For Tony Blair, the Labour party lives or dies by its media coverage; all the stops are pulled out to make sure it goes smoothly, At last year's Labour conference, which debated the partylink, attempts to intimidate delegates were made for the first time in years. Party officials and MPs tried to get delegates to break their mandates.
This year, blatant manipulation of the conference, the media and delegates was apparent throughout.
Due to the increase in the number of constituency delegates and the introduction of the quota system for women delegates, there was a high proportion of first-time delegates.
This is no bad thing in itself; but many were unfamiliar with procedures, and this made them less confident in standing up to pressure.
Nor were such attempts restricted to constituency delegates.
Last year's conference, as part of weakening the union link, decided union delegates would be issued with an individual voting card - rather than one card for the whole of each unIons vore Union leaders immediately made it clear this would make no difference - delegates would be expected to vote in line with union policy.
Manipulation of the agenda took place before the conference started, when USDAW withdrew their resolution spelling out a definite figure for a national minimum wage.
Ducking conflict Despite this having emerged as a contentious issue, with Blair relusing to accept a commitment to a specific figure, a union representing some of those most affected didn't wark to be seen as being in conflict with him.
In past years, resolutions on cuts in defence spending and scrapping Trident have been taken separately. This time officials browbeat delegates into accepting both being composited The old block-vote wheeler-dealing has been replaced by Blair's new-model intimidation into one resolution.
This was done as a ploy to get both defeated, since some unions like the GMB, committed to defence cuts, would not support scrapping Trident.
But this attempted manipulation failed, with the composited resolution being carried by a small margin.
Regional organisers; used only to organising booze-ups, this year organised "briefing" meetings for delegates, which went through the agenda explaining the NEC's position on resolutions.
Some of them followed this up with pressure - sometimes successful - on delegates to remit resolutions.
Blair's speech itself was the height of media manipulation. Copies of the text released beforehand left out the coded reference to scrapping Clause Four.
Only during the speech did officials alert the media to the of our objectives", which meant they were able to represent the standing ovation, given while delegates were still digesting the final few sentences, as endorsement of Blair's plans.
Suddenly realising there was a resolution reaffirming Clause Four on the agenda, the apparatus was mobilised in an attempt to minimise the damage.
MPs, officials at all levels and the standing orders committee were all brought in to try to get the resolution withdrawn, and as a result the Maryhill delegate went into hiding overnight to avoid the pressure.
Then attempts were made to pressurise delegates into breaking their mandates on this issue. With some blips, media coverage of the conference was good for Blair.
But a large minority went away determined to fight his plans and aware of the means he will use to try to achieve them. near Euston Station (Eversholt St. exit) Affiliations: minimum £10; send to NUM, 2 Huddersfield Rd., Barnsley, Yorks.