I was saddened to hear of the death of Rodney Bickerstaffe, a great trade unionist and socialist (Obituary, 4 October), and would like to share a memory. I was attending a Labour party local government conference in Brighton as a delegate for my local party. Rodney was on the platform of speakers, as was the newly elected and fresh-faced prime minister, Tony Blair. Rodney gave an excellent and very witty speech. Of course he addressed us all as “comrades”, as was the custom at all party meetings. When Tony Blair took the platform he addressed us as “colleagues”.
Quick as a flash, and audible to all in the auditorium, Rodney prompted Tony to address us as “comrades”. Tony turned around to look at Rodney, smiled at his audience, and repeated “colleagues”. In the hall we all felt uncomfortable. Tony had already abandoned clause IV, and I sensed that this was the beginning of the end of the socialist Labour party that I had joined and worked for. I was proved right. New Labour was an entryist organisation, a rebranding of one-nation Toryism.
I truly hope that at the end of his life Rodney was well enough to appreciate and enjoy the rise of Jeremy Corbyn and the revival of the socialist Labour party that he believed in.
Andy Pegg
Reading
• The obituary for Rodney Bickerstaffe didn’t mention his wit and humour. Indeed, Rodney could have had an alternative career as a stand-up comedian. His account of his mother’s decision to name him Rodney, given as the opener of a performance at a Stonewall fringe event in Blackpool in the mid-90s, left those of us lucky to be in the audience laughing until it hurt to breathe.
Hilary Kitchin
London
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters
