LEFT-WING Labour MP Dennis Skinner delighted a May Day audience at Burnley by saying he was waiting for the Blairs to put up pink curtains at 10 Downing Street.

The controversial MP said he would rather the curtains were red but he would settle for pink to get rid of the Tory government.

He received a standing ovation at the end of a 30-minute speech at the 17th annual May Day festival in Burnley's Towneley Park when a hands-up vote revealed only a few in favour of "new'' Labour rather than a traditional socialist Labour Party.

Thousands attended the festival and the marquee was packed to hear Mr Skinner's views on the battle for workers' rights, anti-poverty and social justice. He delighted his audience by blaming the Conservatives' relaxation of restrictions for causing BSE, demanded a £5-an-hour minimum wage "for a start'', called for mines to go back into public ownership and for the Labour Party to pledge that railways would also go back into public ownership with no compensation paid.

Other speakers were Burnley Council leader Kath Reade, Burnley MP Peter Pike, sacked Liverpool docker Jim Campbell and Pendle Trades Council chairman Edna Greenwood.

The rally followed the traditional procession from Burnley Town Hall to the park where the "best ever'' event included bungee-jumping and helicopter rides to the Preston Outlaws, Circus Fudge sideshow, bands, miniature railway, bouncy castles and a fairground.

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