Current UK politics could get interesting..
That analysis suggests that there 37 hard-core rebels (who rebelled on all four key issues in the last Parliament, including student tuition fees, foundation hospitals, Iraq, and the prevention of terrorism act), and another 29 soft rebels, who voted against the government on at least two of those four issues.
news.bbc.co.uk
and amongst all that, this guy will be lobbing political grenades over the wall at Tony Blair on policy in Iraq
Galloway: 'I'll Hound Blair Out of Downing Street'
news.scotsman.com
Maverick MP George Galloway today pledged to hound Prime Minister Tony Blair out of office.
The newly-elected MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, who was touring his constituency in an open-topped bus, said: “It is one of my first missions to bring him in front of a court in The Hague and behind bars.
“We are increasingly in a presidential system and that means the president is personally responsible and the buck stops there.
“I doubt if there are many people in the country who do not think that he is a liar.”
The former Labour rebel said his first attack would come in the Queen’s Speech debate.
“I will have plenty to say about Mr Blair – assuming he’s still there. I don’t think he is in for a third term.”
Mr Galloway was joined by more than 100 supporters on his victory “Sunshine Tour” through the streets of East London today to thank the people who voted him in with an 823 majority on Thursday.
Wearing blue jeans, a donkey jacket and smoking his trademark Cuban cigars, he waved and shouted to his constituents.
Many returned his waves but dozens failed to recognise the Respect party campaign bus or their new MP.
Mr Galloway said his victory had struck a decisive blow against New Labour and promised “fireworks” for the future.
But the 50-year-old pledged not to stand at the next general election in Bethnal Green and Bow because the people needed an MP of their “own origin”.
He said he may stand in another constituency or for the European Parliament.
“I am younger and fitter than Mr Blair and will certainly be continuing in politics,” he said.
His pledges to his constituents include campaigning for better housing, schools, public areas and action on youth unemployment.
“East London is the ‘Cinderella’ of our capital city and it has been grossly abandoned by both the major parties while in government.
“There is a saying that ‘it’s a squeaky wheel that gets oil’ and the east end did not just squeak on Thursday, it roared.”
Sybil Cock, of Bow, a college lecturer who has lived in Tower Hamlets for more than 30 years, said she voted for Mr Galloway because of his anti-war stance.
“I think that £6 billion could have been better spent on improving the living standards of Bethnal Green and Bow than on killing innocent civilians,” she said.
Shirin Hirsch, 18, of Bow, said it was the MP’s stance against the war, against privatisation and against student top-up fees which won her vote.
“I think Respect has got a lot of attraction for young people,” she said.
Campaigner Syed Ashraf Hussain said the next step for the party would be to field candidates in the local elections for the Labour-held Tower Hamlets Council. |
