constitution as Blair's ability to dictate to the Party. The much-vaunted great exercise in democracy is in fact it is in fact a travesty of democracy. In reality has everything do with marginalising and attempting to commit Labour supporters to a recognition that they cannot expect to go beyond the manifesto promises.
Announcing the change in policy for Scotland and Wales a week before was intended as a diversion. It allowed objectors to let off steam well in advance of the launch of the manifesto, to avoid detracting from the great PR exercise. The fact that some had protested loudly at this sell-out was then used by Blair to float the idea of centrally controlled register of acceptable parliamentary candidates which would leave the awkward squad out in the cold. A sanitised Party for a sanitised manifesto.
The manifesto contains no great surprises. Most of the policy proposals have been public for some time - what is new is the synthesis.
It wants to 'restore a central role for Britain in Europe', 'keep key elements of trade union laws of the 1980s on ballots, picketing and industrial action', WU