Attached to railings, lampposts and even car windscreens, red and white Socialist Alliance balloons led those who 'hate the Tories but are sick of New Labour' to a downstairs bar in Euston, London. It's not just about elections. It was a shame such youthful enthusiasm dissipated as I entered the room - where the average age was about 50 and rising. The fact is', said one man brandishing Socialist Alliance manifestos, 'we are the only ones worth your vote - unless you're a Tory, in which case you should vote Tory, New Labour or Lib Dem'. They are certainly critical of New Labour, taking every opportunity to describe Blair, Blunkett and Brown as 'a disgrace'.
Hatred is one thing, but sickness can at least be cured, albeit with a bit of caring advice.
Candy Udwin, standing for the Socialist Alliance in Holborn, spent most of her speech contrasting today's Labour government with Labour governments of the past - pointing out where the current government had slipped up and undone some of Labour's 'good work'. She recalled that 'time gone by' when the Labour Party cared about ordinary people, and now 'they've got Geri Halliwell in their election broadcast. No, it's just all glitter, gloss, and the rich and powerful'. But the Tory 'Willie Horton' election broadcast surely indicates how bad things get when politicians pretend to portray 'ordinary people'. According to the chair, the job of the Socialist Alliance is 'not just to say how bad New Labour is - otherwise we might as well all go home and listen to Leonard Cohen records and get depressed'.