Parliamentary means weren't available. The SDP defectors had weakened the Labour Party. My parents were left wingers and rejoiced at the accession of Michael Foot and then Neil Kinnock - but most of us knew, those leaders rendered us unelectable.

The unions had pulled our chestnuts out of the fire in the 1970's when Heath lost the who governs Britain, so I can do what I bloody well like debate - defeated by the unions. We were hoping for a re-run of that.