Blair moves to expel Galloway

Tuesday April 22, 2003 09:53

by Labourareabossesparty

Blair move to expel anti war MP

Allegations about George Galloway appeared in yesterdays British papers claiming that he has been bankrolled by the Saddam Regime. It is widely believed that the allegations were planted by the Blairite spin machine in an attempt to move on expekking George Galloway. Galloway has lead Labour bankbench opposition to the war and Blair.

REPORT BELOW IS AN EXTARACT FROM BBC SITE
A Labour MP whose outspoken opposition to war with Iraq has prompted speculation he might be expelled from the party has vowed to stay and fight.
George Galloway last week branded Tony Blair and George Bush as "wolves" for their attack on Iraq.

Labour sources have said that they are looking into what action to take against the Glasgow Kelvin MP.

But Mr Galloway said his expulsion would make a mockery of democracy and he denied being a traitor.

Mr Galloway said: "As a Labour Party man with 35 years of membership - much longer than Mr Blair - I would fight it every inch of the way.

"I am not without support in the country, not least within the Muslim community, which feels virtually powerless and almost voiceless amidst this catastrophe in Iraq.

"And it would send the message that Mr Blair wants free speech in Baghdad but not in the British Parliament."

A number of reports have suggested that Labour's parliamentary party plans to withdraw the whip from Mr Galloway.

That would mean that he would still be a member of the Commons but not a Labour MP.

Further disciplinary measures might then follow forcing him out of the Labour Party altogether.

Mr Galloway said the move would "make a mockery of the case that democracy is better than dictatorship".

Following his interview with Abu Dhabi TV, Armed forces minister Adam Ingram accused him of breaking his oath of allegiance to the Queen, while Education Secretary Charles Clarke branded his remarks "completely unacceptable".

Mr Galloway has long been an outspoken critic of American and British policy on Iraq.

The MP has consistently opposed sanctions imposed on Iraq after the last Gulf War complaining that they inflict huge suffering on ordinary Iraqis.

Mr Galloway has visited Iraq on numerous occasions and met the country's president and major figures in the government.

In his interview Mr Galloway said: "The wolves are Bush and Blair, not the soldiers. The soldiers are lions led by donkeys, sent to kill and be killed."

Mr Ingram responded: "Are there no depths to which George Galloway will not sink? I am sure such disgraceful comments will be rightly condemned the length and breadth of this country."

But Mr Galloway rejected suggestions that his comments amounted to an act of treachery.

He said: "As for being a traitor, the people who have betrayed this country are those who have sold it to a foreign power and who have been the miserable surrogates of a bigger power for reasons very few people in Britain can understand."

He added: "Given that I believe this invasion is illegal, it follows that the only people fighting legally are the Iraqis, who are defending their country."

Mr Galloway denied that his interview amounted to incitement to Arabs to kill British troops.

He added: "The best thing British troops can do is to refuse to obey illegal orders."

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Comments (8 of 8)

Spin or not?

by Avi H.

Tue Apr 22, 2003 10:22

CORRECTION:It is not WIDELY believed that the allegations are spin: they could well be true or not, as the case may be.

Look at the facts

by Blair critic

Tue Apr 22, 2003 13:08

Avi lets look at the facts I think they will point to the fact that they are spin.

1. Galloway has been a tirelass campaigner for human rights and progressive causes

2. He has a hatred of the ex Iraqi and other oppresive dictatorships

3. He is a outspoken critic of Blair and his war in Iraq.

4. Is one of the only remaining Labour MPs to still mention socialism.

5. He lead the largest backbench revolt in British history.

6. Blair was highly unpopular about his stance on the war.

7. Blair would love to discredit the anti war opposition in the labour party and discredit any breakaway formations from Labour.

At the end of the day who do you trust more Galloway or Blair?

I challenge Irish Labour Party supporters now to comment on this, do they support Blair or Galloway?

My Father took Galloway on recently

by Anonymous

Tue Apr 22, 2003 14:27

My Father took Galloway on recently on BBC Five live in England recently. If Galloway can irritate the extreme capitalist ideology of my Father then he must be doing something right.

Interestingly the show's editor came on to my Father afterwards and congradulated him for lauching such a strong attack on him.

Keep going Galloway!!

its about Israel

by vindicator

Tue Apr 22, 2003 16:45

No american or british capitalistic interests are served by the war but Israel will greately benefit.

Its time for the anti-war types to stop pulling their punches and join the growing anti-zionisty movement (which is across all political and racial boundaries )

there are extreme left anti-zionists and right wing also .
There are white anti-zionists like
and Muslim ones like

radio Islam is a great site.

robertthornhill@ziplip.com

*Links to anti-Jewish hate sites removed*

by Roger Cole - The Peace & Neutrality Alliance

Tue Apr 22, 2003 17:34

pana at eircom dot net

17 Castle Street, Dalkey

01-2351512

I am a member of the Irish Labour Party and Chair of the Peace & Neutrality Alliance and I hope nobody is expelled from any Labour Party for opposing the Imperial War of conquest of Iraq by the US and its vassal states such as Britain and Ireland. If it does happen, and for example, Galloway is expelled, nobody should be surprised.
We are entering a new Imperial age which will last a decade before the US Empire is destroyed. Our task should be to build up links between all the progressive and democratic anti-imperial forces throughout the globe so the end of the Empire is replaced by an international framework based on human rights and justice

Rodger Cole - Labour Candidate In Dun Laoghaire Supports Corruption?

by Max

Wed Apr 23, 2003 01:15

Rodger Cole is using Indymedia for more shameless free publicity. His support for a corrupt politician is sickening!

He is no better than other apologists for corrupt politicians! I hope the good people of Dun Laoghaire teach him a lesson he’ll never forget! Before he has the chance to sell them out to his corrupt friends in Iraq!

Anti-Semitic shite

by Tom

Wed Apr 23, 2003 07:37

The above message about zionism from "vindicator" gives links to 2 anti-zionist sites. One is EXPLICITLY anti-semitic from a white supremacist view point, the other is, beneath the surface, equally anti-semitic from an islamist position.

I am a supporter of the Palestinians. In addition to all the work I've done on it here in America, I once participated in a IPSM demo in Belfast with some friends of mine in SF Youth. My feelings about the palestinian-israeli conflict are best summed up by the position of the Young Demcratic Socialists, to which I used to belong (http://www.ydsusa.org/statements/israel.html).

There are many Jewish people, both inside and outside Israel, who support the Palestinians to one extent or another. One of the most prominent is Noam Chomsky. There are many organizations, such as Colorado Jews for a Just Peace, that support the Palestinians.

The problem isn't judaism, it's imperialism, bigotry, colonialism, etc. The Occupation can and should be challenged WITHOUT making anti-semitic comments. Just as British imperialism and Orangeism can be challenged without anti-Protestant bigotry. Etc. etc.

Although the person who posted the above message probably doesn't care, this kind of thing can create conditions where Jews can be physically attacked. I have definitely heard of a lot of anti-semitic elements among Palestinian supporters In america and Europe, including someone I met in Galway.

Anyway, I just HAD to respond to that anti-semitic shit. I've been lurking here for awhile, maybe I'll start participating.

Tom

Information

by Des

Wed Apr 23, 2003 18:32

On a point of information, George Galloway is taking a libel action against the Telegraph.

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Blair moves to expel Galloway

Comments (8 of 8)