JOHN LISTER Socialist Alliance Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Oxford East. (www.oxfordsocialists.org.uk)

Press Release

Embargo: 00.01 Thursday March 8

Socialists haunt Labour’s banquet for bosses

Socialist Alliance supporters have not been invited to tonight’s posh nosh for Oxfordshire business folk, to be hosted by Oxford East MP Andrew Smith as a fund-raiser for the Labour Party. Few of them could afford the £65-a-head price tag for a chance to meet the minister.

But the Alliance has promised to be outside the Four Pillars Hotel in Sandford to greet Labour’s expected 35-40 guests with placards underlining the political shift that has taken place under Tony Blair. (Their picket will be outside from 7.00pm to 7.45pm on March 8)

Among the slogans on a range of posters that will be displayed outside Labour’s bosses’ bash are:

"You get a fatter cat with New Labour"

"Party FOR SALE. Newly refurbished. Sole prop. T, Blair Esq"

"New £abour: A Party for Oxford bosses"

"Privatised Rail service in chaos: New Labour is on the GRAVY TRAIN."

"Hunger for refugees on Labour’vouchers: Banquet for Oxon bosses"

Socialist Alliance candidate John Lister, who will be joining supporters on the protest outside the Hotel, said:

"This attempt by the Labour Party to raise funds from Oxford business shows just how far the Party has broken from its traditional base in the working class and trade union movement.

"The £65 the Party is charging for a meal and the chance to meet Andrew Smith and fellow minister Patricia Hewitt is peanuts for local employers, but the equivalent of half a week’s wages for someone on Labour’s minimum wage. How many of Andrew Smith’s hard-working supporters on Blackbird Leys or Barton could afford to stump up that kind of cash to meet their local MP?"

"We will be there, to remind Mr Smith of the constituents and the Party members he has forgotten. And the Socialist Alliance will be organising an alternative, more affordable, curry night next month for local trade unionists and socialists to get together."

CONTACT DETAILS:

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