19.03.1998

Make a difference

Katrina Haynes reports on the Weekly Worker fighting fund

New Labour is not so popular anymore. “It can only get better” was the tune sung by the Blairites. After 18 years of Tory rule some people got desperate - and even started to singalong with those cool young hipsters Tony Blair, John Prescott, Jack Straw and Robin Cook. Welcome to New Britain it seemed - a younger, sexy world.

Not any longer. Blair’s pop stars, the movers and shakers of Britpop, have rebelled against him - with a vengeance. No kind words or praise, but condemnation and scorn. Yet that is not all. Some of Blair’s ex-‘comrades’ are withdrawing their funds, pulling the purse strings shut. This is the case with Alan McGee of Creation Records, Labour Party member and formerly a keen supporter of Blair. He must have been. He donated £50,000 to Labour’s election coffers but now says, “I’m not giving them any more money and I’ll be a liability not an asset”.

However, we are confident that you do not feel the same about the Weekly Worker. No one should have illusions in our politics. What you see is what you get. Let cowards flinch and traitors sneer, we have kept true to our principles. Our banner is and stays red. When it comes to funds, you - our loyal readers and supporters - are our most valuable asset. We need your constant moral, political and, of course, financial aid and backing. We are not too proud, or rich, to admit that £50,000 - are you reading this Alan? - would be a considerable help to us. But so will £50 or £20. Indeed, every pound and penny adds to the strength of the Weekly Worker, which is your communist paper.

Thanks this week to AS from Scotland (£20), JB from Surrey (£10) and JL from Liverpool (£5). This takes our monthly total to £352, still some way to go to our £500 total. Together we can do it.

Katrina Haynes