Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / THE WESTMINSTER HOUR
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Sunday, 4 June 2006, 20:09 GMT 21:09 UK

The Euston Manifesto

David Wilby

British history resounds with the titles of great and stirring statements of political belief - from Magna Carta to the Tamworth Manifesto to the People's Charter to the Euston Manifesto.

The Euston Manifesto?

Well, the authors of that last document at least hope that it too will be remembered for many years to come. The Euston manifesto is so-called because it was conceived in a pub on the Euston Road nearby the London railway station of the same name.

The three thousand word manifesto is an attempt by some writers and thinkers on the Left to develop a set of unifying principles for the Left for the 21st century. What they've actually done is re-expose a lot of the divisions on the Left - especially over the Iraq war. Most of the authors of this manifesto supported the invasion to remove Saddam Hussein. They argue that the Left shouldn't define itself by anti-Americanism, but by a commitment to campaigning for global equality and championing human rights against tyranny.

They've certainly succeed in sparking a lively debate - especially on the internet where a lot of inflamed language is flowing between the manifesto's supporters and its detractors.

David Wilby now explores how this manifesto has highlighted the struggle for the soul of the Left.




E-mail this to a friend

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
The Euston Manifesto group
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©