Editorial

As this Citizen goes to press our country is being forced into a War that few support; against an enemy that few believe is a threat; for a purpose that few believe is just. Yet few doubt the devastating consequences for the Iraqi people, radiating out across the whole Middle East, and its longer term impact on global security.

Will the bombing of Baghdad convey a sinister enactment of what Tony Blair meant in his phrase "for the many not the few"? Is the solution to Saddam Hussain's brutal oppression of his own people really for the USA and UK might to blanket bomb and obliterate many thousands of those same innocent, helpless people?

With doubts and jitters amongst Cabinet members, the opposition of so many Labour MPs, an overwhelming number of CLPs submitting anti-war resolutions to the Britain in the World policy commission, the opposition of Party members up and down the country, and not to mention the public at large and no doubt at small - in the focus groups - all against military action on Iraq - what is the Party of the People doing? Turning its back on Democracy, Devolution and freedom of speech it would seem. Our representatives in Westminster denied a vote on the War; CLP submissions ignored; spurious attempts to deny anti-war protesters in London and Glasgow on 15th February the right to freedom of speech. Well Not in Our Name Mr Blair!

Meanwhile New Labour's war on the domestic front escalates against the Firefighters. Prescott threatens to set on flame Labour's very foundations in proposing legislation to impose a settlement on the dispute, denying the Union its democratic and right to strike and denying their employers the right to negotiate. Not to be outdone, New Labour in the Scottish Parliament attempt to sneak in an amendment to 1947 legislation making it easier to close fire stations. To keep the home fires burning.

Freshly implemented draconian immigration and asylum legislation condemns those fleeing persecution under bloody and brutal regimes; such as Saddam Hussain's;, to poverty and destitution on our streets. No papers, `no' believed, no state support, no money. Yet, as any firefighter will advise you when fleeing a dangerous life threatening situation, one should never pause to collect passports, birth certificates, certificate of qualifications, credit cards or guidance notes on British immigration regulations and where to present yourself at your port of arrival in case you find yourself washed up on our shores, stumbling out of the back of a lorry in a motorway layby in the dead of night. The lucky ones can aspire to incarceration in detention centres.

All of this as we head towards a May Day General Election in Scotland!

Those of us inside this Labour Party, in the name of Humanity, Democracy, Devolution and Peace, must stand up to the neo-liberal fundamentalist hijackers of our Party, those who have suppressed international dissent and turned their backs on democratic socialism.

It is time for Labour Party regime change.