1980s Leadership
He was a left-winger but was not a member of the Militant Tendency who dominated the Liverpool Labour group at the time. However as Militant rose Hamilton was allowed to retain the leadership as a figurehead from the left-wing non-Militant members to disguise the fact that real power lay with leading Militants including Deputy Leader Derek Hatton. Hamilton knew this, and remarked "When I die I will go to hell with Hatton because he will make it look like heaven." Although a quietly spoken man, at all times Hamilton acted according to his principles: it was for this that he was most respected by all on the left of the Labour Party.
After the Labour Party investigation had closed down the District Labour Party and began expulsions of Militant members of the City Council, Hamilton was replaced as Leader by Tony Byrne on 20 November 1986. Byrne was never a Militant member but had jointly led the budget fight with the government with Militant, Hamilton and others.
Read more about this topic: John Hamilton (Liverpool)
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