Respect Manifesto. posted by Richard Seymour

You can download and have a gander at the Respect manifesto now.

Odd to report, it does not contain any recommendations about moving toward Shari'a law, putting Trotskyists in burkas or any of the other nonsense that certain silly-billies concern themselves with. What it does do is outline a decent, if minimal, socialist programme, (including support for a woman's right to choose and ending all forms of discrimination, in case anyone is still shitting themselves about the Muslims - "Aayeee, aayeee, the Muslims are coming!!").

Rough outline, then. The manifesto calls for higher taxes on the wealthy, and on the profits of corporations, to fund lower taxes for the poor, higher pensions and decent public services. It calls for ending the occupation of Iraq. It calls for spending less money on the arms industry, renationalising public utilities and ending PFI schemes. It calls for the abolition of ASBOs, stopping ID cards in their tracks and defending civil liberties. It calls for ending third world debt without strings, and terminating the imposition of structural adjustment programmes. It calls for limits on animal testing, determined implementation of the ban on fox-hunting. It calls for measures to protect the environment, including ending tax breaks for airliners, emergency steps to reduce fossil fuel use and increase the use of renewable energy source. It calls for repealing anti-union laws, full employment rights from day one, a national minimum wage of £7.40 in line with the European Decency Threshold. It calls for measures to end discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexuality, gender or lifestyle choices. It calls for abolishing charges for prescriptions and dental care.

Oh, there's loads of fabulous things in that particular sack of goodies. Go get yourself something nice.