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| Galloway goes on Big Brother “for Palestine”
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George Galloway
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British member of parliament and Respect Party leader George Galloway has caused controversy by becoming a contestant on the reality television programme “Celebrity Big Brother”.
The anti-war and pro-Palestinian politician, who stands accused of collaborating with Saddam Hussein and profiting from Iraq oil dealings in the oil-for-food scandal, has angered his East London constituents who have accused him of arrogance and self-interest.
Galloway now faces a backlash from his voters who say he has abandoned them for television fame.
Last Friday protesters gathered outside Mr. Galloway’s office, demanding that he “get back to work”.
The United Residents of Bethnal Green and Bow, a group which brings together constituents, has set up a website entitled “Contestant George Galloway MP; why isn’t he at work?”
A cash ticker counts the cost to the taxpayer of each day Mr Galloway is absent from work. Today it stands at 945 pounds (1,380 euros).
Reaching audiences
Mr. Galloway has however defended his decision to participate in the reality TV show, saying he is doing it “for Palestine”.
“Millions of people vote by premium phone and text lines to choose who should face eviction. A percentage of the proceeds goes to a charity of choice,” he explained on the party website.
Galloway says his fee will go to Interpal, a Palestinian charity accused by the US of channelling funds to terrorist organisations.
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George Galloway on Big Brother.
Photo: Channel 4
"Lots of people feel that it’s not an appropriate way for an MP to spend their time. People in their workplaces and communities say that many Respect supporters don’t think that this was a good idea"
Socialist Worker | Stating he wishes to reach the “politically untouched”, Mr Galloway goes on to say: “I’m doing it for the audience. The biggest audience I’ll ever have. Every night on prime-time television millions will tune in. In the slow January news month all the newspapers will be full of Big Brother.”
The Respect party has a clearly defined policy towards Israel.
The party manifesto states that it “fully supports the Palestinian struggle for justice and liberation”.
“Palestinian people have suffered more than half a century of oppression at the hands of the Israeli state and the Zionist movement. We support the call for a boycott of Israeli goods and services, of tourism to Israel and of academic, sporting and cultural links with Israeli bodies.”
Political mistake
Galloway was expelled from the Labour Party in October 2003 after he called the Labour government “Tony Blair’s lie machine”. He then teamed up with the Socialist Workers Party, some leading members of the Muslim Association of Britain and others opposed to the Iraq war to form the Respect Party in January 2004.
In the May 2005 general elections, Galloway ousted Oona King, the Labour MP, successfully exploiting the Muslim backlash over the Iraq war.
Since the general election Galloway has attended 15 per cent of the votes in Parliament, 634th lowest out of 645 MPs and he has spoken in 4 debates, the 556th lowest out of 645 MPs.
This week’s Socialist Worker newspaper admits that Galloway’s unilateral decision to appear on “Celebrity Big Brother” was a political mistake.
“Lots of people feel that it’s not an appropriate way for an MP to spend their time. People in their workplaces and communities say that many Respect supporters don’t think that this was a good idea.”
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