The Labour Party did not live happily ever after. It was out of power for 18 years during which time the Trade Union movement was eviscerated. I was given early retirement at 56 and found I was not entitled to unemployment benefits because I had a small pension (try living on £3000 a year). The unwillingness of practically all parties to stand down their candidate in favour of a similar party was a major handicap in 1987 and 1992. Labour and the LibDems both shot each other in the foot rather than win both elections. My last election as an active supporter was in 1983 in Stevenage where the LibDems bumped into Labour on a regular basis. We never saw the Tory candidate yet he won the seat on the promise of Council House sales.
The Labour Party did not live happily ever after. It was out of power for 18 years during which time the Trade Union movement was eviscerated. I was given early retirement at 56 and found I was not entitled to unemployment benefits because I had a small pension (try living on £3000 a year). The unwillingness of practically all parties to stand down their candidate in favour of a similar party was a major handicap in 1987 and 1992. Labour and the LibDems both shot each other in the foot rather than win both elections. My last election as an active supporter was in 1983 in Stevenage where the LibDems bumped into Labour on a regular basis. We never saw the Tory candidate yet he won the seat on the promise of Council House sales.
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