Yesterday morning one of the finest socialist activists I have ever known, former Notts militant miners' leader Paul Whetton, died.
Paul was the leading figure amongst the striking miners in the Notts coalfield during the historic miners strike of 1984/5. I had the privilege - and it was a privilege - to know Paul from that time onwards. Socialist Organiser, the predecessor of the AWL, had the privilege to work with him.
But I actually knew of Paul before the strike. It was in 1982 during the selection of a general election Labour candidate for the Nottingham South constituency that I first saw him. Paul represented a tradition of militancy in the Notts NUM that few at that meeting had any knowledge of.
I knew of a number of left-wing miners from our attempts to do Workers Action Miners' bulletins in the mid-late 70s. But it probably never reached those militant miners based in the north of the county.
And whilst many of those militant miners, like Paul, were in the Labour Party, the Regional and County Labour Parties were still comparatively right wing dominated and inert.
So we didn't know Paul at the time of the selection meeting either; and when he spoke passionately about the need for the Labour Party to carry through the change that had begun in 1980-1 by openly embracing class politics, it had an electric effect on those of us who were Socialist Organiser supporters.
But his speech had a lesser effect on the softer elements of what was considered as the Bennite left. Their primary concerns were less explicitly class issues.
Future MEP Ken Coates was actually selected; we had agreed to back Alan Simpson at the selection. But we all said afterwards that, if we hadn't already agreed to back Alan, we would have voted for Paul on the day, despite never having seen him before.
We didn't get much chance to talk to Paul on the day but we noted his name.
Contacts were few with the NUM which particularly in the south of the county was generally moderate. The socialist left in Nottingham was very parochial and town-based at the time.
When the strike began 2 years later both the left in Nottingham as well as the left in the Notts NUM were thrown into disarray.
The traditions of political militancy in the NUM and other industrial unions in Nottinghamshire were undoubtedly weaker than in many other parts of the country. But they were there, and within the Notts NUM there were some of the best political militants.
But the Communist Party still had the best connections with such militants and its traditional policy was of concentrating on election deals with 'left' officials regardless of what they did. And when the 'left' officials equivocated, so did the Communist Party.
It was clear that no lead was coming from the Notts NUM President Ray Chadburn or even the Area Secretary Henry Richardson, despite Henry having a close relationship with many of those NUM militants, including Paul. And a clear lead was very desperately needed within the Notts coalfield.
That lead was to come after about 4 weeks of chaos with the moves made to form the Notts Rank and File Strike committee. The formation of that unofficial body was an historic act, still insufficiently recognized by histories of the dispute. At times it managed to pull nearly half of the Notts miners oput on strike, under the most adverse circumstances. Paul was to be both the central figure in the creation of the Strike Committee as well as its secretary.
I remember going with Paul to the meeting where he proposed the formation of the Strike Committee at the beginning of April. It brought together 25 to 30 miners from across a number of North Notts pits. I remember the speeches of anguish, almost despair, from some of the strikers who couldn’t see a way forward. Who could blame them? They were a militant, initially small minority, unofficially on strike whilst facing a police occupation and the refusal of their Area officials to back them.
I remember Paul's dialogue with them. His words were clearly carefully chosen to relate to their pride. But he also reminded them of the existence and power of working class solidarity, imploring them to respond to their situation with organisation and a determination to win.
It was one of many meetings during the great strike that was shaped by Paul's optimism and commitment. I know that many of us felt privileged then and feel privileged now to have seen Paul on such occasions.
Many activists in the socialist and trade union movement model themselves on their leaders. Particularly this was the case in the NUM with militants copying the style and approach of Scargill. Paul, I feel, always had a different style. When Paul spoke it was more of a dialogue with his audience. He always showed empathy with his members and their position.
I particularly remember going with Paul to visit one of his members who was talking about going back to work after many months on strike.
I remember going to the young miner's family's house. It was clear that most of the furniture had been repossessed. And I remember Paul’s sympathy and approach. No hectoring or recrimination but patient reasoning. Appealing to the man’s pride, not only in himself but also in his union and in his class.
Paul never gave up his politics. Every time I saw him I would literally feel a thrill of excitement. During the general election of 2001 when Paul agreed to come and speak at a public meeting for our Socialist Alliance election campaign; when he spoke last year at the AWL summer school on the 20th Anniversary of the dispute. Every time Paul spoke it was clear that he had lost none of his beliefs or his politics. Every time it brought back vivid memories of his speeches in that heroic and tragic year.
I rang him this last week when I was planning to go to visit a picket line of a dispute at Cottam Power station, only a few miles from his home. That dispute is a wonderful display of working class solidarity; with British workers coming out on strike in support of a Hungarian brother. I knew it was the sort of dispute that Paul would have treasured. It was then that I found out about Paul was very seriously ill with cancer.
Paul was a huge hero to me. I will never forget him. I regret not being able to say that to him as directly as I would have wanted. Our deepest sympathies go to his wife, Mo and the rest of his family.