the pull of the Party

I remember a number of people in tears back in 1977, and after that, facing the decision whether to leave "the Party" or not. One particular normally tough shop steward just couldnt do it, and was in internal torment about it for a long time. Although he had all the same crtisisms of King Street as Sid, and read the New Worker for many years after, his life, dreams, and identity had always been "the Party". Emotionally it was no different to a marriage. I guess for him, reading the New Worker, and attending NCP events was like having a "bit on the side". -JP