Barmy Bernie Goes Coffee Potty

About this item

This 1985 newspaper article reports on a controversial decision by Bernie Grant, then leader of Haringey Council, to purchase only Nicaraguan coffee for council staff and visitors. The move was intended as a political gesture of solidarity with Nicaragua's revolutionary government but sparked criticism over cost and taste. It reflects the intersection of politics and daily life under Grant's leadership.

Key points:
– Haringey Council decided to serve only Nicaraguan coffee in support of the Central American revolution.
– The decision would cost local taxpayers an additional £820 annually.
– Opposition members and local merchants criticized the quality and cost of the coffee.
– The council was also recruiting eight staff for a gay services support unit costing £100,000 per year.
– Bernie Grant was a controversial figure, notably refusing to condemn rioters involved in a Tottenham disturbance where a policeman was killed.

Bernie Grant was a prominent Black British politician known for his left-wing views and commitment to anti-racism and international solidarity. The coffee purchase policy exemplifies his approach to linking local governance with global anti-imperialist struggles. His leadership in Haringey highlighted the ways Black British political history intersects with trade unionism, local government activism, and radical campaigns during the 1980s.

Source note: This transcription is derived from an OCR of a newspaper article which shows some formatting and clarity issues, but key information about the coffee policy and related controversies is discernible.