The highlight of the last ever MSF conference was the debate on Iraq, where the composite motion to affiliate to the Stop the War Coalition was carried.
This was a pleasing slap in the face for General Secretary Roger Lyons, who in March this year had sent a letter to branches telling them they were forbidden from affiliating to the Coalition - on the basis of what he had the audacity to claim was TUC policy.
One rightwinger claimed in the debate that "Stop the War aim to overthrow the British Government and close the entire UK defence industry", while the NEC also wheeled out a fulltimer who is also Iraqi, hoping that he would succeed in getting the motion thrown out.
Conference supported affiliation, although unfortunately an amendment to make a donation of £1000 was lost - by only 27 votes
Other aspects of conference were less positive for the left, as the right won both President and Vice President elections despite the fact that their candidates were dull as ditchwater.
While it had been clear for some time that there would be no chance of overturning the undemocratic rule book for the merged union - agreed on a 3:I vote - this will be a barrier the left will fight on anoth er day. The next focus for organising will be the NEC elections for the new union this autumn.