With the publication of The Forgotten Decade videos that were made in 2016, and have remained 'private' on my YouTube channel will now be made 'public'.
The video in this post is about 1982 and part of 1983.
This is a powerful and relevant reminder of the pain and turmoil of a decade that changed many of our communities forever, of the roots of still current inequalities, and of the obstacles that our political system places in the way of progressive change. It also benefits from being the account of an engaged and passionate witness.
Geraint Talfan Davies. Chairman Institute of Welsh Affairs 1992-2014.
Whilst the book covers a wide range of events in Wales, the UK and internationally that happened throughout the decade, there is also a sizeable portion which is centred on the SDP in Wales and its Alliance with the Welsh Liberals.
The videos are the story of the SDP in Wales.
There are some eight in all. All of them were recorded live and uncut. No pre recording preparation took place for any of them it was just my on the spot recollections of events. Because of that, inevitably there will be some errors of fact regarding dates and timelines.
The authentic record is chronicled in the book. Until some months back, minutes, policy papers, press cuttings, conference material and many more (some 15 boxes ) followed me as I moved house some three/four times over 40 years. Now however they are at the Wales Political Archive.
The book took Alun Gibbard and I some two years to complete.
This video is essentially about the run up to the Gower by-election 1982, events during the by election and then onwards to the 1983 General Election in Gower.