SURROUNDED by a group of people in black shirts at the May Day rally the historic events which came to my mind were from the 1930s.

Wasn't it Mussolini who made the transition from anarchism to fascism? No doubt he was propelled by egotism, antipathy to the democratic process and lack of respect for the views of others.

I've attended the International Workers Day events in Market Square for 20 years.

As ever, the other weekend we had some good, largely spontaneous contributions this time from Burnley and Lancaster Trades Council, CND, a pensioners organisation, Cllr David Whittaker and others.

You don't have to agree with everything that's said to applaud a well-made speech and you aren't actually required to listen to every word pronounced by the guys who deliver a lengthy, prepared statement without reference to anything that's been said.

The essence of the whole thing is the quality of the debate.

Market Square is Lancaster's Speakers Corner and it's inevitbale and quite proper that any MP turning up there gets a robust time so I was grateful for the excellent, new sound system which enable someone standing on Horseshoe Corner to claim that they heard what I was saying on the museum steps.

Just in case anyone missed them the points I made were;

We all have to oppose racism and fascism

We should celebrate the fact that Lancaster is a city of 125 nationalities and welcome those who come here to live, work, study or seek refuge.

I am proud to be the first re-elected Labour MP for a City which is benefiting enormously from the Government's successful management of the economy, policies to end child and pensioner poverty and massive investment in public services and regeneration.

War is terrible but sometimes it's necessary for self-defence or to help liberate people from appalling oppression.

People should recognise the massive role that Government is playing to cancel the debts of 26 of the poorest countries in the world and to support peace protests across Africa, former Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland.

Practical politics is a lot more difficult than making up slogans by the fireside but it does make a difference in the end.

See you next year comrades!

Hilton Dawson MP