Galloway’s victory puts Workers’ Party at the center of far-left challenge to Labour

Before George Galloway won the Rochdale by-election, few people except those interested in the minutiae of the far left had paid much attention to the Workers’ Party. Others may have looked at some of it, such as “Ukraine and the Origins of Special Military Operations,” a 44-page pamphlet that used Vladimir Putin’s terminology to describe Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and echoed Kremlin talking points about the conflict.

But last week’s victory suddenly thrust it into the national spotlight, becoming the vehicle for challenges that threaten to deprive Labor of votes in dozens of constituencies that may now become the focus of criticism of Keir Starmer The focus of anger over Gaza’s stance.

In some cases, the challengers will be workers’ party candidates trying to capitalize on Galloway’s success. Galloway’s first speech in London since becoming an MP again will not be in parliament but in Lewisham on Tuesday to support his party’s candidate for borough mayor.

In other cases it will be an independent backed by the party. Tasnime Akunjee, the lawyer representing Shamima Begum’s family, has the support of the Workers’ Party to challenge Labour’s vote in Tower Hamlets Rushanara Ali. The party also backed South Africa’s former ANC MP Andrew Feinstein’s challenge to Keir Starmer in Holborn and St Pancras, although Galloway said he was likely to be Move to “an easier-to-win constituency.”

“Our party has doubled in size in the last two weeks and there has been a huge increase in the number of people applying to be candidates,” Galloway said, adding that except for “one or two people further to the left” most Everyone is a former member of the Labor Party.

While the Workers’ Party initially thought it would field around 50 candidates, it is now expected to field up to 90 candidates, with Galloway saying talks would be held with “well-established independents”.

“Our job is to take most of the money away from Labor and our aim is to replace Labor,” he said.

The Workers’ Party was formed in 2019 to recruit disaffected former Labor members who had supported Jeremy Corbyn, and it is backed by the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist) or CPGB-ML, a mini-Stalinist The organization’s ties to a number of people and, in particular, China.

The CPGB-ML later quit the Workers’ Party, which continued to recruit figures with modest support on the fringes of British politics.

Former Labor MP Chris Williamson, who joined the party last year after being suspended for anti-Semitism, now hosts a show on Iran News TV. He serves as deputy leader alongside union member Andy Hudd, who represents Aslef members, and former British ambassador to Syria Peter Ford, who has a strong influence on Western Middle East policy and on NATO. Hostile criticism finds its roots in Syria. party.

While Gaza has been the catalyst for Galloway’s breakthrough and may become a central rallying cry, the party is seeking to forge a left-wing identity at odds with the so-called left-wing metropolitan elite behind Labour. The gear-shaped red, white and blue logo combines a nod to patriotism and the concept of the industrial working class.

Although not a Labor Party member, another key figure in Galloway’s circle is London MP James Giles, who leads the Kingston Independent Residents Group and is his campaign manager in Rochdale .

Giles said independents had become the main opposition in many parliaments. “Most of these people are on the left or are looking for a real alternative to the left and also have very strong anti-war beliefs,” he said.

An alliance between the Workers’ Party and independents could also be crucial to the political fortunes of Corbyn, who faces a challenge in retaining his Islington North seat. Galloway, suppressing a smile, told the media on Monday that the former Labor leader had been expected to accompany Galloway into the House of Commons when he was sworn in as an MP, but he had forgotten about his previous commitment.

Giles said Galloway would “absolutely” support Corbyn in Islington and the pair would work together in parliament.