Glasgow MP George Galloway, an outspoken opponent of British Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to back the US-led invasion of Iraq, was expelled from the Labour Party on October 23. Galloway was found guilty by a Labour Party disciplinary committee of having brought the party "into disrepute by behaviour that is prejudicial or grossly detrimental to the party". The Scottish Socialist Party's Tommy Sheridan issued the following open letter to members of the British Labour Party on October 22.
Dear comrades,
Today the Labour Party is in the process of expelling George Galloway for his outspoken opposition to Blair's illegal and immoral war against the people of Iraq. Last Sunday, [Labour MP for Dundee East] John McAllion, who I worked closely with over the past four years, announced that he is breaking with Labour and may soon be joining the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP).
These two events in the space of a single week show what I'm sure you know in your hearts to be true, that the Labour Party is no longer a place where socialists can feel at home. As McAllion puts it, "When Labour conference delegates give Blair a 7½-minute standing ovation and vote for foundation [corporatised] hospitals, either they are in the wrong party or I am, and I think it is me!"
I know that many of you, like John and George, have spent their lifetime in the Labour Party and there are many good socialists still in the party. However, it is clear that New Labour is not the party that you, I or many ex-Labour members who now belong to the SSP, joined.
I would like to extend to you a warm welcome to join the SSP. We have ex-Labour members at every level. They will all tell you that they are much happier to be in a party that they don't have to apologise for and one which they can be proud of.
It is also the fastest growing party in Scotland, with more than 3000 members, 85 branches, its own weekly newspaper and with its first major union affiliation about to happen. On May 1, [the SSP] got 130,000 votes for socialism and six members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and we expect to win a member of the European Parliament next June.
In 2007, when proportional representation is adopted for local council elections, we expect to win hundreds of SSP councillors across Scotland, plus many more MSPs at the next Scottish election.
Unlike New Labour, the SSP is an open, democratic party in which every member has rights and in five years no member has been disciplined or expelled. It is a pluralistic, participatory party that will empower you, not demoralise you.
I invite you to join with us in helping to build a socialist Scotland.
[Visit the SSP web site at <http://www.scottishsocialistparty.org>.]
From Green Left Weekly, November 5, 2003.
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