The People Who Have Sacrificed Their View

The General Election Of 1983 Has Produced One Important Result That Has Passed Virtually Without Comment In The Media. It Is That, For The First Time Since 1945, A Political Party With An Openly Socialist Policy Has Received The Support Of Over Eight And A Half Million People. This Is A Remarkable Development By Any Standards And It Deserves Some Analysis ... The 1983 Labour Manifesto Commanded The Loyalty Of Millions Of Voters And A Democratic Socialist Bridge-head In Public Understanding And Support Can Be Made.

If You're Going To Make Sense Of Politics You Have To Have A Historical Perspective And Also Recognise That You Have To Work With People You Don't Agree With.

Well, It All Began With Democracy. Before We Had The Vote All The Power Was In The Hands Of Rich People. If You Had Money You Could Get Health Care, Education, Look After Yourself When You Were Old, And What Democracy Did Was To Give The Poor The Vote And It Moved Power From The Marketplace To The Polling Station, From The Wallet...to The Ballot.

Having Served In Eleven Parliaments, It Would Be Difficult To Describe This As A Maiden Speech. It Would Be Like Elizabeth Taylor Appearing At Her Next Wedding In A White Gown.

Remember, Imperialism Is Always Presented As Humanitarian: The White Man's Burden, The Cross Going Round The World, The Poor Benighted Natives, The Sun Never Sets. . . So You Have To Be Very Careful About Humanitarianism.