TRUE LIES

"We have low unemployment, we have low inflation, we have low mortgage rates" rattled Blair arguing why the Firefighters cannot have their 40% pay claim. THis would have a knock on effect on other sectors of the public sector he reiterated as if this was an evil thing. "No government in the world could accept such a claim"...

The myth of low unemployment perpetuated by Blairite lies and repeated ad nauseaum by the left, will explode as a consequence of this strike whose political character is the beginning of the end for Blairism. Like Clintonism before him Blairism was nothing more than a great accounting fiasco whereby Enronism dominated all government data.

The undisputed fact that the cost of living is now greater than at any time since WWII for young public sector empoloyees be they nurses, teachers, or firefighters contradicts with the government claims of 1975 levels of unemployment, with inflation so low you cannot notice it and mortgage levels so low you cannot even afford to purchase a box flat to live in.

From Blairs point of view the firefighters strike is the attempt to do to the public sector what Thatcher managed to achieve in industry: close down unecessary parts, privatise and deregulate the lot. The Firefighters are the sitting ducks for this battle. A defeat for the firefighters will be a massive defeat in the battle against the WTO and the transnational corporations. A victory for them will be setback for their agenda.

The war may come about as a necessary manoeuvre to call a halt to the Firemen strikes alongside the conciliatory Gilchcrest leadership whose sole motivation appears to manage the deregualtion of the Fireservice in an orderly manner. But once a strike starts there is no telling in which direction it will head. If the Firefighters fight in a militant manner, not in a stay at home manner, if they demand other sections of the labour movement support them as many tube drivers are doing already, Blairism will face a bloody battle.