PROUD TO HAVE MET HIM.....

I was asked recently who my political heroes were and one person I most definitely should have mentioned is trade union leader Jack Jones. To the end of his life, Jack embodied the finest virtues of the labour movement - eschewing the House Of Lords and gravy trains for life in a modest council flat in London and tireless campaigning for those who were vulnerable. After he "retired" Jack was one of the leading lights of the National Pensioners' Convention. He also attended Campaign Group rallies every year at Labour Party Conference and never lost his fighting spirit. In Manchester three years ago, I was proud to say hello and shake his hand - Though clearly frail, he was able to stand up and be counted as one of the heroes of the Labour Left. It's a shame there are not more like him today. An exemplary human being .