PETER TATCHELL's book Battle for Bermondsey through Liberals winning the seat in the by-election and retaining it again in June this year.
It became a national focus for people fighting the witch hunt after Foot's denunciation of Tatchell symbolised Ine preparedness of the local fight for their rights, like selecting their Dani C ulay candidate. The story is both moving and useful. It describes the depths to which the national other parties, dividuals especially the press were prepared to go to defeat Peter Tatchell.
Reviewed by Jane Kelly On the other side it tells of the support solidarity that people both outside the andour Party gave to him Most disgusting of all is the record of the Labour Par They never replied to the attacks on his sexual orientation In fact Walworth Road seemed determined he should get beaten.
First they refused to endorse his candidature, putting pressure on Ine to select someone else. During the election campaign they ordered the pulping of his leaflet ecause it had been Presse On hon te rin. printed the Militant's Then hey threw another WIlC loved that. gift to the press by expelling five members of the editorial board the day before voting.
Despite all these back stads reter nas sun written a positive book. , It tries to inoer ane unese taudry episodes happened and to come to grips with decline. The is tererore NI -terspersed with the ideas both on the type of Labour Party that is needed the policies should have so 'that it can 're-invent' its socialism.
Two issues run through the They are the relationship between extra-parlamentary action OOIHATPEPONHD ween sexual politics and public life. The first momentous changes culminating in the what Foot got so uptight about. Tatchell thinks that it is an essential part of any move toward socialism.
He sees it as a process that will complete the unfinishdemocratic revolution..in which the people 'to defend our civil liberties, trade union freedom anu rignl selt determination.
An equally uncomfortable stance is taken towards his recard UWI sexuality. Feeling that it was not an "ideal' situation, he tried to deflect attacks his sexual preterences by a generalised support of gay rights. This was futile. The press 'guilt by association' USCO
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deals with the history of that constituency from 1978 to 1983. This is when the South London party went