It's no exaggeration to say that I owe my start in politics to the G M B  because after having worked, as Dick said, for the G M B for a number of years  it was the support of the G M B which helped me win the nomination for Chesterly Street and in the early eighties I can remember when er the Labour Party was going through a difficult period  it was officials and members of the G M B who were a steadying influence in my constituency, as they have been ever since.