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The attack by Israeli military forces on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla is a fascist murderous war crime perpetrated by a fascist state bent on the genocide of the Palestinian people. People around the world have been shocked and horrified by the reports of the slaughter of up to 20 people delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza The Gaza Freedom Flotilla was a humanitarian aid mission carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid to the besieged city of Gaza. The blockade of Gaza is illegal under International law. The flotilla organisers had repeatedly declared their peaceful intent.

This murderous attack took place in international waters, in breach of international law.The eyes of the world are upon the governments of the world. those governments who do not resolutely condemn and take action against these barbaric acts will stand equally condemned.

It is with deep regret that we note the death of former National Union Of Mineworkers general secretary Peter Heathfield who passed away after a long illness on 4th May 2010.

Peter was a close ally of Arthur Scargill who along with Mick McGahey formed the heart of the leadership of the NUM during the miners’ strike of 1984/85.

Like Arthur, Peter was vilified and slandered by the bourgeois media. Roy Greenslade, while editor of the Daily Mirror which was responsible for accusations of ‘financial irregularity’, was later to offer a public apology to both Scargill and Heathfield claiming he had been ‘misled’. But the disgraceful role of the media was not forgotten or forgiven. Peter said: "I never imagined I would have to face the kind of pressure that I experienced during the year-long strike, but the animosity and vilification that has emerged in large sections of the media during the past four months has been pretty overpowering."

In the Guardian obituary for Peter it was noted that “It became obvious that there had been a deliberate attempt to vilify both NUM leaders” and “very possibly with some secret political involvement in a bid to finally discredit and destroy the union leadership.”

Despite distasteful pressure put on Peter by sections of the media later in his life to turn against his old comrades he adamantly refused to do so, regardless of the substantial amounts of money that was purportedly offered. Peter and Arthur remained close friends to the very end.

Peter Heathfield was elected general secretary of the NUM in 1984 and served until his retirement in 1992.

There will be no funeral arrangements; Peter’s body will be donated to science. However, a commemoration will be held at 2pm on 30^th June at the Chesterfield Miners’ Welfare, Chester Street, Chesterfield S40 IDL.

Arthur Scargill, Leader of the Socialist Labour Party, speaking at the Hay-on-Wye Festival on Saturday 24 May 2008, called for world-wide sanctions against Israel and an international boycott of all Israeli goods.

He urged people everywhere to boycott Israeli goods in the same way as they boycotted South African goods during the years of apartheid.

He reminded his audience that Israel was an artificially created state and that only 20% of its Jewish population was born in that region, the same percentage as Arab population born in that region.

He said the daily slaughter by the fascist state of Israel against the people of Palestine should be condemned throughout the world.

He said Arab states should practise what they preach and called on all Arab states to cut off contact with Israel and, as a first step, cease supplying Israel with oil and gas, an action which would have real impact and help to force Israel to withdraw from Palestinian territory it has occupied unlawfully and in violation of United Nations’ resolutions since 1967.

Arthur Scargill, Leader of the Socialist Labour Party - whose great-grandparents were Irish - speaking at the Hay-on-Wye Festival on Saturday, said it would be an act of unparalleled betrayal if Ireland, having fought for centuries to win independence, were now to hand over that independence to unelected bureaucrats in Brussels.

He said support for the Treaty of Lisbon would represent a betrayal of those who fought and those who died for Irish independence including the martyrs of 1916 and would also be a monumental betrayal of future generations in Ireland.

He called on all Irish people in the referendum on 12 June to record a massive “No” vote and retain Ireland’s independence.

RECLAIM OUR ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

TODAY IS THE 12^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RE-FOUNDING OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR PARTY, A PARTY ORIGINALLY FOUNDED BY THE LEGENDARY JAMES CONNOLLY IN 1903.

IT IS ALSO THE 82^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1926 GENERAL STRIKE, THE 24^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HISTORIC 1984/85 MINERS’ STRIKE AND THE 92^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EASTER RISING IN IRELAND IN 1916.

POVERTY

WE MEET AT A TIME WHEN BRITAIN AND THE WORLD ARE FACING AN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CRISIS ON A SCALE SIMILAR TO THAT IN THE WALL STREET CRASH AND THE MASS UNEMPLOYMENT OF THE 1930s.

IN BRITAIN TODAY, TEN MILLION PEOPLE LIVE ON OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE - OVER ONE MILLION CHILDREN - ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL STATISTICS - DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH FOOD AND ARE CATEGORISED BY THE AUTHORITIES AS “GOING HUNGRY”. OVER ONE AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE ARE ON HOUSING WAITING LISTS AND OVER ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE REGARDED AS BEING HOMELESS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION BUILDING WORKERS UNEMPLOYED.

ENERGY AND FOOD COSTS

ENERGY AND FOOD COSTS HAVE ROCKETED AND THOUSANDS ARE NOW FACING THEIR OWN “ECONOMIC CRISIS” - - THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE THREATENED WITH THE REPOSSESSION OF THEIR HOMES BECAUSE INTEREST RATES HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ROOF.

CRISIS OF CAPITALISM

OUR ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CRISIS HAS NOT BEEN CAUSED BY SOME SLIGHT DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMIC MARKET. IT HAS BEEN CAUSED BY THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM WHICH IS IN CRISIS AS A RESULT OF THE EU AND GLOBALISATION.

DISILLUSIONMENT WITH POLITICS AND POLITICIANS

TODAY, PEOPLE ARE DISILLUSIONED WITH POLITICS AND POLITICIANS. THEY SAY - UNDERSTANDABLY - THAT THEY ARE ALL THE SAME AND, IN THE CASE OF THE TORIES, NEW LABOUR AND THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS, THEY ARE ALL THE SAME.

ALL THREE MAJOR PARTIES SUPPORT THE FREE MARKET, THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND GLOBALISATION. TODAY, ALL THREE PARTIES ARE THE SAME AND AS TONY BENN SAID, THE LABOUR PARTY HAS NEVER BEEN A SOCIALIST PARTY - - IT HAS ONLY BEEN A PARTY WITH SOME SOCIALISTS IN IT.

ALL THREE PARTIES APPEAR OBLIVIOUS TO THE POVERTY AND CRISIS WHICH WORKING PEOPLE HAVE TO FACE. THE SCRAPPING OF THE 10p TAX BAND WAS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF THE DESIRE OF GORDON BROWN AND NEW LABOUR TO SUPPORT PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AT THE EXPENSE OF WORKING PEOPLE AND PENSIONERS.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS HAVE ALSO GOT POWERFUL POLITICAL OVERTONES. AS A RESULT, WE SEE THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUALLY USING DIFFERENT FIGURES AS A MEANS OF CONFUSING PEOPLE AND HIDING THE IMPACT OF THE CRISIS.

RETAIL PRICE INDEX - CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPR)

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MEDIA NO LONGER USE THE INCREASE IN THE RETAIL PRICE INDEX AS A MEASURE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH OR SLUMP. THEY USE A NEW SYSTEM WHICH THE MEDIA - POODLE-LIKE - HAVE MEEKLY ACCEPTED. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD MISS ITS ECONOMIC TARGET, IT SAID THAT INFLATION WAS 3% WHEN IN FACT THE INCREASE IN THE RETAIL PRICE INDEX - WHICH IS A FAR MORE ACCURATE MEASURE FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE - HAD RISEN TO 4.2%.

CRISIS

THE GOVERNMENT ALSO DELIBERATELY MISLEAD THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE REAL LEVEL OF UNEMPLOYMENT, THE STATE OF THE NHS, PENSIONS, EDUCATION, HOUSING, TRANSPORT, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT, MILITARY EXPENDITURE, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND TAXATION. THIS IS ALL DONE IN ORDER TO CONFUSE AND IT PROVIDES AN IDEAL BREEDING GROUND FOR RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA, HENCE THE GROWTH THROUGHOUT EUROPE OF THE FAR RIGHT EXACTLY AS WE SAW IN THE 1930s IN SPAIN, ITALY AND GERMANY AT A COST OF NEARLY 40 MILLION LIVES IN THE COURSE OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND THE DESPERATE FIGHT AGAINST FASCISM.

UNEMPLOYMENT

THE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT FIGURE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT IN 2008 WAS ONE AND A HALF MILLION.

HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE ROWNTREE FOUNDATION TRUST, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE OF WORKING AGE i.e. BETWEEN 16 AND 65 WHO DO NOT HAVE A JOB IS 6 MILLION.

WE COULD HAVE FULL EMPLOYMENT PROVIDED WE INTRODUCE A FOUR-DAY WORKING WEEK, A BAN ON NON-ESSENTIAL OVERTIME AND VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT ON FULL PAY AT AGE 55.

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

THE SLP SAID IN 1996 THAT BRITAIN’S NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE WHICH AT THAT TIME COST £33 BILLION PER YEAR SHOULD BE INCREASED BY £15 BILLION PER YEAR.

WE CALLED FOR AN END TO ALL PRIVATE HEALTH CARE - IN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE SPENT £300 MILLION ON OUTSIDE PRIVATE CONSULTANTS, CONSULTANTS WHO SHOULD WORK EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE.

IF THE EXPENDITURE THE SLP PROPOSED SPENDING ON THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE IN 1996 HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT, THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON BRITAIN’S NHS IN 2008 WOULD HAVE BEEN £213 BILLION.

THIS SUM IS FAR IN EXCESS OF THE MEAGRE £95 BILLION ALLOCATED BY A LABOUR GOVERNMENT WHOSE PREOCCUPATION APPEARS TO BE THE PRIVATISATION OF THE HEALTH SERVICE RATHER THAN ADEQUATE AND PROPER FUNDING IN THE 21^ST CENTURY.

THE COST OF THE NHS COULD EASILY BE MET OUT OF THE ANNUAL PROFITS OF BRITAIN’S TOP FIVE BANKS AND TOP FIVE OIL COMPANIES. THIS PROFIT SHOULD BE GOING TO THE HEALTH OF THE NATION AND TO THOSE IN NEED AND NOT TO PRIVATE SHAREHOLDERS.

PENSIONS

THE SLP DEMANDED IN 1996 THAT THE “LINK” BETWEEN PENSION INCREASES AND THE INCREASE IN WAGES/SALARIES OR THE RETAIL PRICE INDEX – WHICHEVER WAS THE HIGHER – SHOULD BE RESTORED. TO RESTORE THE LINK WOULD MEAN A 40% INCREASE FOR PENSIONERS AND COST £12 BILLION, AN AMOUNT WHICH COULD BE EASILY MET IF BRITAIN WITHDREW FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION.

WE DEMAND A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN STATE PENSIONS SO THAT WHEN A PERSON RETIRES, HE/SHE SHOULD RECEIVE A PENSION EQUAL TO THE CURRENT AVERAGE MEDIAN WAGE IN BRITAIN - £24,000 PER YEAR - INDEX-LINKED SO THAT ITS VALUE WILL BE MAINTAINED.

EUROPEAN UNION

THE EUROPEAN UNION WAS ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS THE EUROPEAN COMMON MARKET. THE CONCEPT OF A EUROPEAN COMMON MARKET OR EUROPEAN UNION WAS ESTABLISHED NOT AS AN ECONOMIC MARKET BUT AS A POLITICAL UNION AND WAS SUPPORTED BY WINSTON CHURCHILL AND ROBERT SCHUMANN, THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, WHO OPENLY DECLARED THAT THE AIM WAS TO CREATE A UNITED STATES OF EUROPE.

THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE MAJOR TREATIES SINCE 1951. THE TREATY OF PARIS ON 18 APRIL 1951 ESTABLISHED THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY WHOSE REAL AIM WAS TO DESTROY THE COAL MINING INDUSTRY WITHIN THE NEW EUROPEAN COMMON MARKET.

IF BRITAIN AND OTHER NATIONS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION HAD RETAINED THEIR COAL INDUSTRIES AND UTILISED THE COAL AND STEEL IN A CLEAN AND ACCEPTABLE WAY, WE WOULD NOT BE FACING AN ENERGY SHORTAGE AND IN BRITAIN WE WOULD HAVE ALL THE OIL, GAS, PETROCHEMICALS AND FUEL OIL TO BE COMPLETELY SELF-SUFFICIENT WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND BILLIONS ON AN UNSTABLE SUPPLY SYSTEM FROM THE FORMER SOVIET UNION AND THE MIDDLE EAST.

THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR VICIOUS CUTBACKS IN PUBLIC SERVICES, NATIONALISED AND MUNICIPAL OWNED ENTERPRISES WITH THE RESULT THAT WE HAVE SEEN UNEMPLOYMENT SOAR AND SERVICES DRAMATICALLY DECLINE.

EDUCATION

THE SLP ARGUED IN 1996 THAT WE HAD TO TACKLE EDUCATION ROOT AND BRANCH. WE NEED TO ABOLISH ALL PRIVATE AND FAITH SCHOOLS AND ENSURE THAT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

THIS REQUIRES AN ANNUAL INVESTMENT OF £10 BILLION PER YEAR, A SUM WHICH CAN EASILY BE PAID FOR OUT OF THE £200 BILLION ANNUAL PROFITS OF BRITAIN’S PRIVATISED INDUSTRIES AND SERVICES. IF THE SLP’S POLICY HAD BEEN ADOPTED, EDUCATION INVESTMENT TODAY WOULD BE £97 BILLION COMPARED WITH THE £75 BILLION ALLOCATED BY NEW LABOUR.

HOUSING

THE SLP CALLED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO BUILD OR REFURBISH ONE MILLION HOUSES PER YEAR, A POLICY WHICH WOULD HAVE ERADICATED HOMELESSNESS WITHIN FIVE YEARS.

TWELVE YEARS LATER WE FACE A MAJOR CRISIS WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITHOUT A HOME, THOUSANDS FACING THE POSSIBILITY OF REPOSSESSION, A MORTGAGE CRISIS AND FEWER HOMES BEING BUILT OR REFURBISHED THAN EVER BEFORE.

THE ANSWER IS TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL AUTHORITIES MUST BUILD AFFORDABLE PUBLIC HOUSING AT AFFORDABLE RENTS SO THAT HOMELESSNESS BECOMES A THING OF THE PAST.

WE SHOULD END THE CRISIS IN THE MORTGAGE SECTOR BY TAKING ALL BANKS AND BUILDING SOCIETIES OR ANY OTHER BODY INTO COMMON OWNERSHIP SO THAT 100% MORTGAGES ARE AVAILABLE WITHOUT BANKS AND OTHER LENDERS PUTTING SHAREHOLDERS BEFORE THE NEEDS OF THE HOMELESS.

TRANSPORT

THE SLP CALLED FOR ALL TRANSPORT TO BE TAKEN INTO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP INCLUDING RAIL, BUS, TRAM, AIR AND WATER TRANSPORT SYSTEMS. TRANSPORT SHOULD BE A POLICY WHICH SERVES THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE AND NOT THE PROFITS OF SHAREHOLDERS.

AN INTEGRATED TRANSPORT POLICY IS A PRIORITY FOR BRITAIN AND ONE WHICH HAS MASSIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR ANY COMMITMENT FOR A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT.

FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC REASONS, ALL TRANSPORT - ON LAND, SEA, RAIL, INLAND WATERWAYS AND AIR - SHOULD BE IN PUBLIC AND MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP, MANAGED IN A FULLY ACCOUNTABLE WAY AND COMPLIMENTING, NOT COMPETING, WITH EACH OTHER.

THE ENTIRE RAIL NETWORK SHOULD BE TAKEN BACK IMMEDIATELY INTO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL. AT THE SAME TIME, BRITAIN’S AIRLINES, BUS AND TRAM SERVICES MUST BE TAKEN INTO OR BACK INTO PUBLIC OR MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
AN INTEGRATED TRANSPORT SYSTEM REQUIRES MASSIVE PUBLIC INVESTMENT, NOT PRIVATE FINANCE INITIATIVES (PFI). THE RAISING OF CAPITAL TO DEVELOP OUR RAIL, BUS, TRAM AND WATERWAY NETWORKS SHOULD BE FUNDED BY CENTRAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

ENERGY

THE SLP HAS CONSISTENTLY ARGUED FOR AN INTEGRATED ENERGY POLICY BASED ON INDIGENOUS DEEP MINE COAL, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE ABOLITION OF NUCLEAR POWER.

WE HAVE 1000 YEARS OF COAL RESERVES BENEATH OUR FEET. IF WE PRODUCE 250 MILLION TONNES OF COAL PER YEAR FROM DEEP MINING IN BRITAIN - WHICH COULD BE DONE WITHIN TWO YEARS - WE COULD EXTRACT FROM UK DEEP MINE COAL, ALL THE OIL, GAS, PETROCHEMICALS AND STILL USE THE FUEL TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY FREE FROM CO₂ EMISSIONS.

ECONOMICS

THE COST OF PRODUCING ELECTRICITY FROM NUCLEAR ENERGY INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION COST, THE COST OF URANIUM, THE GENERATING COST AND THE DECOMMISSIONING COST - - - CURRENTLY £72 BILLION AND RISING - - - MEANS THAT NUCLEAR GENERATED ELECTRICITY IS 400% MORE EXPENSIVE THAN CLEAN COAL GENERATED ELECTRICITY.

BRITAIN HAS OVER A THOUSAND YEARS OF DEEP MINE COAL RESERVES - - - NUCLEAR ENERGY ONLY MAKES SENSE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO PRODUCE NUCLEAR WEAPONS OR RENDER TRADE UNIONS TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE (AS A SECRET GOVERNMENT MINUTE DEMONSTRATED).

THERE ARE THREE REASONS WHY I WOULD NEVER BELIEVE GOVERNMENT OR THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY’S COSTINGS FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY.

(I) THE FIGURES DON’T EXIST OR ARE MANIPULATED

(2) IF THEY DID EXIST, THEY COULD NOT BE REVEALED FOR SECURITY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CLAIM WOULD BE AGAINST THE NATIONAL INTEREST; AND

(3) IF THEY DID EXIST, AND COULD BE RELEASED, I WOULDN’T BELIEVE THEM ANYWAY.

WE NEED TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE CLEAN ENERGIES SUCH AS WIND, WAVE, TIDE, BARRAGE, GEOTHERMAL AND, ABOVE ALL, SOLAR POWER BUT THE TIMESCALE FOR SOLAR POWER IS AT LEAST 40/50 YEARS AWAY. THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES CURRENTLY SUPPLY ONLY 5% OF BRITAIN’S ELECTRICITY AND, OF COURSE, THEY CANNOT BE USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF STEEL OR CEMENT OR FOR OTHER INDUSTRY USES.

ENVIRONMENT

THE PUBLIC IS BEING MISLED BY SO-CALLED EXPERTS WHO CLAIM THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS CAUSED PRIMARILY BY CO₂ EMISSIONS FROM COAL-FIRED POWER STATIONS.

THE REALITY IS VERY DIFFERENT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DESTRUCTION OF A RAINFOREST THE SIZE OF EUROPE RELEASES THOUSANDS OF TONNES OF CO₂ AND REMOVES THE TREES WHICH CAPTURE CO₂ AND EMIT OXYGEN. ENVIRONMENTALISTS, WHILST WELL-MEANING, ARE MISGUIDED. THE DESTRUCTION OF TREES AND PLANTS RESULTS IN 20% OF ALL CO₂ EMISSIONS WORLDWIDE.

THE SO-CALLED EXPERTS HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY EMISSIONS FROM POWER STATIONS HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE AND NOT THE DECREASE PROJECTED IN CO₂ BETWEEN 1993 AND 2007.

IN 1993, THE UK WAS SUBJECTED TO A SECOND MASSIVE PIT CLOSURE PROGRAMME WITHIN 10 YEARS AND A SWITCH FROM COAL-FIRED ELECTRICITY GENERATION TO GAS-FIRED ELECTRICITY GENERATION.

THIS POLICY WHICH ITS SUPPORTERS CLAIM WOULD (a) BE MORE ECONOMIC AND (b) REDUCE DRAMATICALLY THE EMISSION OF CARBON DIOXIDE (CO₂) HAS HAD THE OPPOSITE EFFECT.

IN 1993, POWER STATIONS PRODUCED 171.7 MILLION TONNES OF (CO₂), YET IN 2007, POWER STATIONS PRODUCED 180.2 MILLION TONNES OF CO₂, 8.5 MILLION TONNES MORE OR AN INCREASE OF 5% IN 14 YEARS.

NEW COMBINED CYCLE GAS-FIRED POWER STATIONS PRODUCE 40% LESS CO₂ THAN CONVENTIONAL COAL-FIRED POWER STATIONS BUT THESE FIGURES ARE NOT MERELY MISLEADING, THEY AMOUNT TO A MONUMENTAL LIE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE UK WAS TO CONSTRUCT NEW COMBINED CYCLE COAL-FIRED POWER STATIONS EQUIPPED WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS CARBON CAPTURE THEN A COAL-FIRED POWER STATION EQUIPPED WITH CARBON CAPTURE WOULD REDUCE CO₂ EMISSIONS BY MORE THAN 90%!

CARBON CAPTURE DOES WORK. FOR EXAMPLE, A PILOT SCHEME IN CARLIFORNIA CAPTURES 800 TONNES OF CO₂ PER DAY AND IT IS REASONABLE TO ASSUME THAT A 500 MW COAL-FIRED POWER STATION COULD BE CONSTRUCTED WITH A CARBON CAPTURE CAPACITY WHICH WOULD REDUCE UK POWER STANTION CO₂ EMISSIONS BY OVER 90%.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COMBINED CYCLE COAL-FIRED POWER STATIONS WITH CARBON CAPTURE CAN BE A REALITY WITHIN 5 YEARS PROVIDED GOVERNMENTS WILL COMMIT THE FINANCE NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE.

THE ALTERNATIVE IS NUCLEAR MADNESS WITH NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS - WHICH WILL TAKE 15 YEARS TO CONSTRUCT - AT A COST INCLUDING DECOMMISSIONING 400% HIGHER THAN THE COST OF A COAL-FIRED POWER STATION.

EQUALLY IMPORTANT, HOWEVER, IS THE FACT THAT BRITAIN’S INDIGENOUS GAS SUPPLY IS VIRTUALLY EXHAUSTED AND WE WILL HAVE TO IMPORT 90% OF OUR GAS WITHIN 5 YEARS.

OUR OIL RESERVES ARE VIRTUALLY EXHAUSTED AND WITHIN 10 YEARS WE WILL BE IMPORTING 80% OF OUR OIL.

URANIUM - THE FUEL FOR NUCLEAR POWER - WILL EXHAUST WORLDWIDE IN 50 YEARS.

IN 2007, CO₂ EMISSIONS EMANATED FROM THE FOLLOWING FUELS/SOURCES:

GAS 193.79 MILLION TONNES (35.62%)

OIL 184.9 MILLION TONNES (34.00%)

COAL 150.5 MILLION TONNES (27.68%)

NON FUEL 14.5 MILLION TONNES (2.66%)

THE PROPORTIONS OF GREENHOUSE BASES WHICH ARE THE CAUSE OF THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT ARE: CARBONDIOXIDE 70%; METHANE 23% AND NITROUS OXIDE 7%. METHANE IS 23 TIMES MORE POTENT AS A GREENHOUSE GAS THAN CO₂ AND NITROUS OXIDE IS 296 TIMES MORE POTENT THAN CO₂ OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS.

IT CAN BE SEEN THAT 378.69 MILLION TONNES OF CO₂ OR 70% OF CO₂ IS PRODUCED BY GAS AND OIL AND ONE HAS TO ASK THE QUESTION WHY ARE THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS NOT TARGETING THE REAL CULPRITS SUCH AS ROAD TRANSPORT, GAS USE, INCLUDING POWER STATIONS, INDUSTRY AND DOMESTIC USAGE?

NUCLEAR POWER IS NOT AN OPTION - - IT IS EXPENSIVE AND IS THE MOST DANGEROUS POWER SOURCE EVER INVENTED. THE RATE OF CANCER AND LEUKAEMIA IN AND AROUND NUCLEAR STATIONS - - PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN - - IS 10% HIGHER THAN IN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

SAFETY

THE DISASTERS AT WINDSCALE IN 1957, THREE-MILE ISLAND IN 1979 AND CHERNOBYL IN 1986 WILL RESULT IN THE DEATHS OF BETWEEN 100,000 AND 200,000 - - - - THESE FIGURES ARE NOT A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION.

DR ROBERT GALE PREDICTED OVER 100,000 DEATHS FROM CHERNOBYL ALONE AND RICHARD WEBB PREDICTED THAT UP TO 280,000 WOULD DIE OVER A 30 - 40 YEAR PERIOD FROM THE CHERNOBYL DISASTER.

URANIUM

IN THE PAST 158 YEARS, OVER 100,000 MINERS WORLDWIDE HAVE DIED IN THE COAL-MINING INDUSTRY. COMPARE THIS UNACCEPTABLE FIGURE WITH THE PROJECTED DEATH RATE OF BETWEEN 100,000 AND 280,000 WHO WILL DIE AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE CHERNOBYL DISASTER IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION IN 1986.

THESE FIGURES DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED AS A RESULT OF RADIATION CONTAMINATION FROM MINING URANIUM OR THE NUMBERS OF WORKERS IN THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY WHO HAVE DIED AND NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN THE GENERAL POPULATION IN AND AROUND NUCLEAR STATIONS WHO HAVE DIED AS A RESULT OF RADIATION CONTAMINATION.

TODAY, THE LEVEL OF RADIATION AT THE DISCHARGE PIPES AT SELLAFIELD INTO THE IRISH SEA IS 56 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE RADIATION LEVEL IN THE UNITED STATES’ ATOMIC TESTING AREA IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

TAXATION

SINCE 1997, THE BRITISH TAXPAYER HAS PAID SUBSTANTIALLY MORE – NOT LESS – IN TAXES. THE AVERAGE BRITISH FAMILY IS WORSE OFF NOW THAN IN 1997 AND CONSIDERABLY WORSE OFF THAN 30 YEARS AGO.

TAXES HAVE RISEN SINCE NEW LABOUR WAS ELECTED IN 1997. MORTGAGE TAX RELIEF FOR HOUSE BUYERS HAS BEEN ABOLISHED AND THE TAX BURDEN HAS BEEN MOVED FROM DIRECT INCOME TAX ON TO INDIRECT VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT). THIS INIQUITOUS TAX, INCREASED UNDER NEW LABOUR, WAS INTRODUCED AS PART OF THE PRICE BRITAIN HAS TO PAY FOR BEING A MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN UNION.

A TAX SYSTEM CANNOT BE FAIR WHEN A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE OR SOMEONE RECEIVING IN EXCESS OF £250,000 PER YEAR PAYS EXACTLY THE SAME TAX (VAT) FOR GOODS OR SERVICES AS SOMEONE WHO IS UNEMPLOYED OR A PENSIONER STRUGGLING ON £90.70 PER WEEK.

OUR PARTY IS OPPOSED TO THE INTRODUCTION OF A FLAT RATE INCOME TAX SYSTEM. ITS ONLY PURPOSE IS TO MOVE EVEN MORE OF THE BURDEN ON TO LOW-PAID WORKERS AND BENEFIT COMPANIES AND SHAREHOLDERS.

WE NEED NEW RATES OF INCOME TAX, THUS ENSURING THAT THOSE WHO EARN MOST PAY MOST. THE FOLLOWING INCOME TAX BANDS WOULD BE INTRODUCED –

TAX BANDS

1. INCOME UNDER £15,000 NO TAX

2. INCOME BETWEEN £15,000 - £25,000 20%

3. INCOME BETWEEN £25,000 - £40,000 30%

4. INCOME BETWEEN £40,000 - £50,000 40%

5. INCOME BETWEEN £50,000 - £100,000 50%

6. INCOME BETWEEN £100,000 - £200,000 60%

7. INCOME OVER £200,000 70%

WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE INTRODUCTION OF A COMPLETELY NEW TAX SYSTEM – ONE WHICH WOULD ABOLISH THE INIQUITOUS VAT ALTOGETHER, AND TRANSFER TAX LIABILITY FROM INDIRECT TO DIRECT TAXATION. WE WOULD INCREASE CORPORATION AND CAPITAL GAINS TAX BY 100%.

MILITARY MADNESS

WE HAVE WITNESSED OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS SUCCESSIVE TORY AND LABOUR GOVERNMENTS EMBARK ON MILITARY MADNESS COSTING BILLIONS OF POUNDS AND THOUSANDS OF LIVES.

THE WAR AND OCCUPATION IN IRAQ IS ILLEGAL AND HAS COST TO DATE OVER ONE MILLION LIVES INCLUDING THE LIVES OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FROM OUR COUNTRY. THOSE WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR LAUNCHING THE WAR IN IRAQ - INCLUDING GEORGE W BUSH AND TONY BLAIR - SHOULD BE FACING AN INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL CHARGED WITH WAR CRIMES. THE COST TO DATE OF THE WAR IN IRAQ HAS BEEN OVER FOUR TRILLION DOLLARS AND COST THE LIVES OF OVER ONE MILLION PEOPLE.

THE USA AND BRITAIN ARGUE THAT THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO LAUNCH ATTACKS AGAINST COUNTRIES SUCH AS YUGOSLAVIA, IRAQ, AND AFGHANISTAN AND TO THREATEN OTHER NATIONS LIKE IRAN AND NORTH KOREA BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CONFORM TO WHAT BUSH AND BLAIR REGARD AS DEMOCRACY.

CONTRAST THEIR ACTION WITH THEIR LACK OF ACTION AGAINST COUNTRIES SUCH AS SAUDI ARABIA AND BURMA WHICH HAVE BEEN RULED BY UNELECTED MONARCHS AND MILITARY DICTATORSHIPS WITH THEIR FAILURE TO DEAL WITH THE DAILY SLAUGHTER BY THE FASCIST STATE OF ISRAEL AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE.

WE SHOULD ALL REMEMBER THAT ISRAEL WAS AN ARTIFICIALLY-CREATED STATE AND THAT ONLY 20% OF ITS JEWISH POPULATION WERE BORN IN THAT REGION, THE SAME PERCENTAGE AS THE NUMBER OF ARABS WHO WERE ALSO BORN IN THAT REGION.

IT IS TIME THAT ALL COUNTRIES EMPLOYED SANCTIONS AGAINST ISRAEL. I HAVE TO QUESTION WHY COUNTRIES LIKE EGYPT CONTINUE TO SUPPLY ISRAEL WITH OIL AND GAS, PARTICULARLY AT A TIME WHEN ISRAEL CUTS OFF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO THE WEST BANK AND GAZA STRIP.

ALL ARAB STATES SHOULD CUT OFF ALL CONTACT WITH ISRAEL AND ENSURE AS A FIRST STEP THAT ISRAEL WITHDRAW FROM THE TERRITORY IT HAS OCCUPIED UNLAWFULLY SINCE 1967.

SOCIALISM

THE SOCIALIST LABOUR PARTY IS A NATURAL HOME FOR SOCIALISTS AND FOR THE MILLIONS THROUGHOUT BRITAIN WHO TODAY FEEL DISENFRANCHISED OR DISPOSSESSED, AND WHOSE LIVES ARE BLIGHTED BY HELPLESSNESS, HOPELESSNESS AND DESPAIR.

THE BIRTH OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR PARTY PRODUCED HOWLS OF PROTEST FROM ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

THEY INCLUDED BOTH OUR TRADITIONAL CLASS ENEMIES AND THOSE IN THE LABOUR MOVEMENT - WHO CLAIM TO BE SUPPORTERS OF SOCIALISM - NEW LABOUR SUPPORTS PRIVATISATION, THE ‘FREE MARKET’ AND CAPITALISM – HOW CAN “LEFT MPs” REMAIN IN A PARTY WHICH OPENLY SUPPORTS CAPITALISM, PRIVATISATION AND ARMED INTERVENTION IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN AND YUGOSLAVIA - AND WHICH OF COURSE OPPOSES SOCIALISM?

THE PROTEST AGAINST THE SLP CAME FROM ANGER AND FRUSTRATION WHICH WAS AND IS AN INEVITABLE REACTION OF A DEFINING MOMENT IN BRITISH POLITICS. THERE IS NOTHING MORE PAINFUL THAN THE BIRTH OF A NEW IDEA, AND THE SOCIALIST LABOUR PARTY HAS BEEN NO EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE.

HOWEVER, OUR PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES ARE FIRMLY ROOTED IN THE SOCIALIST VALUES OF OUR FOREBEARS WHO FOUGHT TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD.

OUR PARTY WAS FOUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT CONSISTENTLY TO SAVE JOBS, PROTECT INDUSTRIES AND SERVICES FROM BUTCHERY.

FOUNDED TO SAVE COMMUNITIES THREATENED WITH EVERYTHING FROM UNEMPLOYMENT TO RACISM TO TOXIC WASTE, AND SECURE JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THE SOLUTION LIES IN ABOLISHING CAPITALISM AND REPLACING IT WITH A SOCIALIST SYSTEM WHOSE INSTITUTIONS REPRESENT THE PEOPLE AS A WHOLE, AND WHICH ARE DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED BY AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THEM.

WE WANT TO SECURE FOR THE PEOPLE A FULL RETURN OF ALL THE WEALTH GENERATED BY BRITAIN’S INDUSTRIES AND SERVICES ON THE BASIS OF COMMON AND SOCIAL OWNERSHIP OF THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND EXCHANGE.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO ESTABLISHING THE MOST EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THAT WEALTH, ENSURING A FREE HEALTH SERVICE AT THE TIME OF NEED AND UPON DEMAND, TOGETHER WITH A FREE EDUCATION SYSTEM AVAILABLE TO ALL.

OUR PARTY IS COMMITTED TO FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY, MOVEMENT, SPEECH AND ASSOCIATION, AND TO PROMOTING AND PROTECTING AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE EARTH’S RESOURCES ARE PROPERLY USED - NOT JUST FOR HUMAN BEINGS BUT FOR ALL OTHER FORMS OF LIFE.

DO WE ASK FOR TOO MUCH - THE LEGENDARY JAMES CONNOLLY ANSWERED THAT QUESTION WHEN HE SAID:

SOME MEN FAINT HEARTED EVER SEEK

OUR PROGRAMME TO RETOUCH

AND WILL INSIST WHEN E’ER THEY SPEAK

THAT WE DEMAND TOO MUCH

‘TIS PASSING STRANGE YET I DECLARE

SUCH STATEMENTS CAUSE ME MIRTH

FOR OUR DEMANDS MOST MODERATE ARE

WE ONLY WANT THE EARTH.

Note:

Philip Lardner is/was the Conservative general election candidate for North Ayrshire & Arran. He has been suspended after he argued that homosexuality is “not normal” and a law banning councils from promoting gay equality was correct and supported churches who do not want to employ gay people