Pledge “galloway”
"I will Fax my MP George Galloway to ask why his voting record in Parliament is so poor but only if 100 other local people will do the same."
— helen
Deadline to sign up by: 24th December 2005
17 people signed up, 83 more were needed
Country: United Kingdom
Place: Bethnal Green (view map)
More details
Since George Galloway won the chance to be the parlimentary representative of Bethnal Green and Bow, he has attended only 14% of votes in Parliament. Preferring it seems, to puff his chest at US Congress or cross swords with Christopher Hitchens. I will write to him via www.faxyourmp.com and question him on his pathetically poor attendence in Parliament and request details of when he holds his constituency surgeries... But only if 100 other people who live in Bethnal Green do too.
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Current signatories (
= they've done it)
helen, the Pledge Creator, joined by:
- John Foster-Hill
- Tim
- Iain Collins
- Hana Loftus
- michele
- Martin Brinkler
- Tadger Monkey
- Mark Tehan
- Ryan Maginn
- Khaled Shivji
- Christopher Fraser
- Chris Harris
- Robert Chalmers
- Karl Golden
- Peter Neal
- stephen hofman
- 1 person who did not want to give their name
Comments on this pledge
Technically, he isn't the local MP the area where I'm registered to live (which is actually further east) but he is the MP for the area I work in and, as a result, in which I spend most of my time. Given this, and the amount I contribute to the area, hopefully this qualifies me to sign the poll.
There are a huge number of social problems in the area (with high levels of poverty, unemployment, street crime, violent & loutish behaviour, litter, drug dealing, and street walkers) by the standards of any London constituency. Even something as basic as competent waste management is something he's failed to get a grip on.
I can't see a single visible improvement in the area since he was elected - if anything, things have got worse as a result of neglect.
As mentioned, pressing local issues go entirely ignored by this oaf while he is swanning about trying to court the press and working on his public profile. This is entirely to the the detriment of those in his constituency and issues they would actually like him to deal with (which are apparently all too mundane and beneath the great Galloway).
Not content with the fact that the most of the nation do not find him fit to represent their interests at a national level, he has a history of using what limited regional mandate he can hold of (by fair means or foul) to project himself onto the international stage, and into the media.
It's high time it was pointed out to those in the area how self serving his behaviour is.
I can only suggest that local residents take a good look around them and ask themselves if they are happy with the living standards in their area, and what improvements he has made to the region since he took over as their representative.
Regarding the poverty of facilities in Bethnal Green; We might be better off taking up this matter with the borough council who actually administer services. This is not a function of the MP's office.
This is particularly true when he only managed to gain 35% of votes cast and scraped through by a less than 2 % majority in a surprise win in an area where voter turnout was well below the national average, and so cannot in fact be said to be fairly representing the views of the majority of his constituents - rather he's representing the views of a very vocal minority (and, I would argue, in a very limited manner - as and when it suits him).
While I would hope the majority of residents (certainly a significant portion of the the 80%+ who didn't actually vote for him) whose homes fall within the bounds of Bethnal Green and Bow take issue with his poor record and his conduct as an MP, given his behaviour and the public funds he receives which allow him to induldge himself I rather think it's an issue for us all (not least those of us who actually live and work in the area and who's quality of life suffers directly as a result of his carpetbagging).
My understanding, was that Galloway was elected under a Respect Party ticket. I've reviewd the campaign materials availble on his site and from what I can tell, the electorate should have picked up the fact that he is a single-issue candidate.
Respect's agenda is narrowly focused on the anti-war and to a lesser extent anti-globalisation movments. I am not convinced that anybody reading Respect party materials could have concluded otherwise.
Galloway presents himself as a campaigning politician and not a man of the constuency
So I think JG is doing exactly what he said he would do. The question is, do you believe that is a responsible thing for an MP to do?
These issues of local infrastructure are more properly the subject of a petition to hackney council.
If you are going to blame Galloway for the povery of infrastructure you would need to demonstrate how an absence of votes from the member for bethnal green lead directly to the situation that you are complaining about.
I think it's entirely fair that you should complain that an MP is not fulfilling his duty by voting in the house, however you also need to justfy this in terms of what might have been achieved if his voting record were dramitcally improved.
The question is a reasonable one, and it's also fair to point out that Galloway has never actually shown any interest in representing the consistency in a wider context.
In direct response to your question, I believe the responsible thing for an MP to do is represent the interests of their constituents - both in the Commons and in local matters - and that this means all of them (not just the 18% of the residents who actually voted for them) and not just when it's convenient for them to do so.
I think this especially true when claiming over 100,000 UKP a year in expenses under the pretext of doing just that.
I don't think it's responsible to neglect your duties as an MP in favour of more lucrative pursuits such as writing newspaper columns, getting publishing deals, doing TV chat show interviews and performing tours of other countries on behalf of other foreign political and media organisations.
In short, no I don't think he's a responsible MP.
I also would like to see him continue his fight against the warmongers in the US and the UK. Both of these activities are extremely important.
I think this is the crux of the point; in what way should an MP behave in order to best represent his constituents.
Voting is only one way that an MP can make a difference, but then only under some circumstances. Given that George is a party of one, and unlikely to side with the conservative opposition his parliamentary vote is not likely to count for an awful lot.
We should also recognise that Galloway's constiuency comprises one of the least privalaged areas of london with a large Arab and Pakistani community. For those people, it's of vital importantance that somebody represents their desire for peace in Iraq. I'm not aware of any single division in the Commons where a single vote might have had a substantial impact on our warfare activities.
In summary, I would oppose this ballot for the following reasons:
* Galloway is doing exactly what he promised to do; Stand as a campaigning MP focussed on the single issue that a substantial poroportion of his constituents care strongly about.
* In so much as the role of an MP provides representation; he appears to be representing his constituency on a far higher level than most back-benchers achieve.
* The promponents of this pledge failed to make a connection between Galloway's lack of voting and the infrastructural problems in Bethnal Green. If you could demonstrate a scenario where Galloway's absence during a vote has made a difference to the condition of Bethnal Green, that would help your case.
In conclusion:
If you think that war in Iraq is amoral and should be stopped by whatever legal means nesecary then you most likely support Galloway. If you believe that the war is justified and legal then you most likely oppose his words.
I think what it comes down to is do you support Galloway's unique position on the issue he was elected to campaign for?
However, he believes that peace must come not by the end of the Insurgency and the surrender or destruction of Al Qaeda elements, but rather through the capitulation of the western powers and the democratically elected Government of Iraq to the Fascists and Baathists.
Galloway stands shoulder to shoulder with lovely charactors such as Bashir Assad, the unelected President of Syria, who is calling for the US to leave whilst encouraging Islamist Terrorists to enter the country to opress its people.
Now, whatever the failings of the USA in the Iraq matter, I personally cannot see that it would improve the lot of Iraqis to abandon them to the depradations of their former oppressors and their new Islamofascist allies.
So perhaps you will forgive me for saying that I think that Galloway is not really anti-war as he claims, he is pro war, but for the other side.
Apparently these events he does are not for personal gain, they're fund-raisers for Respect. But nevertheless the job he draws his salary for is to represent his constituents in Parliament, not to go on party-political fund-raising tours.
Of course any M.P. is liable from time to time to find themselves with an uncancellable event that takes them away from Parliament at a key moment and the situation may well be particularly difficult for Galloway if he doesn't have an established pairing arrangement.
Maybe it was bad luck that he wasn't there for a vote where his absence was crucial, but he also chose to be away from Parliament for the Trade Justice lobby of Parliament on the same day which had been organised well in advance.
An M.P. must accept responsibility for the way they decide their priorities. And when you arrange programmes that regularly take you outside the UK then your absence from Parliament at a crucial moment becomes something semi-predictable.
I have been a constituent in Bethnal Green and Bow for fifteen years and before that for thirteen years in Bow and Poplar. I have written to my M.P. since the days of Ian Mikardo and lobbied them in person from the days of Peter Shore.
Since Bosnia and Rwanda I have been particularly interested to see the UK government play an active role in international efforts to prevent genocide and lobbying my M.P. is an important way of ensuring that my concern finds a political voice.
From the early days after her election in 1997 I was able to lobby Oona King on the subject of genocide (and development issues generally). As it happens she has a particular interest in the subject and was involved in founding the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Genocide and the Great Lakes Region. However I would have felt just as confident approaching any of my previous representatives to ask them to take up my concerns on the subject.
But how on earth can I go and see George Galloway on the subject? However he may explain away his television address to Saddam Hussein, his ongoing legitimation of the actions of the Ba'athist opposition in Iraq and his support for the Ba'athist regime in Syria condone the actions of perpetrators and colluders with genocide.
I simply cannot contemplate lobbying an M.P. who I see as condoning genocide, whatever he may say otherwise.
Incidentally with regard to local services they're the responsibility of Tower Hamlets Council, not Hackney. And an M.P. does have influence raising local issues with the Council.
Despite what other posters are saying, the primary purpose of an MP is to represent the views of *all* of their constituents, including those that didn't necessarily vote for them, and get their problems and issues raised at a Parliamentary level. Galloway represents some of them very vaguely by swanning over to America to get involved in the most ridiculous set of Senatorial charades (even I don't believe he's profited personally to the tune of 20m barrells of oil - what were they thinking?), promoting his book and generally making a lot of smoke and noise. In fact, he hasn't really done anything for those who were against the war, but he's done quite a lot to defend his dubious role in the lead up to it. For that, we should 'salute his indefatigability' I suppose. Where is he for the poor Bangladeshi woman working in a sweatshop off Brick Lane? Where is he to help stem the tide of the chronic lack of resources that Bethnal Green & Bow is blighted with? Where is he to rid my street of the unsightly, uneven, potential deathtrap that is ITN cameramen?
His record (as per theyworkforyou.com) is this:
* Has spoken in 4 debates since the General Election — 555th out of 647 MPs.
* Has received answers to 1 written question since the General Election — 492nd out of 647 MPs.
* Has attended 16% of votes in parliament — 634th out of 645 MPs.
This is nothing short of appalling.
Galloway is a snake-oil salesman. If you haven't realised it yet, you weren't watching properly. Go away and vote again (opps, sorry, this wasn't a vote on the EU constitution).
Despite the fact that he deprived us of one of the few black women in Parliament (Paxman, even though you've become a cliche of yourself, I'm with you on that one), ran (or at least did nothing to stop) one of the most rabidly anti-semitic election campaigns against her, the lovely Oona now has her own chat-cum-current-affairs show on BBC4. She, at least, will be back, with a safer seat next time round I hope.
Galloway reminds me of my Uncle Graham (down to the dodgy 'tache), who decided that being a Terry-Thomas-like jewelery salesman, with the regulation wife and two kids wasn't enough, so had a mental breakdown, changed his name to Harry, became a potter and moved to Corsica. I just wish Galloway would do us all a favour and do the same....ho hum.
He is a cruel, manipulating, arrogant, creepy and deeply unpleasant man with an ego so enormous I'm surprised planets aren't orbiting around him.
I have lost ANY respect I ever had for him and do not wish for him to represent me. And I know I am not alone in this opinion, but I don't uppose he will care for one moment. He is to spiteful and cruel to regret his nasty behaviour.
Horrible, smug man. Playground bully. Not fit to be our MP.