Labour's Silent Promise on Graduate Payments
- Labour Party's plan to lower graduate payments has gone silent.
- Denis Healey's encounter at Cambridge resulted in a raging mob.
- The quieter stance on graduate payments raises questions about Labour's intentions.
In a candid reflection, former Labour politician Denis Healey recounted a tumultuous experience during a visit to Cambridge in the late 1960s. After successfully engaging a significant portion of his audience in a meeting, Healey found himself confronted by a hostile group of protesters who attempted to overturn his car. Despite the chaos, he managed to escape, albeit not without a provocative gesture directed at a particularly agitated theological student, an incident that later earned him a mention in the satirical magazine Private Eye. The episode highlights the intense political climate of the time, particularly among radical student factions. Some members of the student left resorted to chanting derogatory slogans such as "Hitler Healey," reflecting the deep-seated animosity towards the then Defence Secretary. This animosity was emblematic of a broader discontent with the Labour Party, which had yet to establish itself as the preferred political choice for the younger, educated demographic. Healey's response to the protests was marked by a sense of mockery, showcasing his characteristic wit in the face of hostility. This incident serves as a reminder of the turbulent relationship between political figures and student activists during a period of significant social upheaval in Britain. It also underscores the evolving dynamics of political allegiance among the youth, which would later shift in favour of the Labour Party.