Communists urge labour victory but no vote for war cabinet leaders

'Nothing would be gained by a Tory victory at the forthcoming general election, while New Labour in opposition could make a bogus shift to the left and shallow appeals for party unity ', Communist Party general secretary Robert Griffiths warned at the weekend.

'A Labour victory will keep New Labour in our sights and provide fresh opportunites to unite the left and the labour movement around a left-wing programme opposed to New Labour's pro-big business, pro-imperialist agenda', he told the Communist Party of Britain's executive committee.

'At the same time, we cannot call for support for these members of the War Cabinet most closely associated with the brutal, unprovoked attack on the sovereign people of Iraq', Mr Griffiths declared.

Britain's Communists will therefore be urging support for alternative candidates who are anti-war, anti-privatisation, in favour of public ownership and for the repeal of anti-trade union laws in the constituencies of prime minister Blair, deputy prime minister Prescott, chancellor Brown, foreign secretary Straw, defence secretary Hoon, former home secretary Blunkett and Cabinet pro-war spokesperson John Reid.

Mr Griffiths attacked New Labour for growing inequalities in wealth ownership since 1997, pointing out that the share owned by the richest one-tenth of Britain's population had risen from 63 to 75 percent - excluding home values, while that of the poorer half has slumped from six per cent to just two.

He called for a Wealth Tax, a higher top rate of income tax, higher non-means tested benefits and restoration of the link between the state retirement pension and earnings. The executive committee also finalised its plans for a month of action in February on Britain's housing crisis.

The meeting condemned Harry Windsor's wearing of a Nazi uniform on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, noting that it was a fitting reminder of European royalty's history of collaboration with fascism.

The executive committee expressed the view that elections in Iraq would not bring the 'calamity' caused by imperialist invasion and occupation to an end, and reaffirmed Communist Party policy for the immediate withdrawal of imperialist troops.

It urged full support for the TUC's Iraqi solidarity conference on February 14 and for Stop the War demonstrations in London, Wales and Scotland on March 19.

The Communist Party announced that this year's oration at the grave of Karl Marx at Highgate cemetary on March 13 will be delivered by Hans Modrow, former prime minister of the German Democratic Republic.

From Communist Party of Britain.