Moderated discussion on working class politics between the members of the Workers Revolutionary Party of Tower Hamlets and Liberal Party of Bethnal Green and Bow.

In February 1974, Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath called a snap election in an attempt to weaken the power of trade unions by getting the public on the government's side during the turbulent times of miners' strikes, rising inflation and an imposed three-day working week. Made by The Basement Project, this video is the first in a series covering the '74 Election in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It shows a moderated discussion between the members of the Workers Revolutionary Party of Tower Hamlets and Liberal Party of Bethnal Green and Bow. They cover a range of topics including working class politics, the housing situation, and UK's recent accession to the Common Market (i.e. European Communities, later the European Union). The debate gets heated towards the end of the tape as the representatives discuss class background and (under)privilege, with Vanessa Redgrave and her membership of the Workers Revolutionary Party being brought into the mix. On a slightly lighter note, notice how both candidates casually hold a cigarette or take a drag at various points during the discussion - an entertaining on-screen reminder of how socially acceptable smoking used to be.

This video is from the London Community Video Archive, a member of the London's Screen Archives Network.