Nerve 9 - Clash of Ideals

Clash of Ideals

In 1983 Militant Labour were swept to power on a wave of reaction to Thatcher's policies and the way that the Liberals were running the City. Colin Serjent speaks to John Hamilton (83), the leader of Liverpool City Council in those turbulent times.

Labour had won control of the council, thanks to a 40% increase in their vote. But, the power of the newly elected council to implement changes in Liverpool was severely hindered by the government's refusal to let councils set their own local rates, which led to such measures as rate-capping.
"Thatcher considered municipal authorities to be wasteful." says Hamilton. "She did this as a means to cut back what she perceived as overspending.
"I met her at Liverpool Town Hall, and she asked me what I thought the reasons were for the riots in Toxteth. I stated that the high unemployment in Liverpool was the main cause. Her reply was that unemployment was nothing to do with her.
"My overall impression of her was that she did not want to listen to anything she did not want to hear."
The council, which was led by supporters of 'Militant Tendency' within the Labour Party, decided to take on the government. They were determined to fight back strongly against what they thought were bullying tactics by Thatcher and her cabinet ministers.
Despite mass marches - numbering up to 50,000 protesters - and several one-day strikes in Liverpool called by local trade unions in defiance of Thatcher's oppressive tactics, 47 DLP councillors were dismissed from office by the Law Lords in 1987 for setting what the government called an 'illegal budget'. The 47 were also expelled from their party by the national executive in London, with Labour leader Neil Kinnock being one of their most vehement opponents.
A Liberal/Conservative alliance took over the running of the council.
"But the people of Liverpool, through ordinary working class people and the unemployed, supported the Labour group which had gone illegal," commented Hamilton. "A new Labour group was elected to the council in 1987."
Hamilton described his former council deputy Derek Hatton, who must have seemed like he was the actual leader to a lot of people outside Liverpool. "He was a firebrand. Tony Mulhearn - who was President of the Liverpool District Party at that time - was put on the council to control him. In the end, though, he had to do what Hatton wanted. He could not be controlled by Militant."
Hamilton believes that Hatton got so much power and influence because he was brazen in his dealings with people. "You could not argue with him."
Ever true to his principles, Hamilton last year rejected an award the city wanted to present to him to mark his civic life.
"I informed the city council that I do not believe in such honours schemes. I have only accepted one award and that was a medal from the Duncan Society for work in public housing."

For more information about the 47, visit: www.liverpool47.org

Printer friendly page

Sorry Comments Closed

Comments are closed on this article