George Galloway’s victory shows rejection of Tories an d Labour

From SWP online in the UK.


by Charlie Kimber, SWP national secretary

George Galloway’s extraordinary victory in the Bradford West by-election is a political earthquake. To secure 56 percent of the vote, and to win more than double the Labour vote when the Tories are in office is truly remarkable. 

It shows above all that there is massive anger against the Tories and the Lib Dems – and that Labour is utterly failing to channel it. As Galloway said after the count, Labour “must stop imagining that working people and poor people have no option but to support them if they hate the Tory and Liberal Democrat coalition partners”.

When Labour abandons working people by backing pay freezes, condemning mass strikes and meekly implementing cuts then it should not be surprised when those people vote for an alternative.

Humiliated Labour Party figures are peddling the myth that Galloway won because of a sectarian, ethnically-based appeal. 

George Galloway did mobilise the feeling against Islamophobia and the imperialist war drive. And he was right to do so. But he did far more than that. He campaigned clearly against cuts, unemployment and the blighted lives of young people. And he won support from non-Muslims as well as Muslims. Respect had a vibrant campaign that involved many people new to political activity.

Galloway pulled together a vote overwhelmingly of working class people and enthused big numbers of young people. 

The SWP congratulates George Galloway on his success and hopes he will take a lead in the continuing battle against austerity, racism and imperialism.

The Bradford West by-election should encourage all of us fighting David Cameron’s government of millionaires by strikes, protests and demonstrations – as well as those campaigning for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition at the 3 May elections.

http://www.swp.org.uk/statement/galloway-election-victory