Peter Tatchell and the Bermondsey by-election
Peter Tatchell and the Bermondsey by-election
Date: 1983
Object number: PRA470
DescriptionThese campaign flyers are from Peter Tatchell's 1983 campaign as the Labour candidate in the Southwark Bermondsey parliamentary by-election following the resignation of Labour MP Bob Mellish. He was pitted head to head with Liberal MP Simon Hughes whose party waged a dirty battle and smear campaign against Tatchell. Hughes won the election in the end, but the campaign is now remembered for the homophobia embodied in the Liberals' unattributed flyer 'Which Queen Will You Vote For?', which showed an image of Queen Elizabeth II alongside one of 'Red Pete Tatchell', painting Tatchell as an unpatriotic deserter, and directing readers to visit him at his house, listing his home address on the flyer. In 2016 lifelong rights-activist Peter Tatchell said in his career so far he has been "beaten up 300 times and had 50 bricks" thrown through his window, but that is was worth it as he has "had the great privilege and honour of supporting successful campaigns to end apartheid, the poll tax, anti-gay laws, Soviet tyranny, the ban on protests outside parliament, ID cards, the Vietnam War and the prohibition of same-sex marriage.”
In Theme(s)