I HAVE for some time been perplexed by this widely-held belief that New Labour has a connection with socialism.

Like so many aspects of life, such a conclusion has much to do with age and experience. For example, let's consider Worcester's leading Labour luminary Adrian Gregson, a youthful 45 years old and owner of the best head of hair since Prince Rupert pitched his tent at Lower Wick in September, 1651.

I'm not taking a pop, Adrian - honest. It's just that ideological purity such as yours must be no mean feat in an age where left-of-centre governments routinely tax the poor and declare war on Third World countries.

In fact, you're probably one of the last true socialists left in these parts. However, your age could have something to do with this.

Many, if not most, of today's Labour activists were born in the 1960s. Their knowledge of that decade is therefore second-hand.

Similarly, the disputes of the 1970s can have no real resonance.

The majority of present-day Labour firebrands have no experience or knowledge of what it feels like to be on strike. And such a pity Adrian wasn't around in those days how he would have loved to stride the land sending earth tremors that could be felt as far as Whitehall.

These days, your average Labour apparatchik will be a university lecturer, IT consultant or accountant. Such people can have no real knowledge of how the old British working class operates.

The emergence of this new political class partly explains the campaign of nastiness against Worcester independent Mike Layland during the council elections. Regardless of the ins and outs of his voting habits, the underlying factor in this rivulet of vitriol was the fact that most of today's ideological wannabes simply have no idea of ordinary people's fears, hopes and aspirations.

Interestingly, Adrian Gregson - certainly no fan of mine - appears to be different. He quite possibly represents the true soul of what many would recognise as the now faintly beating pulse of what has become known as old Labour.