Smith set out the indictment. Meacher lookedlike a recently ordained curate who had just been told that his vicar was a serial killer. I thought they were Save the Children flag sellers. And I went away because I suddenly remembered that I had a meeting in the House of Commons. Unusually, John Smith and I were both lost for words.
Socialists believe in an infinite capacity for human improvement.
Looking back, I can identify the moment when the big change began. It was at the meeting of the Labour party national executive which preceded the 1984 annual conference. Tony Benn proposed support for a resolution which endorsed Arthur Scargill's decision to strike without balloting his members. Neil Kinnock urged its rejection. The executive was so evenly divided that, when the last name was called, the vote was tied.