As we gear up for a general election at the end of the year, and prepare to be inundated with more political slogans, here’s some nostalgic images of the Labour Women’s Conference when it was held in Southend.

The event was held in May of 1967 at the Cliffs Pavilion and as you can see from the images, the slogan of the time was ‘win through with Labour’.

Echo: Crowded - the Cliffs Pavilion was packed out for the conferenceCrowded - the Cliffs Pavilion was packed out for the conference (Image: Newsquest)

The conference saw female delegates discussing issues such as heath, education, law and reform as well as the price of food and shopping.

Among the notable attendees were Labour statesman Harold Wilson, then the Prime Minister of Great Britain, who arrived in the town by railway and Barbara Castle, then the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Employment.

Echo: Prime guest - Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, arrives at the conferencePrime guest - Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, arrives at the conference (Image: Newsquest)

Jim Callaghan, then the Chancellor of the Exchequer was also a VIP guest.

At times the conference got a bit heated, especially when many delegates disagreed with the official party line that prices hadn’t gone up.

Echo: Welcome - Southend mayor Bert Davis welcomes Barbara Castle at Victoria StationWelcome - Southend mayor Bert Davis welcomes Barbara Castle at Victoria Station (Image: Newsquest)

One of the several resolutions passed at the conference was that women should have better access to contraception and cervical cancer screening.

These were tough economic times. Just six months after these photos were taken, the Government devalued the pound.

Echo: Speech- a delegate takes the microphone at the eventSpeech- a delegate takes the microphone at the event (Image: Newsquest)

In the wake of the decision, Wilson moved Callaghan to the role of Home Secretary.

Scroll down to see more photos from our archive

Echo: Important - women came from all over the country for the eventImportant - women came from all over the country for the event (Image: Newsquest)Echo: Girl power - some of the speakers at the conference pose for a photoGirl power - some of the speakers at the conference pose for a photo (Image: Newsquest)Echo: Thanks for coming - the mayor of Southend Bert Davis opens the conferenceThanks for coming - the mayor of Southend Bert Davis opens the conference (Image: Newsquest)Echo: Catching up - Jim Callaghan chats to fellow Labour supporters on the platform at Southend VictoriaCatching up - Jim Callaghan chats to fellow Labour supporters on the platform at Southend Victoria (Image: Newsquest)