The RFMC operated from 1980 to 1981, during which time it defended the mandatory reselection of MPs (won at the 1979 Party Conference), secured an electoral college for the election of Labour Leaders and provided the organising base for Tony Benn's 1981 Deputy Leadership campaign, which narrowly lost with 49.6% of the vote.
In the evening we had a party, a sort of new left gathering, with Frances, Ken Livingstone of the GLC, Victor Schonfield, Audrey Wise, Tom Litterick, Chris Mullin, James Curran, a lecturer at PCL, his wife Margaret, George Osgerby, one of James's Students, Dick Clements and Biddy, Geoff Bish [then head of the Labour Party research department],[3] Dawn Primarolo, Jon Lansman of CLPD, Peter Hain and others.
"[4]The groups brought together as RFMC had extensive disagreements on general political aims and tactics, however they were united in their desire for greater democracy within the Labour Party and all recognised that collaboration would increase their chances of success.
It is a struggle for a Party whose election promises are offered in good faith and whose bid for the vote of the working people is accompanied by an uncompromising loyalty to their interests.
[2] RFMC printed 10,000 copies of the campaigning broadsheet "Mobilise for Labour Democracy" which included a statement of aims from Tony Benn, articles setting out the case for democratic reforms of the party and descriptions for how activists could get involved in selling the broadsheet, organising meetings and passing resolutions in their Labour Party and Trade Union branches.
Throughout the country, party and trade union activists are meeting on their own initiatives to organise rallies, to distribute our broadsheet "Mobilise for Labour Democracy" and to ensure that motions are sent to conference on the democratic issues.
The RFMC has been described by Labour historians as providing the "main base for the campaign to elect Tony Benn as the Party's Deputy Leader".