Let's talk, Peter Hain

1754 hrs in the Southampton University Staff Club (More on that later) and in walks, Minister for State and Northern Ireland, Peter Hain MP.

He is here as a guest of the Labour Club (Don't ask) Southampton University. The Woman's officer for the labour club, introduces the speaker, covers briefly his ministerial career.

Peter lets us know he flew in to Southampton international from Belfast. Recalling his first time here in 1966, at 16 from South Africa and illustrates his personal opression at the hands of the regime wanting to ban the actions of those who campainged against the racist infrastructure.

Illustrating the actions against his family. He speaks in a very honest and succinct way of the "Orwellian days" of the old times in Pretoria. He talks of the actions and roles of young people in effecting change, citing the Stop the Tour campaign and whilst calling some actions "none violent" a rather humorous story of the Springbox tour in that period of History.

Peter hopes all those present will become members of the Labour Party, apparently that's the natural parliamentary arm of campaigners who support the likes of Make Poverty history, Fair trade etc.

Moving on to talking about his current role as Northern Island minister. The difficulty of the Good Friday agreement back in 1997. Meeting for the first time the political wings of the Republican parties in the region. "We've seen an incredible transformation in the past 18 months." That'll be after Mo Mowlam died then... harsh.