28.04.2004

It is a woman's right to choose

The Muslim Association of Britain did not come into the unity coalition at its foundation. We were told by none other than Respect secretary John Rees of the Socialist Workers Party that MAB was unable to join because of our commitment to equality for gays and lesbians.

This was supposed to be evidence that Respect was not abandoning women’s and gay rights, despite Lindsey German’s comment at Marxism 2003 that they should not be regarded as “shibboleths”. Comrade Rees dismissed as rubbish the idea that the SWP was prepared to dump such principles in order to form a mooted Peace and Justice coalition with the Morning Star’s Communist Party of Britain and sections of the mosque.

Former president of MAB Anas Altikriti now joins other Respect candidates standing on a platform that is explicit in its “opposition to all forms of discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs (or lack of them), sexual orientation, disabilities, national origin or citizenship” and stands for “the right to self-determination of every individual in relation to their religious (or non-religious) beliefs, as well as sexual choices”.

Good, but it is of some concern that MAB should issue a public statement enthusing over George Galloway’s reactionary stance on abortion. Dated April 23, it “welcomes comments made by George Galloway MP on abortion in an interview published recently. Mr Galloway, who is currently leading the newly formed ‘Unity Coalition, Respect’ into the forthcoming European parliamentary elections on June 10, outlines his own conviction that abortion is morally and ethically wrong …

“These comments, as well as his statements on faith and god in the same interview, will surely be welcomed by British muslims, who see Respect as a real alternative to the main political parties in the approaching European elections. They also affirm George Galloway’s standing as a man of principle who does not shy away from putting his own position on the line for his beliefs and convictions.”

Comrade Galloway was interviewed by The Independent on Sunday. And his anti-abortion position was not squeezed out of him. He volunteered it. “He put his own position,” as MAB points out, in the middle of an election campaign. In politics, timing is everything. Is it mere coincidence then that comrade Galloway’s publicly restated his stance and then duly got MAB’s backing for Respect? Or was the whole thing carefully choreographed? Frankly, I’m not sure.

Now that MAB has linked its own opposition to abortion with support for Respect, it is beholden on Respect’s executive to make matters absolutely clear. Does Respect support or oppose a women’s right to choose? Platitudes will not do. Respect’s founding declaration gives the impression of being in favour of a woman’s right to choose: “self-determination of every individual in relation to their religious or non-religious beliefs, as well as sexual choices”. Sounds good, but now we can see that it carefully skirts around the issue of abortion.

Socialist Party and Respect

Ian Page, councillor in the London borough of Lewisham, is the Socialist Party candidate in the Greater London Assembly constituency of Greenwich and Lewisham. There is no love lost between the SP and the main driving force in the unity coalition, the SWP. Yet peace and love was seen to break out between Respect and the SP in that corner of south-east London, after some gentle encouragement from comrade Galloway and others on the Respect executive.

Respect has indicated it would be happy to leave this constituency clear for comrade Page. Only a few details need clearing up. And therein lies the devil. Details. The political commissioner at the BBC has indicated that Respect must stand in all London GLA constituencies in order to qualify for a London regional election broadcast. He has admitted in writing that there may be exceptions to this - however, this occasion is not to be one of them. The commissioner has said that he would be happy if Ian Page appeared on the ballot as “Socialist Alternative - Respect”.

This ruling is being jointly challenged by Respect and the Socialist Party, with the latter obviously putting more energy into it than, say, John Rees.

It is a ludicrous and bureaucratic ruling if it stands. The SP and Respect have effectively agreed an unequal but principled deal. Respect would call for a vote for Ian Page in Greenwich and Lewisham and for its part the SP will call for a vote for Respect in the all-London list and Lindsey German for mayor. Let us hope that sense prevails. If it does not, then Respect will stand a candidate in Greenwich and Lewisham to gain a regional broadcast. However, we need not campaign for such a candidate and can still call on all Respect supporters to back Ian Page’s candidacy.

Of course, the SP could just join the unity coalition too. Remember, all nominations are due in by May 5.
Scotland for the Scots
Ever since Tommy Sheridan’s election to the Holyrood parliament in 1999, many socialists south of Hadrian’s wall have pointed to the SSP as the model to aspire to. And in many ways justifiably so. However, this usually went too far, with an inverted English chauvinism declaring that anything the SSP did was beyond reproach, including their call for Scottish independence. Just let the Scots get on with it … who are we to criticise?

Well, it now seems it is okay for the SSP to lay down the law to those of us flailing about elsewhere in Britain. SSP secretary Allan Green has written to Nick Wrack, Respect chair, with a wee bit of advice about Wales. Get out. The letter says: “Just as the SSP would urge socialists not to stand against Respect in the elections in England, we urge Respect not to stand against Forward Wales.” This despite the fact the SSP just voted at its annual conference to back Respect in England … and Wales.

But the real cheek comes in a demand that Respect must never, ever, show its face in Scotland. Comrade Green says: “The SSP is seeking a formal response to our request that you make it explicit that you do not intend to organise in Scotland at any time in the future. The Socialist Alliance has always been clear that it only organises in England. There is, in our opinion, some public ambiguity with Respect. Your spokespersons continue to use the term ‘Britain’ when discussing the future of your organisation. It has also been registered with the electoral commission as intending to stand in elections in England, Scotland and Wales. John Rees has previously indicated to me that this entry was down to the electoral commission rather than Respect. However, the electoral commission website still has this claim. We would be grateful, if you do not intend to stand in Scotland, for you to arrange for your entry in the website to be quickly changed.”

Fancy using the word “Britain”. You’ll be telling me next that there is a British state and a British royal family and a British parliament and British civil service and a British army and a British secret service - not to mention a British working class.

Now comrade Green is a clever fellow. I am sure it has not passed him by that the leading spokesperson and political personality in Respect is a member of parliament for a place called Glasgow Kelvin. Yes, that’s right, Glasgow is in Scotland.

The demand that Respect never stands in Scotland is a demand that Respect MP George Galloway must not even contemplate seeking re-election to Westminster in Glasgow - unless he does so as an SSP member. Or else he can just bugger off and play with his mates in England. Either way, it is the high-handed arrogance that unfortunately comes when one replaces internationalism with nationalism.