University Archives
Labour Solidarity Campaign
The LSC was established after the special Labour Party conference held at Wembley in February 1981 and was intended to maintain what were described as the 'traditional values and ideals of a democratic Labour Party', to prevent the loss of support to the newly-established Social Democratic Party, and to counter the activities of the 'undemocratic Left' within the Party. Its joint chairmen were Roy Hattersley and Peter Shore. In practical terms the group aimed to moderate the effects of the introduction of re-selection for MPs, and of the electoral college for the selection of the Party leader, preferring one-member one-vote. The group was discontinued in mid-1988 by which time it was considered to have secured most of its original objectives.
The papers of Roy Hattersley MP include a large number of LSC records, including financial papers, correspondence, steering committee minutes, and copies of the journals Labour Solidarity and Student Solidarity Newsletter. [DRH/1]
Additional records collected by Dianne Hayter during the research for her book, Fightback! Labour’s traditional right in the 1970s and 1980s (2005), have also been received, but are not yet catalogued. [Acc 2006/7]