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Winter Gardens host event to mark 70th anniversary of ‘rowdy and splenetic’ Labour Party Conference in Morecambe

Monday, 3 October 2022 10:35

Cat Smith MP, John McDonnell MP with Winter Gardens organist Peter Jetson. Photo credit: Lizzi Collinge

An event has been held to mark the last time the Labour Party held a conference in Morecambe – 70 years ago.

The 1952 Labour Party conference in Morecambe was one of the most dramatic and important in the party’s history, and in later years was described by former leader, Michael Foot, as 'rowdy, convulsive, vulgar, splenetic, and threatening at moments to collapse into an irretrievable brawl’.

The Labour Party conference never returned to the resort.

Morecambe and Lunesdale Labour teamed up with a Lancaster-based historian, Dr Richard Johnson, to organise the get-together remembering this historic event in Morecambe’s political life.

The event over the weekend at the Winter Gardens commemorated the conference, 70 years ago, with a keynote speech from John McDonnell MP, as well as Pathé footage of the conference, a history talk on the significance of conference, and re-enactments of the most dramatic moments.

As guests entered, traditional seaside tunes were played on the organ by Winter Gardens volunteer Peter Jetson whilst people admired the restoration work undertaken by the Friends of the Winter Gardens.

The event, hosted by the Chair of Morecambe and Lunesdale Labour, Lizzi Collinge, started with a fascinating history talk on the importance of the conference by Lancaster resident and political historian Dr Richard Johnson, whose grandfather Jack Johnson was a delegate to the conference and made a speech in favour of abolishing grammar schools.

Dr Johnson said: "It gives me great pleasure to stand on the very stage that my grandfather stood on precisely seventy years ago and to acknowledge his memory and pay tribute to the inspiration his life has always given to me."

Original Pathé newsreel footage was played, with Morecambe landmarks clearly visible and including footage of London MP Ian Mikardo, great-grandfather of Morecambe picture framer Tom Chesters.

Cat Smith MP then joined local Labour Party members onstage for a dramatic re-enactment of key conference speeches. Ms Smith played the indomitable Liverpool MP Bessie Braddock, who was heckled with "Go home Mrs Braddock" to which she replied "those belonging to the Communist Party can go home!"

Chair Lizzi Collinge played former Chair of Morecambe and Lonsdale Labour A. P. Fisher, who remarked: "The holding of this conference in Morecambe and Lonsdale is a great asset to us – far better than a lot of the propaganda which we get from head office – and we feel that at last we in the North of England have received some recognition."

The keynote speech was given by John McDonnell MP who remembered the transformative effects of the 1945 Labour Government and spoke of the importance of debating policies both within and without the Labour Party.

Mr McDonnell said: "Commemorating the Labour Conference in this way was so interesting, combining political debate with fascinating historical research but to do it in such a beautiful venue as the Winter Gardens was just wonderful.

‘’I congratulate all the organisers and all the volunteers who are working so hard to restore this marvellous building to its former glory.”

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