip, rumours, and some of the world's worst jokes - was worth it.
It not only gave SO an unbeatable reputation for poor spelling and bizarre graphics — it showed that we were there, prepared stand against the unity tide and point to the future.
The poor delegate and husband staying upstairs from us paid us an odd compliment when they revealed that, "we call your cellar the bomb factory, you know".
Last week proved • that the Party really does need a bomb under it to shake it out of wishful thinking and mindless 'unity' ', and to get it out fighting instead.
Copies of the week's SO briefings available for £2 plus 31p p&p to 'SO Briefing', c/o 28 Middle Lane, London N8.
LONDON Campaign for Gay Rights now meets regularly every four weis at Marchmont Community Centre, Marchmont St, WC1; at 6pm. Next meeting November 6. Gay Young Socialists meet at Gay's The Word at 6pт. Next meeting Sunday October 16.
Contact: London LCGR, Mike Haran 659 2938 or Chris Beer 785 9515; GYS, Martin Goodsell 263 9484. LONDON Cuts conference organised by the Southwark Campaign Working Party: Sunday November 6, at County Hall, London SE1. Contact: Southwark Campaign Working Party, Town Hall, London SE5.
SO is sold at the following London bookshops: Colletts, Central, Books, The Other Bookshop, Bookmarks, Bookplace • (Peckham Rd, SE15), Kilburn Books, and Reading Matters (Wood Green Shopping Centre). . Haringey. Contact 348 5941 or 802 0771.
Islington. Next meeting Sunday ( October 23, 7pm at Caxton House. Details to be arranged: contact Linda, 278 1341.
North-West London. Contact Mick, 624 1931.
South-East London. Contact Siu Ming, 691 1141.
Hackney. Contact Andrew Hornung, 76 Carysfort Rd, London N16.
Richmond. SO is sold at Richmond Quadrant every Saturday, 11.30-1.30. Further details, contact Nick De Marco, 876 6715.
Southwark/Lambeth, Meets every other Wednesday at Lansbury House, 41 Camberwell Grove, London SE5. Business 7.30. discussion 8.30. Next meeting Oct. 12.
Orpington. Contact c/o South East London.
Tower Hamlets. Next meeting Monday. October 19, 7,30, on the Labour Party conference. For details, phone Susan, 377 1328.
Hounslow. SO is sold outside All Saints Church, Hounslow High St, Saturdays 10.30 to 12. Contact Chris, 898 6961.: Harlow. Contact c/o 28 Middle Lane.