NOW that the party conferences are over, what's new on the political landscape?
It's hardly new or surprising that the Lib Dems aspire to be the official opposition. Well, who can say? -- there's been a vacancy since 1997 -- and cows might fly.
Addressing New Labour's conference, the former US President, Bill Clinton, said he recognised that politics is a mixture of rhetoric and reality. With the Conservatives, for example, 'compassionate' is the rhetoric, but 'conservative' is the reality.
However, he neglected to say that New Labour's treachery is to parade the one as the other. For example, Tony Blair would have us believe that there might be no alternative but to start a war with Iraq. The reality is that hostilities have never stopped, with British and US warplanes over-flying Iraq every day, since the Gulf War.
It's time to stop the pretence and the war!
MIKE JOHNSTON (Socialist Alliance member), Hope Street, Nelson.
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