Workers Party of Britain

Last updated

Workers Party of Britain
Leader George Galloway
Deputy LeadersAndy Hudd
Chris Williamson
Peter Ford
Founder George Galloway
FoundedDecember 2019;4 years ago (2019-12)
Headquarters91 Church Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B13 9AE [1]
Membership (November 2023)2,962 [2]
Ideology
Political position Left-wing [6] [7] [8] to far-left [9] [10]
House of Commons
1 / 650
Local government [11]
1 / 18,725
Website
workerspartybritain.org
George Galloway Official MP Portrait (2024).jpg
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The Workers Party of Britain (WPB), also called the Workers Party of Great Britain (WPGB) or Workers Party GB, [12] [13] [14] is a socialist and socially conservative political party in the United Kingdom, formed in December 2019 and led by George Galloway, the Member of Parliament for Rochdale since a 2024 by-election.

Contents

History

The Workers Party of Britain was founded in response to the Labour Party's landslide defeat at the 2019 United Kingdom general election and the resignation of Jeremy Corbyn as Leader of the Labour Party. [15] It was formed with a commitment to “defend the achievements of the USSR, China, Cuba etc” and is “unequivocally committed to class politics”. [15] The founding of the Workers Party of Britain was welcomed by the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) (CPGB-ML). [16] [4] Joti Brar, a vice-chair of the CPGB-ML, was elected as the Workers Party of Britain's deputy leader at its founding congress. [16] [4] In March 2021, the party stood its first candidate for elected office, Paul Burrows, in the by-election for Helensburgh and Lomond South ward on Argyll and Bute Council. [17] Burrows came last out of six, gaining 22 votes (0.9%). [18]

In the 2021 United Kingdom local elections, the party stood more than 40 candidates for local elections in England.[ citation needed ] The WPB contested its first parliamentary seat at the 2021 Batley and Spen by-election, with Galloway as its candidate. [15] Galloway gained 8,264 votes (21.9%) and came in third, behind the winning Labour candidate Kim Leadbeater and second placed Conservative candidate Ryan Stephenson. The Lib Dems came in fourth place, as they did in the previous election. [19] Galloway concentrated on the issues of the Palestinian territories, the Kashmir conflict, criticism of Labour leader Keir Starmer, the suspension of a teacher for showing a cartoon of Muhammad at Batley Grammar School, and the reopening of a police station in Batley. [20] [21] [22] The campaign received considerable media attention due to incidents of harassment during its final days. [23] [24] [25] [26] The Jewish Labour Movement called the result a "triumph for hope and decency" over Galloway's "toxic politics". Galloway vowed to challenge the result on the basis of an alleged "false statement" made about him by Leadbeater and Starmer, which he said tipped the result of the by-election. [27] [28]

The party contested the Almond ward of Edinburgh council in the 2022 Scottish local elections, and came second to last with 61 first preference votes (0.4%). [29] In the 2022 local elections, Workers Party candidate Ed Woollard achieved 15% of the vote in the Bordesley and Highgate ward of Birmingham. [30] In July 2023, former Labour MP Chris Williamson joined the Workers Party of Britain. [31] [ non-primary source needed ] The party has defended Williamson, who was suspended from the Labour Party for his comments about antisemitism allegations in the Labour Party, and Ken Livingstone, who left the party following allegations of antisemitism. [32]

At the party's Congress in December 2023, Galloway was re-elected party leader. Three deputy leaders were elected – Chris Williamson, Andy Hudd (Vice President of the ASLEF) and Peter Ford (former Ambassador to Bahrain and Syria). [33] [34] On 29 February 2024 Galloway won the 2024 Rochdale by-election. [35] The Israel–Hamas war dominated the campaign. In his election speech, Galloway said: "Keir Starmer, this is for Gaza. You will pay a high price for the role that you have played in enabling, encouraging and covering for the catastrophe presently going on in occupied Palestine, in the Gaza Strip." [36] [37] Galloway won almost 40% of the vote and overturned a previous Labour majority of 9,668. Labour had withdrawn support for its candidate when it became known he had suggested that Israel was complicit in the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. [38] Following the by-election it was announced that the Workers Party has 59 prospective parliamentary candidates for the next UK general election. [39]

During the week of Galloway's by-election win, a Workers Party delegation was taking part in the Kremlin-sponsored World Festival of Youth in Russia. [40]

In March 2024 the party gained its first councillor when the former mayor of Hounslow, Amritpal Mann, defected to the Workers Party. [41]

Ideology and platform

The party identifies as socialist, [42] describing itself as "economically radical" and "committed to class politics". [43] [44] It has expressed support for a planned economy. The party's platform is outlined in its 10-point plan, in which it advocates "rebuilding British industry", universal "decent housing", "free or cheap" public transportation and an end to NHS waiting lists. [42] It advocates referenda on net-zero policies and the future of the monarch. Its manifesto states: "The transition to a Green economy should be at a pace that matches the ability of our population to afford it. We will not be seduced by the more apocalyptic Green hysteria that floods our media but we will seek rational debate centred on democratically aligned outcomes beneficial to workers". [45] [ non-primary source needed ] The party supports British unionism [46]

The party has been defined as socially conservative, for example rejecting gender self-identification, [4] and party leader George Galloway describes himself as such. [47] Galloway said the party was "the working-class patriotic alternative to fake woke anti-British 'Labour'". [48]

Its website states that the party "defend[s] the achievements of the USSR, China, Cuba etc." [42] The party is opposed to NATO and European Union membership, with a policy of NATO withdrawal. [49] [42] It describes itself as anti-Zionist. [50] [51] One of the party's three deputy deputy leaders, Chris Williamson, said that Israel "has behaved worse than Nazis" [52] and "must be destroyed" and "dismantled, just as apartheid South Africa and Nazi Germany were dismantled", [53] [ better source needed ] statements which resulted in a police investigation. [54] According to The Guardian , the party echoes "Kremlin talking-points" on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [40]

Election results

Senedd elections

YearVotes%SeatsMisc.
2021 4110.04%0/60Contested South Wales Central (0.2%)

Scottish Parliament elections

YearVotes%SeatsMisc.
2021 23,2990.9%0/129As part of All for Unity, contested all regional ballots

UK parliamentary by-elections

YearVotesCandidate%SeatFinish
2021 8,264 George Galloway 21.9% Batley and Spen 3rd
2024 12,33539.7% Rochdale 1st

UK local elections

Mayoral elections

YearVotesCandidate%PositionFinish
2024 2,378John Hamilton5.7% Mayor of Lewisham [55] 5th

Notable members

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References

  1. ↑ "Registration summary". electoralcommission.org.uk. The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  2. ↑ "Workers Party GB Annual Report 2023" (PDF). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  3. ↑ Cohen, Ben (1 March 2024). "'Dark Day' for British Jews as Anti-Zionist Agitator George Galloway Returns to Parliament". The Algemeiner. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Rochdale by-election 2024: Who are the Workers' Party of Britain?". Mancunian Matters. March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  5. ↑ "Starmer apologises to Rochdale voters after Galloway by-election win". BBC NEWS. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  6. ↑ Unknown (1 March 2024). "This is for Gaza': Left-winger George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election". GEO TV NEWS. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  7. ↑ Piper, Elizabeth (1 March 2024). "With Labour in his sights, left-winger Galloway wins in English town". Reuters. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  8. ↑ Now, Known (1 March 2024). "George Galloway who campaigned against Gaza war wins UK by-election". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  9. ↑ "George Galloway Wins Rochdale By-Election Overturning Labour Majority". PoliticsHome. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  10. ↑ Castle, Stephen (1 March 2024). "Westminster Is Nervously Braced For George Galloway's Return To The Commons" . Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  11. ↑ "Open Council Data UK". 15 February 2024. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  12. ↑ "Rochdale Hustings". Workers Party of Britain. 23 February 2024.
  13. ↑ "Rishi Sunak warns British democracy being targeted by far-right and Islamists". The Independent. 1 March 2024.
  14. ↑ "Manifesto - Britain Deserves Better". Workers Party of Britain.
  15. 1 2 3 Norfolk, Andrew (22 June 2021). "George Galloway is pulling no punches in Batley & Spen". The Times. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  16. 1 2 "The Brexit election and the birth of the Workers party". The Communists. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  17. ↑ Borland, Craig (15 February 2021). "It's a six-way battle in Helensburgh and Lomond South by-election". Helensburgh Advertiser. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  18. ↑ "Argyll & Bute Council Election Results Ward 11 -Helensburgh and Lomond South" (PDF). Argyll and Bute Council . 19 March 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  19. ↑ "Labour's Kim Leadbeater wins narrow victory in Batley and Spen byelection". The Guardian. 2 July 2021. Archived from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  20. ↑ Al-Othman, Hannah (6 June 2021). "Batley and Spen by-election: are Muslim voters the next brick to crumble in Labour's red wall?" . The Sunday Times. London. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  21. ↑ "Labour could lose a by-election over the issue of Palestine" . The Economist. 26 June 2021. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  22. ↑ Drury, Colin (28 June 2021). "Batley and Spen by-election: Labour's Muslim vote collapsing as Palestine – and potholes – cause anger". The Independent. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  23. ↑ Sullivan, Rory (26 June 2021). "Jo Cox's sister, Labour candidate Kim Leadbeater, heckled and chased on campaign trail". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  24. ↑ Diver, Tony (25 June 2021). "Labour candidate in Batley and Spen by-election left 'intimidated' by anti-LGBT protester". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  25. ↑ Blackall, Molly (26 June 2021). "Kim Leadbeater, sister of Jo Cox, chased and heckled on Batley and Spen by-election campaign trail". i. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  26. ↑ "Batley and Spen by-election: Labour 'egged and kicked'". BBC News . 28 June 2021. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  27. ↑ Stone, Jon (2 July 2021). "Batley and Spen: George Galloway says he will take legal action to challenge by-election defeat". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  28. ↑ Geddes, Jonathan (2 July 2021). "Would-be Rutherglen MP George Galloway told to honour his promises". Daily Record . Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  29. ↑ "First Preference Report: Ward 1 - Almond". City of Edinburgh Council. 6 May 2022. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  30. ↑ Council, Birmingham City. "Bordesley and Highgate Ward Results". www.birmingham.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  31. ↑ "Chris Williamson joins Workers Party". Workers Party of Britain. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  32. ↑ Spereall, David (26 April 2021). "Wakefield local elections 2021: George Galloway's Workers Party of Britain stands in the district for the first time". Wakefield Express . Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  33. 1 2 "New leadership elected at Workers Party congress". Workers Party of Britain. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  34. 1 2 Quinn, Ben (4 March 2024). "Galloway win makes Workers party a focus for far-left challenges to Labour". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  35. ↑ Halliday, Josh; Ahmed, Aneesa (1 March 2024). "George Galloway wins Rochdale byelection after calling for Gaza protest vote". The Guardian . Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  36. ↑ Halliday, Josh; Ahmed, Aneesa (1 March 2024). "George Galloway wins sweeping victory in Rochdale byelection, saying 'this is for Gaza'". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  37. ↑ "Residents of Rochdale caught up in increasingly toxic by-election campaign". Financial Times . Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  38. ↑ Grunewald, Zoe (1 March 2024). "George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election after Labour fiasco and declares: 'This is for Gaza'". Yahoo News. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  39. ↑ staff, Politics co uk (1 March 2024). "'Labour's worst nightmare': George Galloway has 59 general election candidates 'ready to go'". Politics.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  40. 1 2 Quinn, Ben (4 March 2024). "Galloway win makes Workers party a focus for far-left challenges to Labour". The Guardian .
  41. ↑ Smith, Matt (25 March 2024). "Former Mayor of Hounslow joins George Galloway's party - Chiswick Calendar News". The Chiswick Calendar. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  42. 1 2 3 4 "George Galloway: What is the Workers Party of Britain?". BBC News. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  43. ↑ Macnamara, Felicity (16 December 2019). "Former Bradford MP George Galloway launches new 'Workers Party'". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  44. ↑ "Introducing the Workers Party". Workers Party of Britain. 12 December 2019. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  45. ↑ "Manifesto – Britain Deserves Better". Workers Party of Britain. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  46. ↑ "Batley by-election: Will the Palestine issue destroy Keir Starmer's leadership?". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  47. ↑ Rees, Gwyneth (24 February 2024). "Gaza is dominating the Rochdale by-election – and letting George Galloway outfox Labour". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 March 2024. Whereas I'm very clear. As a father of six children, I'm socially conservative. I don't want my children taught the kind of things Labour wants to teach them in schools.
  48. ↑ Young, Chris (12 May 2021). "Former Bradford West MP George Galloway announces that his party will stand in Batley and Spen by-election". Telegraph & Argus . Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  49. ↑ "Ten-point programme". Workers Party of Britain. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  50. ↑ @WorkersPartyGB (25 February 2024). "The counter reaction to our popular anti Zionist politics begins. Let's just say they're not sending their best" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 March 2024– via Twitter.
  51. ↑ "Palestine Action's New Year statement: community-based direct action gets the goods". Workers Party of Britain. 8 January 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  52. ↑ "Israel 'worse than Nazis'". Jerusalem Post. 9 November 2023.
  53. ↑ Williamson, Chris [@DerbyChrisW] (18 January 2024). "Israel must be destroyed. It should never have been created in 1948, or allowed to maintain an illegal occupation since 1967, or impose a blockade on #Gaza since 2007. Israel must be dismantled, just as apartheid South Africa and Nazi Germany were dismantled" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  54. ↑ "Chris Williamson: Former MP's Israel comments prompt hate crime probe". BBC News. 20 October 2024.
  55. ↑ "Mayoral by-election". Lewisham Council. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  56. ↑ "Chris Williamson: Former Derby MP confirms election bid". BBC News. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  57. ↑ "Chris Williamson joins Workers Party". Workers Party of Britain. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  58. ↑ "Workers Party Statement on passing of founding member Brian Travers". Workers Party of Britain. 23 August 2021. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  59. ↑ "Workers Party names Blackburn candidate for General Election". Lancashire Telegraph . 3 April 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
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