Man of straw

[DavidGig]

Galloway just announced that he would be running against Straw in October. (That's where Craig Murray ran last time.) Any political experts care to explain the situation there? Straw looks pretty strong--

[faceless]

I'm not sure if he did say he would run against Straw - but if he did I'm sure it would make an interesting battle.

[DavidGig]

Right, "announced" is too strong a word. But he did hint it.

[major.tom]

I think his exact words to the query were that he guaranteed his opponent would be "a man of Straw," which (unless the phrase "man of Straw" is more ubiquitous in the U.K. than I'm aware of it being) remains somewhat coy.

I noticed that Nekokate was quoted (again!) on-air and her poem read by GG. (Well done, Kate.) This immediately followed his account of his use of the line "Spunk Loving Sluts" in his Parliamentary speech (which I still haven't had time to watch). It can be found at the very beginning of the 3rd hour.

If I heard correctly, GG also said he would be standing in for Gaunt "next week," (though I'm not clear on whether he meant 7/30-8/2 or the following week).

[faceless]

Galloway set to go after Straw’s seat
MICHAEL SETTLE, August 02 2007
www.herald.co.uk


The tantalising prospect of George Galloway standing against Jack Straw at the next General Election was raised last night as the leader of the anti-Iraq war Respect Party contemplates his future at Westminster. The London MP's aide told The Herald that Mr Galloway, 52, was likely to make his decision "by the end of this month" and that he was actively considering his options. Standing again in Scotland "was not ruled out".

The primary option, however, appears to be a challenge to Mr Straw, now Justice Secretary and who was Foreign Secretary at the time of the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. "Wherever George stood, we would see one hell of a fight but, of course, it would be a bigger scalp if he stood against a Cabinet minister," said the aide. He explained how when Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, visited Mr Straw in his Lancashire constituency Mr Galloway took part in and spoke at local protests.

The London MP also called on Mr Straw to resign over his comments last year about Muslim women wearing the veil. However, a challenge to the Secretary of State would be a formidable one. Mr Straw came under intense political fire in 2005 but managed a comfortable win with a majority of 8009 albeit down from 9249 in 2001 and from 14,451 in 1997.

At the time of his election to Bethnal Green and Bow, Mr Galloway made clear to constituents that he would only serve one term. Although he has contemplated not standing for Westminster again - he is expected to stand for the European Parliament in 2009 - it seems he has now decided to fight another General Election. An alternative option is to fight the neighbouring London seat to his current one, which under boundary changes will become Poplar and Lime House. It is at present Poplar and Canning Town and the seat of fellow Scot, Jim Fitzpatrick, a transport minister.

The third choice is for Mr Galloway to stand again in Scotland; he was a Glasgow MP for 18 years, representing Hillhead and Kelvin, all but 18 months of which was as a Labour MP. The aide said:"George is now a columnist in Scotland, which has raised some Labour hackles. Standing again north of the border is not ruled out."

The aide pointed out how last month during the Respect leader's answer to the MPs' decision to suspend him from the Commons over the standards commissioner's report on his links to Iraq, Mr Galloway teased any future opponent by saying he must watch out and the person he would stand against was "in the building". "The main things for George to consider who he stands against are: his chances of winning and whether his opponent his someone who has broken from Old Labour and deserves their comeuppance, which is what Respect is all about," he added.

Mr Straw was unavailable for comment last night.


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so who knows eh?

[popinjay]

I've got a feeling that unpopular as Straw is, he's a big name and will be hard to topple. Galloway will probably steal a large section of the Muslim vote, but I don't think it'll be enough.

[Mandy]

I might be just exercising wishful thinking, but I would like to think that at some stage traditional Labour voters will say "enough is enough", and vote for the candidate who represents what they believe in, rather than voting for the candidate who was picked by the "New Labour" = anti-labour leadership

[nekokate]

Hmmm, not sure what I think. Oona King was one thing, but Jack Straw?? Sure, there are a lot of Muslims in Blackburn, but, as George often reminds people, most of the Bethnal Green & Bow Muslim community didn't vote for him...

[major.tom]

Perhaps he's counting on the support of disenfranchised Labour voters, unhappy about the direction of "New Labour." Or maybe he's just blinded by the desire to stick it to the Straw Man.

Either way, if the rumour becomes fact, the contest would be well worth following.

[faceless]

GALLOWAY TO TAKE ON STRAW
Saturday August 4,2007
www.express.co.uk

SOCIALIST firebrand George Galloway is plotting to oust Jack Straw from Parliament at the next election. The MP for the hard-left Respect party is considering standing against the Justice Secretary in his Blackburn constituency. He hopes to exploit discontent over Iraq among Muslim voters to overturn Mr Straw’s 8,000 majority. One in four voters in Blackburn are Muslim.

Former Labour MP Mr Galloway pledged to represent east London’s Bethnal Green and Bow for just one Parliamentary term. A source close to Mr Galloway yesterday confirmed the MP was “seriously considering” a challenge to Mr Straw but also looking at other seats.

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Exploiting discontent? Is that giving voters a voice is called?

[popinjay]

I really hope this doesn't lead to an embarrassing defeat.

[faceless]

Galloway to reveal his next General Election target
08 August 2007
EXCLUSIVE by Ted Jeory
SOURCE


GEORGE Galloway is announcing next week which constituency he is stand in at the next General Election. The Bethnal Green & Bow 'Respect' MP has told the East London Advertiser that his two favoured options are Aviation minister Jim Fitzpatrick's seat in neighbouring Poplar & Limehouse, and Justice Secretary Jack Straw's manor in Blackburn. He will examine the campaign and voting patterns in tomorrow's Tower Hamlets council by-election in Shadwell before making up his mind next Thursday (August 16). But the Advertiser understands that Blackburn is his most likely destination.

"The thought of taking on the former Foreign Secretary who took us into war is I have to say quite a relishing one," he said. "The depth of feeling against Straw is considerable. We've had several in-depth meetings with officials about standing there." A number of other factors point towards a move away from London's East End, where Galloway has his power base, not least rumours of growing discontent with local Respect party members. However, the Scot said: "It would be a wrench to leave Tower Hamlets. I love the place."

Other Labour seats being considered are Treasury minister Kitty Ussher's constituency in Burnley, an unspecified seat in Birmingham and Bradford West, where Marsh Singh is standing down. Galloway believes the chances of a snap General Election in October are 50-50. That could mean he has already uttered his last words in Parliament, as he was 'named' and abruptly suspended by the Commons speaker Michael Martin two weeks ago.

He said walking out: "If anyone wants to hear the rest of my speech, they can come and listen outside."

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[Mandy]

Where-ever he stands, I hope supporters could do door-to-door canvassing in the chosen constituency .. if it is going to be a historic battle, the message has to get across to the people that New Labour has betrayed what they stand for.

[popinjay]

Sounds like he's making the announcement on the show today.

[Salim201]