You read it here first
Thursday, June 12, 2008 "I have an important announcement," said the MP for Bethnal Green and Bow. "If Ken doesn't stand (for mayor of London in 2012), I will. You heard it here first."
As important announcements go, it fell a bit flat. After all, you don't go to a tobacco trade lunch at Lords Cricket Ground to talk about the mayor of London (even if Boris was the speaker last year). And didn't I read, earlier this week, that Ken Livingstone has already announced his intention to run in 2012?
That apart, George Galloway didn't disappoint. He was outspoken (as we knew he would be) and he made us laugh. Here are my notes of some of what he said:
"It's a long way from the mean streets of Dundee to Lords ... never smoked cigarettes ... started smoking cigars at 16 ... regular visitor to Cuba ... close friend of Fidel Castro ... Castro gave up smoking a long time ago and ordered me to give up ("we need you as an activist more than a customer") ...
"I am one of you ... strongly opposed to disproportionality of government's response to tobacco ... (smokers) have a right not to be hunted ... it's a witchhunt and like all witchhunts, illogical ... alcohol far more harmful to family life, society and the person who consumes it ...
"I don't drink, I don't gamble, I don't go with women any more ... (but) I have to smoke two Monte Christo No 2 a day ... psychologically I want to ... it's not some obscure fetish like those practised by some members of parliament ...
"(Smoking ban) cannot be consistent with principle of liberty ... (need to exert) maximum pressure on parliamentarians ... MPs live in a bubble ... five letters or emails on the same subject will prompt a meeting of staff to plan a response ... 25 letters or emails will lead to a meeting of staff and me ..."
"There are two windows: the current (DoH) consultation ... and the 2010 review (of the smoking ban) ... we need to seek relief in certain specific areas ... I'll be with you in that argument."
Warm applause but only a handful of people (I counted five) gave him a standing ovation. Truth is, George Galloway is an entertaining speaker and there should always be a place for mavericks like him in our political system. But a useful political ally? Sorry, there's just too much baggage.
Still, no harm calling him on TalkSport at the weekend. As he says, "One million people listen to my radio show". That's one million potential voters - so make that call!
People
Reader Comments (8)
George Galloway is not a Labour MP, he represents the Respect party.
David Davis has resigned because of our loss of Freedoms and Liberties. He didn't vote on the smoking ban and I wonder how he stands on the ban.
Yet again, I hear the assertion that an MP doesn't need very many letters on a particular issue to be galvanised into action, this time from an MP, himself.
I've said it before on other threads but, at the risk of sounding bossy and impertinent, I'm going to say it again PLEASE WRITE TO YOUR MP about the smoking ban..
" Truth is, George Galloway is an entertaining speaker and there should always be a place for mavericks like him in our political system. But a useful political ally? Sorry, there's just too much baggage"
What a pathetic, sectarian thing to say. Shame on you, Simon! So, just for the record, here is Forest’s stance on the struggle to win amendments to the smoking ban: we’ll only work with rightwing libertarians.
It’s a pity the anti-ban movement in this country lacks leadership - we could be winning right now, as public support for the total ban crumbles.
Mat, Forest will happily work with left-wing libertarians - and you're living proof of that. (Mat, I should explain, writes for the Morning Star and has written a book that Forest intends to publish in the autumn.)
Meanwhile readers of this blog will know that Claire Fox, director of the Institute of Ideas and a former publisher of Living Marxism, is a prominent left-wing libertarian who has chaired and spoken at numerous Forest events.
My comment about Galloway has nothing to do with left or right. It's about having the nous to work with people who can help rather than hinder our cause. In my judgement - and much as I admire his independent spirit - the baggage Galloway brings to the table (Saddam Hussein, Big Brother etc) would almost certainly overshadow our message.
If Mat - or anyone else - wants to argue otherwise, please, let's hear it. But don't accuse Forest of only working with "right-wing libertarians", because it's simply not true.
Well, fair enough - though I deny being any sort of libertarian!
But I think Gorgeous's "baggage" exists more in the minds of media people and associated chatterers than in those of under-siege smokers, who I feel would react well to his presence. Besides - how many other MPs, with or without baggage, have made the kind of promises of support that Galloway made in the remarks you quoted? Are we really so rich in prominent parliamentary friends that we can afford to turn them down (and he DID win all the libel cases, you know!)
I concur with Mat on this. I hardly think that appearing on Big Brother constitutes "baggage". Or, if it does, what isn't baggage? Smoking is inherently cross-party, and every party deserves to be represented. I'd welcome Che Guevara if he spoke up against the ban.
I agree with Mat and Frank. George has always courted controversy...and generally come out of any contest of wits and wills on top. Remember his performance against the U S senate (Think it was the Senate, please put me right if I've got it wrong.).
Having heard him talking about the evils of smoking and defending-I thought-the smoking ban, again I could be wrong, I am delighted to hear him denounce this evil law on the grounds of liberty.
If Forest doesn't want him as an ally I hope Freedom2Choose will.
Like or loathe George, he always has plenty of listeners agreeing with him, plus it'll make a change to have someone on Talksport standing up for smokers instead of that atrocious, gobby Mike Mendoza who actually took great delight in the ban and slagging off smokers. He even bragged about how he laughed in smokers faces when he came out of a pub and saw them outside. Still I don't suppose you can expect anything else from an ex-councillor.
Though as to George saying write to MPs, I written to a few, and I know others that have done the same, all you get is the pseudo-statistics in reply, that's if you get one. Where the Smoking Ban Experiment is concerned no MP, well apart from George, has the guts to speak out.
So I say good on George, and any help offered should be gratefully received.