Getting the right idea

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Simon Pottinger examines the top 40 their own women's conference to elect women onto the executive... But we threw a sop to them by promising to do something next time we're in government - didn't seem to shut them up though.

More of that in the afternoon with old Michael ready to do his set-piece on the CND stuff.

He was brilliant! Never mentioned the word 'unilateral' once, he's shaping up as one of our people very well.

After a few cocktails back at the Imperial, Denis and Ray did even bettr. They went on TV and said straight out that they didn't give a damn if 99% of Conference actually wanted us to scrap the bomb, they'd be the next government.

Got a good night's after that.

DAY 5 AN awful row over Denis's TV appearance. Every other speaker got up to complain. Don't these people believe in constitutional government?

I doze through the day while they moan on about 'the economy' - fortunateof to one makes much the bits about wage controis we slipped into a statement with the TUC.

But a sinking feeling starts to hit me to be Union delegates seem ganging up against our men, the women are getting stroppier, the gays have got going at everyone, and the local Labour Parties are planning to get together.

I force myself to go to two meetings and miss out on a party the Sun's chaps have laid on.

A 'Socialist Organiser"! meeting is really vicious, packed with youngsters, three women on the platform and lots of taik about 'class struggle'; they've got to go!

Even worse is "Constituency Parties against the Witch-hunt' - hundreds of 'em planning to get rid of everything we're fighting for... They won't expel people, they're alking about 'democracy in the unions, getting rid of Sid and the others, 'organising' women in the unions, and getting Young Socialists' to stor themselves being shut down...

Worse, they're planning their OWn conference at the end of the month too! But it is in London apparently — at least there will be a decent hotel to stay in if I decide to go and keep an eye on them. AFTER an afternoon of Au Pairs and Caberet Voltaire I face the charts page. Does one laugh or cry. Well I, for my sins, just sit and write this and try not to get too cynical.

The intelligent question though is posed very simply by Carly Simon who asks, Why? She goes some way to answer it too with a lovely Chic penned song which is unmatched by the other 'disco' entries.

The other half of her answer goes directly into her bank account and a life-style we're not accustomed to. This second answer is not uncommon too with the USA heavy weights lining up to take our pennies.. Chicago and Fat Larrys Band puke-up the old emotive late-night ballad, help yourself I don't even want the diced carrot. Survivor are still there, marching down the street in formation with half a pound of sprouts and 8 inches of hose pipe stuffed down their jeans.

Evelyn King and Shalamar do it much better and at least hand over something for their wages, though I'm certain they could improve both the quality and quantity of their merchandize.

Ol' la version of old but more trendy - ed.) Shakey's out for a killing too, before his 15 mins is up and he's back touring the circuit again. I say Olc and old he is, years before you and I were born he was doing benefits for the CP. perhaps his contri. butions are what keeps them afloat — who knows?

I wonder if he asks us to give him our hearts tonight' for them too?

Sorry both of you, mine's promised medical science.

The Simple Minds aren't and neither is Marie Wilson, they're both some. thing near redeeming features, both off beat from the trend in the charts and all the better for that. Adam Ant isn't quite as pompous as .Dire Straits but just as boring and I still think the Jam have been turgid ever since Going Underground.

And then there's youth, Musical Youth on top and deservedly so, why Carly? Well they are young, new, lively and innovative and that's what it's all about even, the Au Pairs and the Cabs are missing that point -' (though I won't be without them for the world). Music by youngsters for youngsters which doesn't even need to battle with the rest it just transcends them land notice that they're black). Pass the Dutchie, let's pass the old and staid in the Labour Movement and left at the same time too.