Labour hopes to spit on Major's image

THE British Labour Party is hoping to spoil Mr John Major's keynote speech to the Conservative Party conference tomorrow by screening…

THE British Labour Party is hoping to spoil Mr John Major's keynote speech to the Conservative Party conference tomorrow by screening a television party political broadcast made by the satirists, Spitting Image.

It hopes the four minute 40 second skit, with puppet likenesses of the Prime Minister, Mr Kenneth Clarke, the Chancellor, and other ministers, will capture viewers' attention and stop them changing channels.

The broadcast will also mark the last appearance on British TV of Fluck and Law's famous latex puppets after 12 years and 19 series.

Labour asked Spitting Image to create a film based on what it says, are the Tories' "broken promises on tax and the economy, law and order, education and housing.

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The company says it snubbed an approach by the Tory Party which came "some time ago.

At its peak Spitting Image attracted up to 13 million viewers, although this lapsed to about seven million during the last series in January.

Tomorrow night's broadcast begins with Mr Major sitting up in bed composing his keynote conference address.

His wife Norma and Humphrey, the No 10 cat, are sitting beside him. Then Mr Major's puppet falls into a reverie.

One scene shows the Prime Minister as captain of the Titanic and Mr Clarke as the first mate.

Mr Clarke's puppet, looking seasick, says. "We're sinking!"

Mr Major, nonchalantly draining a cocktail, replies. "I don't think so. It's probably just end of term flutters."

Mr Clarke says. "But over nine million people have lost their jobs in the last five years.

Mr Major. "Well, at least I'm not one of them. By the way, where are the lifeboats?"

Mr Clarke, prior to jumping ship, says. "We sold them off."

Viewers also see Mr Major at the Battle of Waterloo, clearly losing in Paris at the time of the French Revolution, about to go to the guillotine and the Prime Minister as Nero, playing his lyre as Rome burns.

Perhaps the most poignant moment is when Humphrey the cat is seen slinging a bundle over his shoulder and defecting to Mr Tony Blair's doorstep.

The broadcast is scheduled for 9 p.m. on BBC1, 10 p.m. on ITV and 10.30 p.m. on BBC2.

A Labour spokesman said. "We are delighted that the company have done the work for us and with the job they have done.

"We think that humour is a very effective communication medium."