As with Thatcher before and then John Major later, we know we are in real trouble when every day the first words of the news bulletins are 'Tony Blair said...' or 'Tony Blair did...'

During the general election there was that lady who gave Blair a verbal bashing in Birmingham over the NHS. There was the Prescott egg incident and somebody gave Jack Straw a talking to, I think it was.

These prominent politicians tend not to engage with the public. They go on unannounced flying visits to towns, before audiences of the gathered party faithful, which are then only reported long after they have left. This is democracy, so scared they are of the real people.

It still seems slightly possible to arrange some sort of event, but people need to be organised. They need to prepare their criticism of Blair eg beforehand, know what they are going to say. They will need small pocket sized amplifiers to make sure they can be heard. They'll need perhaps four or five really committed people, somebody to do the shouting, and others to act as decoys, spotters etc. They'll need to look ordinary.

They will need some insider in the local Labour party to tip them off. They could use pagers to signal each other.

And then they'll need to go for it, they'll have the element of surprise and they will have local knowledge on their side. With a really good criticism of say New Labour's NHS record or education, or perhaps a local grudge they might get on the evening news bulletin.

It's really a matter of organization and drive. But long term, it seems more and more difficult to democratically call politicians to account for their evil policies. This is the real problem.

You don't need small amplifiers or anything really, you just need to be there. People selling Socialist Worker were in thatr room with Blair why didn't they do anyhting?

wouldn't know direct action if it came up to them and bought a Socialist Worker!

i personally feel that Blairs speech to the TUC was the point at which the 'opposition' lost its momentum and paved the way for a war- drive. why were the unions so quiet all of a sudden ? were they 'embarrassed', scared to appear uncouth in front of a nice profesional man like Blair ? Are they really so deluded to think they know anything about the UN they so firmly backed ? Are they after all, a bit thick ?

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