The SWP, Galloway and Big Brother

Posted in PaulHampton's blog on ,

SWP public face John Rees has a statement on Galloway and Big Brother in the new Socialist Worker .

Rees says: “Lots of people feel that it’s not an appropriate way for an MP to spend their time. People in their workplaces and communities say that many Respect supporters don’t think that this was a good idea.”

He adds: “We didn’t know that George Galloway was going to go on the programme until 24 hours before it happened. We didn’t agree with the idea, but by that stage the die was cast and the contract signed.”

Apart from being a mealy-mouthed criticism, this is an admission that Respect has no democratic or other mechanisms to control its leading figure. It’s an acknowledgement that Galloway does what he likes and Respect members just have to lump it.

Galloway said he was looking to reach out to a new audience. Only yesterday Rees was on the TV news complaining that Galloway had been censored by Channel 4.

What’s the message Galloway wants to get out? On last night’s C4 highlights, he was talking to Rula Lenska about his “mission” to Iraq before the war. Lenska asked him about Saddam. Galloway said (twice, just to be clear) that Saddam was not hated by the Iraqi people, though he mumbled something about him facing political opposition. Presumably this is the kind of politics Galloway believes will attract the disaffected youth.

Rees says in his SW article: “We stick by our allies, even if we feel they have made a mistake.” Galloway is obviously taking them same approach: - to Saddam, and to his friend Tariq Aziz and no doubt other tyrants in the Middle East.

I think I’ll be voting to keep him in on Friday. Of course Galloway should be representing his constituents – but another week in the BB house and hopefully he’ll have completely discredited himself in the eyes of his supporters.

Comments

Submitted by Janine on Wed, 11/01/2006 - 13:23

I was thinking of voting to kick him out, so how about you and I do a "pairing" exercise and neither of us bother?

Submitted by PaulHampton on Wed, 11/01/2006 - 19:15

In reply to by Janine

Only if you can tell me who Galloway pairs with in parliament, given the amount of time he's not there - at his villa in Portugal, touring the US, chattering to despots across the globe, media shows etc!!
Paul

PS We still need to know how BB fan Daniel Randall is planning to vote.

Submitted by Tubeworker on Wed, 11/01/2006 - 19:47

In reply to by PaulHampton

I'm actually a BB fan myself. But not the "celebrity" version.

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