Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/386/4361
From The Socialist newspaper, 2 April 2005
Liar Blair must go!
Fight for a socialist alternative
THE general election is now just a few weeks away. Many people will regard this prospect with complete indifference. The contest will be seen as an unprincipled fight between different parties of liars. Tony Blair in particular has a big reputation for lying.
Iraq
Blair's reputation comes largely from the war and occupation of Iraq, which has killed tens of thousands of Iraqis. The occupation's economic costs are also spiralling out of control.
Recent revelations suggest that Blair's senior New Labour friends put "huge pressure" on attorney general Lord Goldsmith to lie by declaring the war 'legal' before Bush went in, back in 2003. But war's not the only thing Blair and Co are deceiving us on.
Economy
Chancellor Gordon Brown says Britain's economy has been healthy for the longest period for 300 years! But a million jobs in manufacturing industry have disappeared in the eight years since Blair came to power.
Britain's capitalist class have managed to lower both factory production and business investment. And economic 'experts' all agree that Brown will have to raise taxes or cut spending - or even both - after the election.
Health
Blair boasts about record levels of health spending. But a lot of that increase is lining private profiteers' pockets through Private Finance Initiative deals. Meanwhile the trusts running the hospitals face huge budget deficits.
Blair and Co. want us, the public, to pay for worsening services, while health workers are asked to treat more patients, faster, in hospitals with fewer beds!
Education
Again record spending is claimed. But where's the money going? Huge amounts are being wasted on Blair's beloved 'city academies'. These divisive schools entice wealthy individuals or corporations to put up to £2 million into them, then give these millionaires the right to do what they like. The rest of the cost will be met from government - i.e. taxpayers' money.
And as a teacher said at the National Union of Teachers conference, these academies would "hamper the drive to raise standards for all children''.
In some areas voters can choose a Socialist Party or other socialist or anti-privatisation candidate. They can make a real choice. Whether you're one of those voters, or whether you face a ballot paper with different forms of capitalist and liar, get involved. Join the Socialist Party and join our fight for a real future.
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In The Socialist 2 April 2005:
No PFI or hospital closures in Bristol!
General election - main parties offer no solutions
Asylum and immigration - what we're thinking
Judge backs false imprisonment of May Day protesters
Kyrgyzstan and the ‘Tulip revolution’
Delegates vote to keep up pressure over pensions
Pensions: postal workers must show solidarity
Fighting cuts at the Housing Corporation
College lecturers fight for pay deal
UNISON National Executive Council elections
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