UK MP Galloway expelled by Labour Party over Iraq

[emad]

From the UK's BBC News:

George Galloway has been expelled from the Labour Party in the wake of his outspoken comments on the Iraq war. The MP for Glasgow Kelvin had already branded a disciplinary hearing a "show trial". Mr Galloway faced five charges relating to a television interview during the war in which he accused Mr Blair and George Bush of acting "like wolves" in invading Iraq. The charges faced by Mr Galloway were understood to be that:


he incited Arabs to fight British troops
he incited British troops to defy orders
he incited Plymouth voters to reject Labour MPs,
he threatened to stand against Labour
he backed an anti-war candidate in Preston.

The accusations were judged against a rule which bans "bringing the Labour Party into disrepute by behaviour that is prejudicial or grossly detrimental to the party". There is no right of appeal against the ruling, although it is possible that it could be challenged in the courts. Three members of Labour's 11-man National Constitutional Committee heard evidence both from Mr Galloway and from deputy general secretary Chris Lennie. Character witnesses for the MP included former Labour cabinet minister Tony Benn.

<snip>
More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3205889.stm

NB: Accusation No 3: inciting Plymouth voters to reject Labour MPs:
WOW! Now that IS serious!

Accusations No 4 & 5: that's the sort of thing that got Ken Livingstone thrown out of Labout - and elected as London's first (virulently anti-Bush) Mayor...

[On the Road]

1. How Unusual is This?

I have no frame of reference under a parlimentary system.

[T_i_B]

11. Typical "new" labour really

"new" labour is not known for tolerating dissent within the ranks and has used a catch-all clause in it's constitution of bringing the party into disrepute to kick anyone who does not toe the line out of the party. This is one of the major reasons why it is impossible to reform "new" labour's hard right ways.

To be perfectly frank, even if I did support Blair I would not get involved with his party as I value my freedoms of thought & speech too much for "new" labour's liking.

[number six]

2. Keep up the good fight, George.

George used to be my MP. Frankly, he's a real asshole but he has strong beliefs that he will stick to regardless of the consequences. I don't agree with all of his views, some of which are pretty nuts, but I'd vote for him every time. Courage like George's is all too rare. The man has been slandered as an Iraqi spy, jeered by his own leadership and now betrayed by the party. I have every confidence that Labour will live to deeply regret this foolish action. The dumbest thing you can do to George is to give him publicity and a cause. The man is one hell of a fighter.

Go get 'em big man.

[robcon]

3. It is about time

Galloway was caught being in the employ of Saddam, and it's taken 6 months to kick him out. Galloway is the lowest of the low.

[realFedUp]

4. Wasn't that accusation proven false?

Anyone have the newslink?

Seems to me that many in this country made money
from Saddam's regime at one time or another.

[emad]

6. Trying to find it... it was about some alleged 'counter intelligence'

found in Iraq that supposedly cleared him........

On edit:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2965947.stm

there's some stuff about it here

[realFedUp]

7. Thanks for finding this.

:-)

[Classical_Liberal]

20. Yes it was proven false

He sued the CS monitor over it, and they issued an apology.

[tlb]

21. No, it was not proven false.

There were two sets of documents showing Galloway was a paid asset for the Iraqis. The original documents were taken by British reporters directly from Iraqi Intelligence files. They have never been discredited.

Later the Monitor was approached by an Iraqi with documents of uncertain origin. These were shown to be forgeries and the Monitor did apologize. That has no bearing on the original revelation.

[w13rd0]

5. um...

bullshit...that charge was demonstrated to be an orchestrated smear.

[thebigidea]

9. sorry, that's a lie

crude forgeries, and telling that you'd still be pushing such discredited nonsense.

[Iverson]

8. anti-war readers take note!

Galloway's punishment is for being an outspoken critic of Blair's Iraq policy.

There is an article and an editorial in today's Guardian. Here are the links:

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,9061,1069446,00.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1068791,00.html

[Barrett808]

14. "Tony Blair has told nothing but lies"

To the point:

"George Galloway told the truth before, during and after the war with Iraq, whereas Tony Blair has told nothing but lies."

[tlcandie]

10. So, protesting speaking FOR a country under attack/invasion

is now inciting them to attack us?!!? :argh:

[Capt_Nemo]

12. It would be impossible for Galloway

to bring Labour Party into disrepute, since the leadership of this
party consists of war criminals and their acolytes. Labour could
never be brought lower than that...

[northernsoul]

13. maybe we know who Glasgow's next mayor is!

;-)

If Red Ken can run that other city down south, Galloway can surely do it in a proper civilized city like auld Glessgie.

see ya Jimmy!

[T_i_B]

16. He's not likely to be mayor

Galloway is more likely to run for MP of Glasgow Central. He may run as an independent but to be perfectly frank he might well be at home with the Socialist Alliance, whom he has worked very closely with indeed over the Iraq issue. I wondered at the time when I was involved in the anti-war movement if he spent more time at Socialist Alliance gatherings than he did with his own party. Mind you, whether or not he could win such an election is not something I can say.

http://www.socialistalliance.net

[thebigidea]

15. interesting that the guy who turned out to be right is being forced out

rather than Tony Blair!

Ah well, I think Tony's days aren't exacty endless either.

[xchrom]

17. just got back from london wednesday

he didn't say anything i didn't hear from the locals. funny, that.
labour is in trouble with mr and mrs joe 6 pak from what i could tell.
sounds like galloway has the better barometer.

[dudeness]

18. disgraceful...

n/t

[Classical_Liberal]

19. They need to ditch Tony who was wrong about the war

not Galloway, who was right! Tony minions probably had a part in most of the smears. This is so Orwellian. When does the straw finally break the camels back.

[T_i_B]

22. Galloway set for revenge by-election

http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=1172652003

THE Labour Party was braced last night for a potentially damaging by-election, after George Galloway threatened to seek revenge for his expulsion by resigning his Glasgow Kelvin seat and standing as an independent.

The maverick MP issued the threat after an independent panel expelled him "forthwith" from the Labour Party, concluding unanimously that his anti-war views had contravened party guidelines.

A by-election at this stage of the Parliament would be awkward for Labour, which could struggle to mobilise supporters in a constituency where Mr Galloway commands a substantial amount of loyalty.

Mark Craig, the chairman of Kelvin constituency Labour Party, pledged his "full support" if Mr Galloway stood against Labour as an independent.

[emad]

23. One good way to open the proverbial can of worms...

Feels like the opening of a new script about the Titanic....