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Appeal for a broad-based progressive slate for the London Assembly list.
At the January meeting of National Council members, Respect MP George Galloway was asked to write to progressive groups in London with a view to standing a broad slate of candidates in the London Assembly elections. Click "read more" to see his letter.

Politics in London is hotting up as we approach the London Assembly elections in May. Yet there is a danger that there will be no credible list on the progressive left of New Labour. Such an alternative is urgently needed.

The problems are clear enough. London is one of the wealthiest cities in the world, yet it has some of the worst poverty. Brokers in the city get vast bonuses whist millions exist below the poverty official level in sub-standard housing and on low wages.

Labour no longer provides any kind of representation for the trade unions or for oppressed sections of society, or for ethnic minorities. It has swallowed the neoliberal agenda and is imposing a wage freeze on the unions which will cut living standards. Its immigration policy is no different to that of the Tories. Their policies on health and education are little different either.

There is a crisis of representation for trade unionist, ethnic minorities, those in poverty and on low wages, those facing racism and other forms of discrimination, sex or gender. What is needed is a broad-based slate in May which will speak for these sections of society.

In the broadest terms, I believe the slate needs to be based on opposition to privatisation. It needs to be anti-racist, and opposed to discrimination of all kinds. It needs to campaign for publicly owned transport, for decent wages and pensions and for cheap and affordable housing. It needs to defend comprehensive education, the NHS and the environment.

Respect Renewal is making a broad appeal for this kind of slate for the London Assembly elections (but not for the Mayor). We are appealing to all those in the unions and in campaigns to support such a slate. We have no preconditions as to the name or to its precise platform – all that can be the subject of discussions with those who are prepared to participate in it.

If you are prepared to do so please add your name .

George Galloway MP
 

News and articles of interest

Here are some articles and news reports we think are worth looking at

From Triumph to Torture by John Pilger
Two weeks ago, I presented a young Palestinian, Mohammed Omer, with the 2008 Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism. Awarded in memory of the great US war correspondent, the prize goes to journalists who expose establishment propaganda, or "official drivel", as Gellhorn called it.

SATs school tests criticised by official report by Harvey Thompson and Linda Slattery
In May, millions of school children throughout England undertook their Standard Assessment Tasks (SATs) in English, mathematics and science. The statutory tests are widely considered to be flawed and almost universally reviled by teachers and children alike.

Health: Who asked for choice? - Morning Star
IF Health Minister Ben Bradshaw believes that there is political capital to be made by taking on our NHS doctors, he will quickly come unstuck.

Afghanistan troop deaths outnumber those in Iraq by Angela Balakrishnan and agencies
Militants in Afghanistan killed more US and Nato troops than those in Iraq in June after a fresh spate of rebel attacks that highlighted the growing strength of the Taliban.

Iran legally entitled to develop nuclear energy, says UK MP
Iran is legally entitled to develop nuclear energy under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, according to a British MP visiting Tehran for the first time. George Galloway, who was expelled from Britain's ruling Labor Party for his outspoken opposition to the Iraq war, also criticized the hypocrisy of Israel's belligerence towards Iran, which has its own illegal stockpile of nuclear weapons.

In the Cause of Fear and Ignorance by John Pilger
Muslims are alone as they watch the British state, with its "obstinate incomprehension" of their faith, do to them as it would never do to those of other faiths. Imagine Jews treated this way. You cannot imagine it; the profanity is too great. The silence of British Jews, who have the history, is also great.

Migrant Myths by Adam Ford
As part of her degree course, Kurdish migrant Filiz Celik researched the conditions that workers from overseas face in the United Kingdom. The full text of her study can be read here, but this summary by Adam Ford gives some idea of the reality behind the media-generated myths.

Tesco shareholders reject TV chef's chicken welfare call
Tesco shareholders today voted against a resolution from TV cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall which called for the retail giant to improve its chicken-rearing standards.

Academies expelled 10,000 pupils
Academies have been accused of excluding disproportionately high numbers of students after it emerged that they excluded nearly 10,000 pupils for poor behaviour last year.

Let companies run state schools for profit, says Sir Simon Milton
Private companies should be allowed to run state schools at a profit and be free to dismiss teachers who are not up to the job, the head of the Local Government Association (LGA) said yesterday.

For more stories, click here