The Labour Party in Blackpool: Northern Ireland membership plea

(First Edition)

The conference was urged yesterday to end the party's ban on membership in Northern Ireland, an issue which led to heated exchanges at a fringe meeting earlier this week.

The issue was not tabled for discussion, but Irene Hamilton, of Chertsey and Walton, raised it during a debate on a proposal to allow members to set up supporters' groups abroad. She said the move highlighted the 'anomaly' facing Labour supporters in Northern Ireland.

The leadership has always opposed the idea of organising in Northern Ireland, saying it already has a sister party there in the SDLP.