08.06.1995

Stevenage offered champagne champion

BARBARA FOLLETT is to be the Labour Party’s candidate in Stevenage at the next election. This latest champion of the working class in Stevenage is as credible as the last Labourite to hold the seat - Shirley Williams, of SDP fame. Ironically, one might say, Barbara and her wealthy author husband Ken are somewhat higher up the class pyramid than the current Tory MP for Stevenage, Tim Wood.

Her selection has provoked mixed feelings among the local Labour Party. “How can we win the workers of this town to the Labour Party when our candidate out-snobs the Tory one?” Labour activist Neil O’Conner asked me soon after the selection. Follett however, a model opportunist, has dampened criticism with a firm commitment to live in her new house in Stevenage at least three days a week, dealing a blow to her Tory opponent who has not been seen in the constituency since the last election.

Follett’s new pad, already dubbed Follett’s Folly, is a resplendent old place worth an estimated £200,000.

The fact that the Labour Party has been able to dump Lord Wilson’s pipe and Gannex for Follett’s champagne and social-ism is an indication that the Labour Party no longer thinks it needs to fight for the votes of workers and quite plainly takes them for granted.

Follett is not a one-off either. Blair’s new Labour seems to be on the brink of ushering a whole bunch of Follett’s friends from her Emily’s List campaign.

Workers in Stevenage and elsewhere in the country need a real alternative - communist candidates in the next election can provide it.

Gary Salisbury