If anyone out there still has time for George Galloway, he's just taken more time out of representing the East Londoners who voted for him last May by entering the Big Brother house, along with other "celebrities" such as the has-been Michael Barrymore, Faria Alam (famous for having an affair with Sven-Goran Eriksson), Maggot (a rapper with the South Wales rap group Goldie Lookin' Chain), Traci Bingham (ex Baywatch) and "1980s pop star Pete Burns" (who?). The show is to last three weeks, although if he stays the course, it is unlikely to make much difference to his Parliamentary attendance record; according to TheyWorkForYou.com, he has attended just 15% of Parliamentary votes (the 11th worst out of 645 members) and spoken in just four debates since the 2005 General Election. (More: Rolled Up Trousers.)
George Galloway takes some more time out
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So George Galloway is taking part in this year's Celebrity Big Brother. Cue the predictable carping from jealous politicians. Here's former Labour MP George Foulkes:This means that the people of Bethnal Green and Bow, his constituency, will not be Read More
Yusuf wrote: "...and '1980s pop star Pete Burns' (who?)"
You know, the friend of Bridget Jones. "Yes, I'm him." ;)
I think you are underestimating the Muslims of Bethnal Green and Bow, they knew what they were voting for and it had nothing to do with day-to-day representation in parliament. His election was the result of a protest vote against the war of which he was a scathing and outspoken critic. This was the one issue that mattered above all else for most Muslims in this country. So what, may I ask, were the alternatives for his constituents? An embarrassingly inarticulate and clueless bunch of ‘community’ leaders? The Blairite Oona King? What did she ever accomplish for them anyway? This is why a community, notoriously disengaged from politics, actually went out and voted. He still remains the only MP who represents the extent of their opposition towards the war. Aside from the message his election sent out, there was the spectacle of his performance in front of the US Senate Committee – he made Norm Coleman, once touted as a future presidential hopeful, look like a knob and put Christopher ‘piss head’ Hitchens in his place. He did the same for the self-deluded, war-mongering armchair cowards at harry’s place, who went to the extent of canvassing for Oona King. In short, those who voted for him got their money’s worth, which is why they are not complaining. So all those pointing out the inadequacies of his attendance record in parliament, or indeed his private life, are missing the point. He’s shown moments of extremely poor judgment throughout his career and this decision to cash in on his current profile is probably another.
*So what, may I ask, were the alternatives for his constituents?*
I agree with Atticus, the guy isn't my MP but I had to campaign for him...had to b/c I used to do a lot of Youth Work in Bethnal Green and Bow, e.g. giving after school maths tution to Somali immigrant kids and I was beside myself with anger when Oona King voted for university top up fees. She is a shameless careerist who voted 'Very Strongly' for all govrnt bills, even when they went against the interests of her constituents.
yusuf ,
something wrong with your site . if you click on blogistan.co.uk it goes to blogistan.co.uk/blogistan which has old entries . .
*Yusuf: no, I set it up this way. Nothing has been contributed to Blogistan for months. I relocated its contents to a sub-directory because of technical problems; I intend to add some more content once I get some more participants, insha Allah.*
Perhaps now whoever voted Galloway in on a single issue may realise what a futile exercise it was as he has furthered the anti-war cause not one jot.
Going over to the US for a chest puffing exercise helps the people that voted for him how exactly?
It would be better if a joke MP didn't represent such a poor borough.