High Wycombe: Bernie Grant Invite Outrage

About this item

This document is a newspaper article from January 29, 1988, discussing the controversy surrounding an invitation to Bernie Grant, then a Labour MP, to a local Labour Party function in High Wycombe. The invite sparked public outrage, particularly from local Conservative politicians, due to recent racial tensions and riots in the area. The article highlights the political climate and perceptions of Bernie Grant’s outspoken activism during this period.

Key points:
– Bernie Grant was invited as guest of honour at a buffet reception hosted by the local Labour Party and the Afro-Caribbean Association in High Wycombe.
– The invitation came shortly after riots involving disco fans from Wycombe’s Multi-Racial Centre and nearby pub customers.
– The local Conservative council chairman, Mr. Hampton, strongly opposed the invitation, calling Bernie Grant 'the last person we want here' due to his anti-police remarks following the Broadwater Farm riot.
– Eric Brooker, secretary of Wycombe’s Labour Party, stated the invitation was extended before the New Year’s Day riot and argued that Bernie Grant’s visit would not be controversial or incite trouble.
– The article references wider political tensions, including criticism of Ken Livingstone’s visit to Wycombe, illustrating local political divisions over race and unemployment issues.

Bernie Grant was a prominent Black British politician known for his outspoken stance on racial justice, police accountability, and community empowerment. This controversy reflects the challenges he faced in local government and British politics during a period marked by racial unrest and calls for anti-racist activism. The event demonstrates tensions in Black British political history between calls for social justice and resistance from conservative elements.

Source note: The OCR transcript contains some typographical and spacing errors, and parts of unrelated text about an engineering award are included, requiring careful focus on the relevant article content about Bernie Grant.