25/10/00 - Labour's not so left-wing anymore: Chris writes to The Birmingham Post

Sir, - Rob Marris (Post, Oct 19), proudly declares himself to be 'a socialist'. Mr Marris has clearly failed to recognise that the Labour Party was only elected in 1997 because it was able to convince the electorate that it was New Labour by ditching policies such as clause four and close links with the trade unions.

Yet Mr Marris is decidedly old Labour in his assertion that 'unions have a fundamental role to play'. I am sure that Tony Blair would never utter such words; indeed the Prime Minister seems visibly embarassed every time the unions start to flex their muscles within the Labour Party.

The electorate of Wolverhampton South West - a traditionally Conservative constiuency - will no doubt be alarmed to discover that their prospective parliamentary candidate for the Labour Party associates himself with the left -wing of his party.

It is also worrying that Mr Marris does not appear to be totally committed to the potential responsibility of being Member of Parliament for the constituency.

It is strange that Mr Marris said had there 'been a strong local woman candidate I would have considered not putting my name forward'.

Does Wolverhampton SW really deserve an MP not truly committed to the job?

CHRIS D KELLY
Tettenhall,
Wolverhampton.