Persecuting George Galloway! But for the wrong reason.

The Parliamentary Standards and Privileges Committee is due to issue a report into George Galloway, tomorrow. He’s the man who is paid to be MP for Bethnal Green but spends most of his time in TV and radio studios while continuing to draw his parliamentary salary. Even loyal Respect members say he’s hardly been seen…

Liam

July 16, 2007

1–2 minutes

Respect, Tragi-comic

The Parliamentary Standards and Privileges Committee is due to issue a report into George Galloway, tomorrow. He’s the man who is paid to be MP for Bethnal Green but spends most of his time in TV and radio studios while continuing to draw his parliamentary salary. Even loyal Respect members say he’s hardly been seen in Tower Hamlets since Christmas and I’m told that the senior SWP members who gave him free rein are just waiting for him to go. No names will be mentioned in case Martin Smith is minded to practise a bit more of that Respect style thrashing of people who disagree with him.

The straws in the wind are that it will recommend suspension from the House of Commons for one month – over the summer recess.

It is alleged that some of the donations to the Mariam Appeal by its chairman – a Jordanian businessman called Fawaz Zureikat – were improper in that they came from him paying surcharges to the former Iraqi regime in return for oil contracts. The King of Saudi Arabia was the biggest donor to the Appeal. The police have said there is no case to answer.

TV personality Galloway has characterised the proceedings as “an attempted political assassination”. He will be resisting it strenuously. Has he had any dodgy financial dealings? Who knows? Who cares by this point? In most jobs moonlighting six or seven days a week and not turning up for work would get you up in front of the equivalent of the Parliamentary Standards and Privileges Committee. If you carried on doing it you’d get your P45 pretty quickly.

4 responses to “Persecuting George Galloway! But for the wrong reason.”

Jim Jay

July 16, 2007 at 10:22 pm

But I’m not sure he’ll be *gone* will he? After all there are strong rumours circulating that he’ll go for a seat in Scotland… rumours fuelled by himself and friends…

Now it seems less likely he could win a seat in Scotland but it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility that he’s going to stay a political player in Respect for as long as it exists.

It’s almost certain that the seat will return to Labour once Galloway stands down then what? The council group clearly aren’t what I’d call a politically coherent bunch even though I’m sure they’re all lovely, and it’s those who’ve come up from the community who have done best out of respect rather than those hardened on the tough anvil of far left politics.

I think.

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Andy Newman

July 17, 2007 at 8:42 am

More specificaly the idea of standing in Scotland is a rumour circulated by the charming Ron McKay. However, this would be a monstrous political miscalculation were Galloway to stand – and despite the man’s huge powers of self delusion, i am sure the penny would drop that he has more to lose than gain by continuiing his political carerr past its sell by date.

Given that galloway shows little interest in politics, and is angling to be the new Kilroy, the more interesting question is whether the SWP will use the possible opportunity of the RMT standing in next year’s London Assembly electioons to save face by folding Respect into something else?

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Grolsh Allen

July 20, 2007 at 9:08 am

Your article is not political comment it is simply gossip page stuff. What is more you repeat slander about Martin Smith that indicates that you line up with the tiny sectlets that are parasitic on our movement. Shame!

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Liam

July 20, 2007 at 12:38 pm

Grolsh thanks for having written such a coherent and thoughtful comment. And to have done it without reading the original post properly is all the more impressive.

All the comments about Galloway’s finances were copied from the Respect statement. I said I neither know nor care about this. My criticism is that he’s barely been in the constituency this year. Respect members say the same thing in the borough. Running a five day a week TV show and a weekend radio programme are not what most socialists expect their MPs to do. In the real world it’s called moonlighting or skiving and gets you sacked.

As for the Martin Smith business. The CPGB are not exactly to my taste but in my experience of them they have always tried to be honest and accurate even if politically wrongheaded. If you can point me to where I can find the SWP’s statement on these slanderous allegations I’d like to read it. Saying it’s slander is not saying it’s not true. An easy way to dismiss these allegations is to commission an enquiry composed of 3 or 5 labour movement activists who are seen as credible and impartial.

A final point. Phrases like “parasitic sectlets” are strongly reminiscent of demagogic Stalinist abuse from the 30s and 40s and legitimise physical attacks. But I’m guessing you already know that.

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