 In 1961 Bessie 's aldermanic term on Liverpool 's council expired . That year , the Conservatives briefly took control of the council , and used their majority to block her reappointment . This ended 31 years ' service on the council . In 1963 , when Labour regained control , she did not seek re @-@ instatement . The year 1963 saw the publication of The Braddocks , in which Bessie made a sustained attack on communism and Trotskyism : " The purpose of this book is to bring home to the rank and file how wide that influence is ... unless positive steps are taken by the workers themselves ... democracy will be dead " . Reviewing the book for the Socialist Standard , Lawrence <unk> thought it gave a useful picture of early 20th century working @-@ class life in Liverpool , but concluded that " from the evidence of this book the Braddocks qualified fully for the role of blind leaders of the blind " . 
