Socialists offer 'distinct voice'

Mr Nellist launched the manifesto opposite Millbank

The Socialist Alliance has launched its manifesto saying it is time to "put socialism back on the agenda".

Former Labour MP Dave Nellist, national chair of the group, said the party offered a "distinct voice", away from the mainstream consensus.

What Thatcher did with a snarl, Blair does with a smile

Dave Nellist
National chair, Socialist Alliance

The Alliance - a coalition of left wing groups including the Socialist Workers Party - is contesting more than 90 seats in England, a handful in Wales, and its sister organisation is fighting all 72 seats in Scotland.

The manifesto, People Before Profit, includes pledges to end and reverse privatisation and to increase pensions and the minimum wage.

Mr Nellist acknowledged the Alliance would not win the election, but said its decision to stand would give "millions of working people a choice".

Breaking the mould

Launching the manifesto and poster opposite Labour's Millbank headquarters in London, Mr Nellist urged disillusioned voters to join the socialists to "break the mould of British politics".

People did not believe in Labour anymore, he said.

Alliance policies

Renationalise railways

Defend asylum seekers

£7.40 minimum wage

Double pensions to £150 a week

Scrap tuition fees

Cancel Third World debt

Privatisation was "running rampant" in health, education and welfare, and Labour was spending less on public services than Conservative governments had done.

"What Thatcher did with a snarl, Blair does with a smile," said Mr Nellist.

There was also an attack on Chancellor Gordon Brown for paying back £34bn of national debt instead of "spending it on tackling poverty".

Mr Nellist claimed the support of councillors, trade union activists and hundreds of union branches.

The Alliance is also backed by several well-known names, including director Ken Loach - who made the Alliance's political broadcast - and playwright Harold Pinter.

Saved deposits

This will be the first general election the Socialist Alliance has contested.

It hopes to build on its support in London's Assembly elections last year when deposits were saved in two seats.

The manifesto pledges to end privatisation

Another Alliance spokesperson, Tube worker Janine Booth, said she hoped to use the election to highlight the "devastating impact" of the government's plans to part-privatise London Underground.

Accusing Mr Blair of showing "contempt" for working people and adulation for business, she said: "We want to deliver a powerful message to the government that it will lose votes to a left-wing electoral challenge".