Campaigner for Labour democracy whose reforms required MPs to seek reselection
Vladimir Derer, who has died aged 95, was for many years one of the most influential, but least known, figures on the Labour left. A quietly spoken, self-effacing man, he was a founder member and the principal tactician of the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy (CPLD), which was the driving force behind controversial attempts in the 1970s and 80s to make Labour MPs more accountable to the party membership.
In 1973, prompted by the disappointments of the governments of Harold Wilson, Derer and his wife, Vera, with a handful of other Labour activists, founded the CLPD. Their house in Golders Green, north London, became the organisation's headquarters and remained so for the next 25 years.
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