BY ANNA CHEN
At 11am on May 18, as the clouds parted and the sun emerged (briefly), the Socialist Alliance launched its general election manifesto and unveiled its campaign slogan — People Before Profit — in front of Millbank Tower, Labour Party HQ in central London.
"We're outside New Labour's headquarters today to highlight a contrast", said Dave Nellist, national chair of the Socialist Alliance, "the contrast between New Labour's cynical spin and the Socialist Alliance's principled policies.
"Now we know exactly what New Labour has in store for us in its second term: privatisation of health and education, a crackdown on civil liberties, and more tax breaks for the giant corporations.
"There is now a clear choice between the Socialist Alliance's commitment to public services and the pro-privatisation policies of the major parties."
The Socialist Alliance in England, the Welsh Socialist Alliance and the Scottish Socialist Party combined will be standing in nearly 170 constituencies in the June general election, including challenges to at least 20 ministers.
The Socialist Alliance also released a list of selected supporters. Alongside well-known figures in the arts and professions, some 500 trade union officers and former Labour Party activists now support the Socialist Alliance.
The list includes more than 45 former Labour councillors, among them the former Labour leaders of Cambridge, Newark, Lambeth and Walsall councils, as well as a former Labour European parliamentarian and a former member of the Labour National Executive Committee.
Among the alliance's trade union supporters are the general secretary of a major national trade union, the former presidents of two other unions, and current members of the national executives of five trade unions. In addition, there are the chairs or secretaries of some 130 trade union branches, as well as the presidents, chairs or secretaries of more than 20 trades councils.
There are also more than 200 public sector workplace reps or shop stewards — signs of a real revolt against New Labour among this section of the work force.
The campaign slogan — People Before Profit — was unveiled on a large billboard mounted on the side of a lorry. The lorry will carry it around London and other areas over the next few days.
"We couldn't afford to buy 500 billboards, so we bought one billboard and we're sending it to 500 different places", said Dave Nellist.
"Our manifesto addresses the issues and offers the alternatives the major parties don't want people to talk about. In this boring no-choice election, we're giving people a reason to go to the polls. The remedy to apathy and low turnouts is a break with the New Labour-Tory free market consensus, and that's what we're offering.
"On rail renationalisation, rebuilding public services, abolishing tuition fees, higher pensions and a higher minimum wage, trade union rights, taxation, fighting racism, defending asylum seekers, democratic rights, nuclear disarmament and third world debt — the Socialist Alliance is speaking out in a distinct voice.
"In our manifesto we outline policies that could make a positive difference in the lives of many millions of people. We don't have all the answers, but we're embarking on a new road and we invite everyone who wants to build a socialist alternative to join us and bring their ideas and experience.
"While the New Labour manifesto was concocted by a handful of cabinet members and spin doctors meeting in secret (with advice from a few millionaires), the Socialist Alliance manifesto is the product of a democratic and participatory process that involved open discussion and free voting at every level."
[A summary of the Socialist Alliance's policies and priority pledges can be found on its web site — <http://www.socialistalliance.net>.]