I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS! It aint, it's only the Labour Party conference.

Called into the supermarket today and saw the headline ‘A WIN FOR WORKERS RIGHTS’ on the front page of the Morning Star. “What’s all this?” I thought to myself, and then I noticed that there were trimmings, party poppers, selection boxes and advent calendars on sale. I twigged it… it must be Christmas!

Of course, it is not actually Christmas. They also have Halloween and bonfire night paraphernalia on sale, but it aint neither of them either. That’s not really relevant though, in the 21^st century these occasions are just themes to use as a marketing ploy. I am not much of a ‘Christmas person’, but to me, starting to stuff Santa down your throat in September makes the whole experience even less enjoyable, by the time it comes around, it is extremely boring.

Anyway, what about this Morning Star headline? Well, it refers to the decision of the Labour Party Conference to repeal legislation that outlaws secondary picketing. This is something I might actually get excited about; it would be a very useful Christmas present. Unfortunately the 21^st century Neo Labour Party does not have much of a track record on following through conference decisions that Tony Bliar and the CBI do not like. Conference has turned into something of a media event for the spin-doctors and as far as changing anything it has become something of an irrelevance. I am not TOO upset about this, I have come to the conclusion that parliament is an irrelevance anyway.

So, it aint Christmas after all, it is only September (what’s the time? .. make that October!). Bonfire night soon though…. Gunpowder, treason and plot, now there is something to celebrate!

Photo, flying pickets at Llanwern Steel Works during the 1984/5 miners strike, taken by Martin Shakeshaft