LABOUR NEEDS CHANGE

Parliamentary column 9 www.rmt.org.uk :: june 2006 :: RMTnews It has been over two months since we launched the campaign for the leadership of the Labour party. Above all, we wanted to ensure that there would be no coronation of an appointed New Labour successor which would deny party members and trade unionists a say in the future direction of the party. A change in leadership must mean a radical change in policies – otherwise Labour faces near-certain defeat at the hands of Cameron’s Tories at the next election. There is a clear choice between my policies and those of New Labour. A victory for a New Labour candidate will mean more privatisation of public services and billions more wasted on lining the pockets of private contractors. British trade union rights will continue to rank among the worst in Europe and millions of workers will continue to be paid poverty wages. More working-class kids will be deterred from going to university by mounting debt. Even more British troops will be sent to die in the illegal wars of the US neo-conservatives. If we win, there will be an immediate end to privatisation. Public services such as the railways and the London Underground will be returned to public ownership, with representation for workers and users on management boards. My government will restore trade union rights and all workers will be paid a real living wage. University tuition fees will be abolished in favour of maintenance grants for all who wish to study. We will withdraw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and establish an independent foreign policy based upon peace. These aren’t fringe policies supported by a tiny minority. Opinion poll after opinion poll has shown that these are policies supported by the majority of the British people. It is Labour party policy to end the privatisation of the NHS, restore trade union rights and support the ‘fourth option’ of direct investment in council housing. The leaderships of the three main parties are alone in supporting policies of war and privatisation. That is why it is crucial that there is a candidate who represents the views of millions of people who have been left out in the cold by the Westminster elite. This campaign is gaining momentum by the day. Over the coming few months, I will be addressing public meetings across the country in order to build grassroots support for a change in the political direction of the Labour party. We are calling for members of affiliated trade unions to use their vote to support a candidate who supports their union’s policies, and for people to rejoin the Labour party in order to have a vote. We have been overwhelmed by the support we have already gained right across the labour movement. We are confident that, if we secure the required nominations from MPs, we have a realistic possibility of winning this campaign. RMT members could play a critical role in helping us to win. A large number of members and their families are still members of the Labour party and have widespread influence in local CLPs and in their relationship with local Labour MPs. If you are not a member of the Labour party, we are asking you to consider joining in order to have a say in this historic election. In addition, please help us to organise local campaigns, such as local meetings, street stalls, and the distribution of our policy materials. Just imagine what a difference a Labour leader elected on these policies could make. This is a battle that we can win together. I hope you that you will join us. John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington www.john4leader.org.uk LABOUR NEEDS CHANGE LAME DUCK PRIME MINISTER HECKLED P RIME Minister Tony Blair faced an unprecedented barrage of walkouts, catcalls and boos from a hostile TUC congress. Blair received a terse round of applause after delivering a speech which called for more privatisation mixed with demands that Britain should back the US- led "war on terror." As Mr Blair began, a number of delegations booed and held up placards ordering him to "go now". Others demanded "public services not private profit," "troops out" and pointed out that it was "time to go" for the embattled Prime Minister. Mr Blair's opening words were met by a mass walkout by RMT delegates as audience members in the gallery jeered and shouted "shame on you". Bob Crow told reporters that the delegation had decided to walk out as Blair’s government had attacked workers, privatised more industries than Margaret Thatcher and launched a number of wars that were illegal under international law. In the hall, the lame- duck PM refused to discuss the Iraq war and faced a series of angry questions about his government's obsession with privatisation and its refusal to help British manufacturing or strengthen workers' rights.