Ditch the Labour cynics

Fight For Socialist Change

LABOUR UNVEILED parts of its election programme last week saying the biggest threat to them winning a second term is voters’ cynicism.

Blair said the prospect of Hague, Portillo and Widdecombe forming a government was enough to stir any voter from their apathy and go out and vote. But who will working-class people vote for?

We’re rightly cynical about this New Labour government. But we’re also angry at it too and we’re certainly not apathetic.

We’re angry because Blair said New Labour wouldn’t enjoy the trappings of power but the Irvine scandal shows New Labour are just as sleazy as the Tories.

Workers know that it’s Labour that’s practised the cynical deception of promising things would get better after 18 years of Toryism.

And when Labour claim to be the practical party of British politics, workers now see them as the party that has ‘practically’ continued the Tories’ pro-big business policies, which devastate the economy, NHS, education and other services. (see pages 3 and 5)

Is it any wonder working-class people are ‘cynical’ when Labour lines big business’s pockets so eagerly? Blair talks tough about drug dealers but lets the pharmaceutical and tobacco companies make billions from people’s suffering. (see page 3)

Blair claims that like the British people he “is restless for change”. But why hasn’t he used his massive majority to carry out fundamental change that benefits millions of working-class people currently living below the poverty line?

Jack Straw says Labour will give larger compensation to victims of crime. But what about compensation for the economic muggings people suffer daily from the petrol companies, the utilities the rail companies and the banks and financial institutions.

The Socialist doesn’t want to see the Tories returned. They are just as cynical as Labour.

But why should Labour be given a second chance? How can we stop them offering more of the same?

Sleaze-free Socialist candidates will be standing in the election as workers’ MPs on workers’ wages. They will strive to carry out anti-capitalist policies that benefit working-class people.

They may not win a majority at the election but if some are elected then they will make Labour sit up and listen.