Scargill party's Labour vote plea

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The Socialist Labour Party has launched its Welsh assembly election manifesto with an appeal to Labour voters.

The party, which is led by former miners' president Arthur Scargill, said it wanted to bring "socialist ideas" into the assembly chamber.

Spokesman John Cox said the party had "substantial support" among traditional Labour voters because of its opposition to the Iraq war.

The party is standing candidates in all five of Wales electoral regions.

There is widespread support within Labour Party members and voters for our point of view John Cox, Socialist Labour Party

Launching the manifesto in a pub in Llandaff in Cardiff, Dr Cox said there was nobody in the last assembly "arguing for socialism".

He told reporters: "Socialist ideas are not represented in the assembly at all at the moment.

"What you have is a Labour Party that's trying to alleviate the worst elements of Tony Blair's type of government - which is basically privatisation and the sort of old Tory policies."

Dr Cox said he was "confident of substantial support" among Labour Party supporters who agreed with policies such as opposition to the Iraq war and education.

"There is widespread support within the Labour Party members and voters for our point of view and the only reason that it is not fully articulated is that they could be expelled for this support," he said.

'Massive investment'

In the 45-page manifesto the Socialist Labour Party said it would make all NHS services available to everyone free of charge, end all "contracting-out" of health services and abolish all private healthcare.

The document said "massive investment" in the NHS could be found by cutting defence spending by two-thirds and not replacing the Trident nuclear weapons system.

The party is also committed to guaranteeing workers a "proper index-linked retirement pension".

Socialist Labour would put all private schools and colleges under state control to use their resources "for the benefit of the entire community".

The party said it would also be open to the possibility of working with the independents in the assembly chamber.

John Marek and Trish Law, independent AMs in the last assembly, have joined former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies in signing up to a charter setting out what they would do if elected.

Dr Cox said: "The door is open to discussions if we can agree on a joint policy and approach".