THE WIRRAL by-election has sounded Major's deathknell. The wake on May 1 will be deserted, as his fellow Tories gear up for the next stage of the already open battle for his successor.
Stephen Dorrell's breach of party line in commenting that Britain will definitely not join European Monetary Union in 1999 is the latest salvo in that war. He demonstrates a disregard for the impact on his party's electoral showing, despite the fact he is sup posedly the Prime Minister's favoured successor Major himself has publically admitted that it opinion doesn't change we are going to have a La. party line is that the 17.2 per cent swing to Labour was the result of "byclection culture, but the des. perate tone of their statements sug gests even they do not believe this.
They know fine well that the electorate in the Wirral have delivered a guilty verdict against this government which will be repeated across the country come AS THE seemingly inevitable May.
While Labour certainly cannot count on the same margin of success in the General election itself, their victory does seem a foregone conclusion. Of course Prescott and the others tell us not to be complacent but the champagne has al. ready been flowing.
Summer budget
Major's attempts to point outes Soose decaces Deleca Blair and Prescott, and his focus on a summer budget seem fated to as poster campaign attacking LaNor is it easy to imagine Major pulling a Paikianos war rabbit from his sleeve at this stage in the proceedings.
If the Tories' fate is sealed, what then have the rest of us to look forward to undera Blair government.
The negative Labour campaigning in Wirral gives us little cause for optimism. The gymnastics over grammar schools - With Labour pledging that abolition would only go through if existing parents with been offered to the NHS unions by No more happy returns to No. 10 children at those schools wanted it - gives the lie to the idea that Blunkelt and his team care even one hoot about the future of education.
We have also been told that as. sisted places won't be phased out "straight away". If this is a priority area for Labour it is not one in Blair government. which the reality of working class improvement.
mis palacuc periormance on education mirrors so much that has been spewed out by the New Labour machine. In every arca of life, over jobs, benefits and services the Labour leadership is intent on making clear that Blair in Number Despite the fact that there is litbank crew will reverse the ravages Tory destruction, the need for socransts to actrecay support the cice tion of a Labour government Those in the trade unions and the party who have opposed strug gles, hiding behind the fig-leaf of arguing that all struggles must be subordinated to that goal will be disarmed in the face of new attacks that will then follow.
Those that have been conned and cowered into following them will be much more open to discuss new ideas fending their interests both at work and in the community.
LU dundancies Smith personally may not like the new line on PFi, but his views don't really matter. He appears to be just the latest of a succession of Shadow Health Secretaries who didn't want the iob and doesn't want to take over from Dorrell afare that the job might go to high flying Blairite Tessa Jowell - who is sponsored by the RCN!
Ridiculous
On every front, the public sector union leaders are being made to look ridiculous by Blair's team in front of their members and the wider public. They clearly don't like it. Never before have national union officials been so scathing SOUL HOSS OROOH Labour in the run-up to an election.
They also have a sense of real foreboding. hey know there is a good chance that their humiliation will be compounded at this vear's Labour conference, if Blair opts to still hot, and cut the party's links with Ine unions.
As UNISON's London ConveDespite Blair's successes so far over the NEC proposals to further acuter ine party and unions - 3n0 behind that, the even more crucial war over ine whole existence of the trade union link - remain to be decided.
Hatred
Wirral demonstrated the hatred of millions of people for the To. ries. Small lett parties, like the So cialist Labour Party, who made a rather poor showing in Wirral, are likely to be very squeezed in this Only where they have a genuine and significant local base will they be able to achieve the task that is vial along with tae ciccuon of a Labour government - the preparation of the basis for a real fightback against the new attacks that we will fa ever the coming weeks in the run up to the General Election Socialiss Outlook sapporters will doall in their power to build those campaigns and actions that can best fulfill this task. We call on all socialists to join us in that fight. nor Geoff Martin has summed up "The "give and take" relationship between the party and the unions means that the unions give Blain the money and Blair takes the PISS Although they may be excluded Dy New Labour, Sooner or tater tae unions will have to face up to the neca for their own pontical voice. The millions in political funds offer the opportunity to fight politically for the interests of union members, irrespective of the pressure from Blair's barmy army in Millbank. Among the policies that will demand attention is a turn back to socialism Clause Four.
Ine expecico Labour goncymoon has not yet been completely It is vital that this ycars union comerences xcep tac heat on the bureaucrats who have occa so publiciy snarica of Blair, pressing for policies to defend jobs, union rights and living standards.
That, after all, is why millions will be voting to kick out the To. ries.