The level of power and control Militant wielded over the rest of the Labour Council has led to a perception that it formed a larger numerical group than it actually was. In fact Militant members formed a relatively small group of 13 out of a total of 49 Labour councillors who were surcharged (workshop interviews 2011). However, their influence during these years is not disputed. Sometimes Militant's perspectives were in tune with the wider left, sometimes not. Thus, Militant's influence meant that Liverpool never became a ‘nuclear free’ council (leaving it out of sync with other left Labour councils) despite wide support for this within Liverpool Council. Peter Kilfoyle explains that whilst ‘there was a strong anti-nuclear element within Labour, they (Militant) believed in the workers bomb’ (Peter Kilfoyle interviewed 2012). As we discuss in some detail below, there were significant differences between Militant and the Broad Left on issues of race and gender. Yet, there were many other areas upon which the Broad Left and Militant were united, including the massive house building programme. Indeed, Militant and the wider Labour council had much support within Liverpool, particularly in the early days, cemented by the wider resistance to Thatcherism. However, in time, this unity would begin to show cracks. Allegations of bullying and intimidation began to be made and controversy surrounding the appointment of fellow Militant, Sampson Bond, to the post of Principal Race Relations Adviser in 1984, saw this unity irrevocably broken. Bond, more than anything else led to seismic splits within the Labour group and beyond, leaving a huge cavern and long-term damage in relations with important sections of supporters (notably NALGO and the Black Caucus).

The early days of Liverpool's Labour Council was marked by a sense of optimism and unity. Here was a Labour council resisting Tory cuts and savage attacks on the working class. Militant was spearheading this fight back and had broad-based support. Louise Ellman, leader of Lancashire County Council at the time remembers: