Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- -----Original Message----- From: Jim Yarker [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2001 1:45 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: McLabour: Big Mac Backs Blair " I don't know how low we can sink." Oh, but there've been so MANY lows, from 1914, to Atlee's spearheading the formation of Nato, to the complicity of Labour gov't's in the U.S. war in Vietnam, to the current, disgusting shilling for the white settler class in Zimbabwe. So MANY low's... Scargill had the right idea. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Janet M Eaton Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 5:19 AM To: Mai-not Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: san: McLabour: Big Mac Backs Blair Tony Blair is to attend a £15,000 reception at the party's annual conference paid for by the burger chain McDonald's. Labour MP John McDonnell, a critic of transnational corporations such as McDonald's, said: "It turns my stomach, I don't know how low we can sink. It just shows how out of touch the Labour leadership is with the rank and file of the movement." John Edmonds, the head of the GMB who fears unions are being sidelined in the party, said: "I hope this is not the first step towards renaming us the McLabour party" fyi- janet ==================================== The Hindustan Times August 31, 2001 McLabour: Big Mac backs Blair TONY BLAIR has triggered a potentially damaging row over Labour's increasingly close links with big corporations after it emerged that he is to attend a £15,000 reception at the party's annual conference paid for by the burger chain McDonald's. It agreed to sponsor the food and drink for 450 guests at a high-profile event in Brighton to celebrate Labour's 100th conference only after receiving assurances that the prime minister would attend. Hosted by the cabinet minister Charles Clarke, appointed party chairman by Blair after the election, the invitation-only soiree, on the eve of the leader's keynote speech, is one of the most controversial commercial "opportunities" offered by Millbank to raise upwards of £4 million during the week. The US corporation, a target of anti-globalisation protesters who plan to demonstrate outside the conference when it opens on September 30, is anxious to receive the implied endorsement of Blair and other ministers. Executives initially intended to finance a football stunt within the conference security complex, but switched when they found that Blair was unable to make the kickabout. McDonald's said a director would "say a few words" at the reception. A corporate video crew is expected to film the gathering. The company also raised the possibility of the prime minister wearing a McDonald's hat, according to a lobbyist with knowledge of the discussions, but Millbank ruled that out as unacceptable. The arrangement prompted unease within the party. Labour MP John McDonnell, a critic of transnational corporations such as McDonald's, said: "It turns my stomach, I don't know how low we can sink. It just shows how out of touch the Labour leadership is with the rank and file of the movement." John Edmonds, the head of the GMB who fears unions are being sidelined in the party, said: "I hope this is not the first step towards renaming us the McLabour party" (Guardian News Service) ==================================== ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: archive@jab.org T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
