The Silence of His "Friends"

At last year's Durham Miners' Gala, after he had complimented my suit, Richard Burgon told me off for not supporting Laura Pidcock, and added that, "Gorgeous George agrees with me on that." Well, George Galloway has never resigned as one of my Campaign Patrons, he could have written almost everything beyond the autobiographical details of my pitch for Parliament, and I can find nothing on Richard's or Laura's Twitter account decrying today's decision of talkRADIO to sack George.

Look, I know that George can be hard work. And while I agree with him on most things, where we disagree, then we really do disagree. Although I claim no credit, he has been known to move towards positions that I, among other people, already held. For example, if he ever would have done, then he would no longer tell fourth-generation Israelis to "go home", and he now calls out people who do, which in his world is a courageous thing to do. Exemplified by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which is notable for its all-white employment policy, simple criticism of the Israeli Government, and now even of the presence of Israeli flags at non-Israeli football matches, is being criminalised in this country. The Crown Prosecution Service is also in on the act.

Writing about politics would be a hell of a lot easier if it were not for bloody politicians. My long-forthcoming, very short book is going to have be rewritten yet again in the light of this sacking, as it had previously stated that Rupert Murdoch was at least no worse than anyone else, since one of his radio stations gave three hours per week to George Galloway. But that station will no longer be doing so. To whom will it be giving that platform instead? And where else on the airwaves will we be able to hear the many perspectives to which George alone had been giving a voice?

Still, there is now nothing to stop George from declaring his parliamentary candidacy at Birmingham Yardley. Another hung Parliament is coming, and we need our people to hold the balance of power in it. I had already decided over the weekend that the new party, of which I wish that I could say the name without provoking the likes of Oliver Kamm, was going to be registered even if I had to pay for it myself, ongoing lawfare or no ongoing lawfare. I had also decided that I would stand for Parliament here at North West Durham even if I could raise only the deposit, which I could do by going pretty overdrawn, although that was not how I was brought up. So I would still prefer to raise the £10,000 necessary to mount a serious campaign. But in any event, please email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.