'Britain's Communists will be launching a big General Election drive to project a national and international left-wing programme', Martin Levy announced at a Communist Party of Britain election school at the weekend.

'The Labour government must be compelled by the working class and progressive movements to change course', he told a meeting of prospective parliamentary candidates and agents at Croydon, south London.

'Our candidates will spearhead a mass campaign in support of public ownership and public services, civil liberties, the Charter for Women and planet-friendly policies and against social inequality, imperialist war, the EU constitution, racism and fascism', Mr Levy declared.

In the next General Election, Communist Party candidates will be contesting seats in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Glasgow, Pontypridd, London, Deeside in north wales and the Manchester and Lancashire region.