Cheri and Tony Blair: New Labour's manifesto makes grim reading IT COMES as no surThe anti-union laws have criminalisco workers acrence against management.
The welfare state is under constant attack. Hospitals have been privatised and closed. Parents have to pay for books and other basics for their children's education. Those on benefits live in real poverty. The homeless sleep under bridges.
When it seems it cannot get worse, it does.
MP vote themselves massive pay hikes and a further public sector pay freeze looms. The Tories amend the Asylum and Immigration Bill to make sure that thousands of refugees are denied benefit. Major presides over a vicious attack on the nationalist community In the six countes.
Heseltine promises the Tory Manifesto will bring an end to Royal Mail's monopoly. Kenneth Clarke's minions dream up further policies to dismantle the welfare state.
The Tories must be removed. A further term would lead to further devastation of working people's rights and living standards. WORKING PEOPLE have suffered blow after blow during 17 years of Tory rule. Unemployment has soared. Those in work are pushed to breaking.
The list of Tory attacks is endless. No wonder Labour has such a lead in the polls.
But New Labour's manifesto makes grim reading. It promises very little.
Many labour movement actvists recognise how few Tory policies Blair will reverse.
It is no accident that, despite the weakness of the Labour left, new Socialist Campaign groups are being set up in many areas.
Left activists in the unions are starting to prepare a new Broad Left federation which will be much needed under a Labour government.
Another promising sign is the broad support that is beginning to build for the European march for jobs. The mobilisation against unemployment and for welfare provision can oraw in new torces.
It will be particularly timely if, as is likely, it co-incides with the general election campaign. This autumn's march in defence of the welfare state can be an important launch pad for the European campaign.
All these initiatives are vital. So too is sondarity wit postal workers, the Liverpool dockers and other workers on strike: but they are not enough Something is missing.
It is necessary to build a bridge between ine crucial work around these Issues and the fight to elect a Labour This is why the Socialist Campaign Group (supporters' network) has called for a Socialist Campaign for a Labour Victory (SCLV). The left must have its own independent voice in calling for a Labour vote. Support for struggles and campaigns must not be sidelined in electoral frenzy. The political focus the election will bring must be used to bring new people into activity.
This is why Socialist Outlook wholeheartedly supports a Socialist Campaign for a Labour Victory.