Labour leader Wendy Alexander fights back with a big Left hook

Mar 30 2008 By Mark Aitken Political Editor

She Attacks The Snp By Saying She's A 21st Century Socialist Labour In Aviemore

WENDY ALEXANDER used the S word yesterday to try to reclaim the left wing for Labour.

She rebranded herself as a 21st century socialist in her first conference speech as Scottish party leader in an attempt to rejuvenate grassroots supporters.

Her rallying cry of "Socialist against nationalist" was a rare reference to left wing politics by a senior Labour figure.

She spoke of nationalist "flagburning bloggers" determined to break up Britain.

Alexander said: "This is the territory on which Scottish Labour will be happy to fight, left against right, cutting poverty against cutting taxes.

"Rewarding hard work against unearned wealth. Socialist against Nationalist."

Despite controversy over her leadership campaign funding and a poor display against Alex Salmond in the polls, Alexander insisted she would lead Labour to victory.

She added: "I will lead by rebuilding Scottish Labour as a campaigning force.

"I will lead by exposing the dishonesty and incompetence of the SNP administration.

"I will lead by developing a new programme for government. And just in case anyone's in any doubt, I will lead Labour back to power in the Scottish Parliament."

Alexander attacked the SNP's local income tax, which she claimed would benefit the wealthy.

She said: "When you strip away the spin it's clear where the SNP stand. It is not on the side of those who believe in progressive taxation and public spending but with those who favour tax cuts for the rich and what's left for the rest.

"The SNP claim cutting business rates is popular. But let's see whether the closed schools, reduced services to pensioners or staff redundancies are popular." Alexander said the SNP was more interested in breaking up Britain than improving public services.

She added: "It is no surprise that one thing the SNP could findmoney for was the absurd 'National Conversation'.

"It is an invitation for every flagburning blogger to rant and rave, blame everything on the English and all at the taxpayer's expense."

And she vowed to end the scandal of abuse and neglect of the elderly in care homes.

Alexander, whose grandmother Jean suffered from Alzheimer's disease, pledged to set up a taskforce to give vulnerable OAPs a better deal.

She said: "We should do all we can to make sure care homes are better places for the elderly to live in."

Labour have lost nearly a quarter of their membership since 2002 and Alexander urged the party to reach out to young people by copying the US system of choosing candidates.

SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon last night called the speech a case of "Wendy in Wonderland".

She said: "Labour could have begun a recovery in Aviemore but are still stuck in the same negative, scaremongering groove."