04.05.2011

No vote for Galloway

This 'Open letter to the left' was issued by the Manchester-based blogger, 'Infantile and disorderly', on May 2. Since then it has been carried by a number of other websites, including RevLeft and the Alliance for Workers' Liberty. Needless to say, the editors of this paper disagree with the call not to vote for George Galloway and the Coalition Against Cuts list - we were for critical support - but we print it in the interests of debate

On May 5, George Galloway will be standing for election to Holyrood. The former Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow and Labour MP for Glasgow Kelvin is heading the George Galloway (Respect) - Coalition Against Cuts list. He has the backing of Solidarity, the Socialist Workers Party and the Socialist Party in Scotland. On his election website, Galloway pledges to “oppose every cut to schools, hospitals and public services” and “fight for a parliament with the powers to tax the rich bankers and big business to help pay for jobs and decent public services”. It sounds fine, but there is no way those on the left can extend any level of support for George Galloway.

Galloway is a supporter of the Islamic Republic of Iran. When questioned at a recent public meeting, Galloway denied ever supporting president Ahmadinejad and even offered £1,000 to anyone who could prove his support. However, while interviewing the Iranian president on his Press TV show, The real deal, last August, Galloway stated that he requires “police protection in London from the Iranian opposition because of my support for your election campaign. I mention this so you know where I’m coming from.” In fact, while Iran’s 2009 election is widely accepted to have been rigged, Galloway has stated in his Daily Record blog that the electoral count “was awesome” and the million-plus protesters took to the streets because “too many people were allowed to vote” (his emphasis).

The Iranian regime incarcerates, tortures and executes political opponents, including leftists, trades unionists and leaders of the radical students’ movement. It does the same to those found guilty of “war against god”, a charge levelled at political dissidents. Confessions are extracted under torture and duress and at times broadcast on state TV channels, including Press TV. Those found guilty of adultery and homosexuality can face the death penalty. Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani (called “the so-called stoning case” by Galloway on Press TV) was sentenced to death by stoning in a court speaking a language she didn’t speak herself. George Galloway denies that homosexuality is punishable by death in Iran. On The Wright show, Galloway stated that “the papers seem to imply that you get executed in Iran for being gay. That’s not true.” He then inferred that the boyfriend of gay Iranian asylum seeker Mehdi Kazemi had been executed for “sex crimes” against young boys and not for being gay.

It’s unsurprising that Galloway publicly supports the Islamic Republic. He is an employee of Press TV, the Iranian state propaganda channel. While serving as a MP, Galloway was forced to declare his earnings from Press TV, which ranged from between £5,000 and £20,000 for his various shows.

As pro-democracy protests engulf Syria, it’s worth remembering that Galloway has previously heaped praise upon the Syrian regime and authoritarian ruler, Bashar al-Assad. Addressing Damascus University in late 2005, Galloway said: “For me he is the last Arab ruler, and Syria is the last Arab country. It is the fortress of the remaining dignity of the Arabs.” Galloway has expressed approval for other dictators too, once describing Pakistan’s general Musharraf as an “upright sort”. Far from a consistent democrat, after the 1999 coup brought Musharraf to power Galloway told The Mail on Sunday that “Only the armed forces can really be counted on to hold such a country together ... Democracy is a means, not an end in itself and it has a bad name on the streets of Karachi and Lahore.”

Galloway’s Christian beliefs have influenced his views on abortion and stem cell research. He doesn’t believe in evolution. In The Independent on Sunday in 2004 Galloway said: “I’m strongly against abortion. I believe life begins at conception, and therefore unborn babies have rights. I think abortion is immoral.” He was absent from all votes on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (which included attempts to reduce the abortion time limit in the UK). His notable absenteeism extends to many LGBT issues and euthanasia. Then again, Galloway always had fairly lamentable levels of parliamentary participation. As a Respect MP, Galloway only participated in 98 out of 1,288 votes. In 2006, he claimed more expenses than any other backbench MP in parliament.

Galloway’s egoism has always been astounding. While most socialists consider it standard for workers’ representatives to be elected on a workers’ wage (not an impoverishing amount, but the salary of a skilled worker), Galloway has declared he couldn’t possibly live on “three workers’ wages”. And what else other than pure vanity can have driven an appearance on Big brother, which discredited whole sections of the left?

Finally, it’s worth remembering that Respect’s own councillors in Tower Hamlets have voted through cuts to public services.

We call on socialists to offer no support for Galloway’s election campaign.

Moshé Machover (Israeli socialist) - Torab Saleth (Workers Left Unity Iran) - Mehdi Kia (co-editor Middle East Left Forum) - Charlie Pottins (Unite and Hands Off the People of Iran steering committee) - Rosie Kane (Scottish Socialist Party) - Nima Kisomi (Iranian socialist) - Sahar G (Iranian socialist) - Suran Badfar (Iranian Socialist) - Vicky Thompson (Hopi) - Tami Peterson (National Union of Students LGBT committee) - David Broder (The Commune) - Steve Ryan (The Commune) - Barry Biddulph (The Commune) - Sinead Rylance (Communist Students) - Ustun Yazar (Communist Students) - Reyhaneh Sadegzadeh (Communist Students) - Alex Allan (Communist Students) - James O’Leary (Communist Students) - Sebastian Osthoff (Communist Students) - Komsan Duke (Anarchist Federation) - William J Martin (Batley and Spen CLP) - Elsie Wraight (Manchester Labour Students) - Rachael Howe (Love Levenshulme Hate Cuts campaign) - Karen Broady (Unison) - Ste Monaghan (GMB) - Edd Mustill (NUJ) - Dan Read (NUJ) - Pete Cookson (NUT) - Joe Broady (Bectu) - Raphie De Santos (‘The left banker’) - Andrew Coates (socialist blogger) - Michael Leversha (student activist) - Beth Marshall (student activist) - Nima Barazandeh (student activist) - Democratic Socialist Alliance (organisation).