In an April 1 interview with the Financial Times that will make hearts sink and generate a wave of fear and depression throughout the trade union
movement, Peter Hain promised a busy parliamentary session that would allow Blair to
polish up his reputation as a reforming, modernising prime wing, but from the UK Independence Party which is snapping at his heels and threatening to poach some of the Tory base.
If major companies draw the conclusion that the Conservatives are now an anti-EU party and withhold their traditional support, reducing the Tories to a party of small business and "Little England" nationalists, the consequence could be a lasting decline reaching well beyond the 2005 election.
For labour movement activists, anti-war campaigners and public sector workers it is clear that while the Lib Dems will be angling for support, they are a party of business with no links to or support for the trade unions.
A genuine alternative to Blairism needs more than a few trappings of "old Labour" policies. It needs a consistent, internationalist opposition to the war: that's the role Respect must take on in England, alongside , the Scottish Socialist Party north of the border. minister: "The first session is going to have about 40 bills in it which are pretty well all ready." He said.
"There would be "a really strong, radical, fizzy first Queen's Speech.
"It's going to surprise