by LOUISE NOUSRATPOUR (Exclusive)
Monday November 9, 2008
The Morning Star
LABOUR MP Alan Simpson exposed government plans to ban rebel MPs from joining a select committee on climate change on Sunday, branding the decision a "lurch to kiss-arse politics."
The select committee on the new climate change legislation which was passed last month will have a duty to hold the government to account.
But Mr Simpson, who is a longstanding environmental campaigner, revealed that the Chief Whip is planning to ban MPs who have voted against the government on any issues in the past year from joining the committee.
MPs were told about this possible rule change at last Monday's Parliamentary Labour Party meeting, he said.
The change would affect all left MPs, including Mr Simpson, John McDonnell, Jeremy Corbyn, Ian Gibson, Austin Mitchell and Katy Clarke, as well as some of the more unusual suspects such as David Winnick, Emily Thornberry and Chris Mullin, who all voted against the government's 42-day pre-charge detention plans.
Mr Simpson condemned the "anti-democratic" plans and hoped that the Chief Whip would rethink the position when the PLP meets again tonight.
"A committee that has the duty to hold the government to account will not have MPs on them who have exercised that duty," he warned.
"At a time when US president-elect Barack Obama is swept to power on a mantra of 'Yes, we can,' Downing Street is swiping the tide out on the mantra of 'no you can't'."
"Instead of lurching into openness, the government is gagging its way into the future."
Fellow MP Jeremy Corbyn also attacked the Chief Whip's "narrow-minded" plans, noting that he had been a victim of such tactics only last year.
"I was blocked from being elected onto the select committee on human rights last year for no apparent reason," he recalled.
Mr Corbyn added: "Alan Simpson is an expert on Europe, the environment and climate change issues. This narrow-minded behaviour deprives the public of the enormous knowledge of certain individuals and is damaging to the whole political system.
"Parliament is there for MPs to hold the government to account and, if necessary, speak out against proposed laws. It would be a sad day if they were no longer allowed to hold an independent view."
Green Party spokeswoman for environment, food and rural affairs Penny Kemp called the plans "scandalous," accusing the government of working against public opinion to push through its own "authoritarian agenda."
She added: "This is absolutely outrageous and goes against anything that democratic accountability should stand for.
"It will also stop MPs that have the necessary expertise in particular fields but do not agree with the government from standing up and speaking in our name."
In May, Prime Minister Gordon Brown suffered his biggest Commons rebellion since taking office, when 38 Labour MPs - half of his majority - voted for Mr Simpson's amendment to the Energy Bill that would have encouraged the switch to renewable technologies.
Although the amendment was not successful, it drew widespread public and cross-party support.
In June, 24 Labour MPs rebelled against the government by voting for an amendment to the Planning Reform Bill to include a duty to consider climate change when planning major infrastructure projects such as roads and airports.
That motion was defeated by a majority of just 15 and the Bill will now contain no legal duties to reduce climate change.
Activists: Britain must talk to Hamas
Louise Nousratpour in Manchester
Wednesday Sep 24, 2008
The Morning Star
Convention of the Left: PALESTINE campaigners called on Britain and the US to negotiate with the democratically elected Hamas government on Wednesday and to press Israel to lift the devastating siege of the Gaza Strip.
The activists were attending an open debate at the Convention of the Left in Manchester entitled "If they can talk to the IRA, Why can't they talk to Hamas?"
Convention organiser and Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) activist Linda Claire acknowledged that there were stark differences between the IRA and Hamas.
But she stressed: "Britain has played a key role in isolating Hamas and I believe that the situation can be compared to Britain's role in Ireland and the IRA."
Terry Callogly, who was one of the international observers at the 2006 elections that brought Hamas to power, described the process as "extremely democratic" and condemned Israel and its allies' refusal to enter into talks.
"More than 70 per cent voted for Hamas, which is twice as much as the 36 per cent former prime minister Tony Blair got in the 2005 election," he pointed out.
"How can he turn around and say that Hamas is not a legitimate government. We must highlight the double standard and pressure our government to talk to Hamas because there is no road to peace unless we do that."
Anne Brown argued that the West and Israel would only be satisfied if "Palestinians continued having elections until they elect a Western puppet regime that will do as it is told."
Martin Brown branded Israel "a proxy state, policing the Middle East on behalf of the US, Britain and European imperialism in search of profits. Peace is not profitable, but war is."
Dorothy Forbes of Campaign Against the Arms Trade highlighted the strong influence that zionist lobbyists in the US have.
"US senators and politicians don't dare oppose Israel because they will lose their position," she noted.
Ms Forbes further expressed her support for the PSC call for a boycott of Israeli goods, adding: "We should also put pressure on arms companies to stop selling weapons to this murderous state."
Wednesday Sep 24, 2008
The Morning Star
Convention of the Left: PALESTINE campaigners called on Britain and the US to negotiate with the democratically elected Hamas government on Wednesday and to press Israel to lift the devastating siege of the Gaza Strip.
The activists were attending an open debate at the Convention of the Left in Manchester entitled "If they can talk to the IRA, Why can't they talk to Hamas?"
Convention organiser and Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) activist Linda Claire acknowledged that there were stark differences between the IRA and Hamas.
But she stressed: "Britain has played a key role in isolating Hamas and I believe that the situation can be compared to Britain's role in Ireland and the IRA."
Terry Callogly, who was one of the international observers at the 2006 elections that brought Hamas to power, described the process as "extremely democratic" and condemned Israel and its allies' refusal to enter into talks.
"More than 70 per cent voted for Hamas, which is twice as much as the 36 per cent former prime minister Tony Blair got in the 2005 election," he pointed out.
"How can he turn around and say that Hamas is not a legitimate government. We must highlight the double standard and pressure our government to talk to Hamas because there is no road to peace unless we do that."
Anne Brown argued that the West and Israel would only be satisfied if "Palestinians continued having elections until they elect a Western puppet regime that will do as it is told."
Martin Brown branded Israel "a proxy state, policing the Middle East on behalf of the US, Britain and European imperialism in search of profits. Peace is not profitable, but war is."
Dorothy Forbes of Campaign Against the Arms Trade highlighted the strong influence that zionist lobbyists in the US have.
"US senators and politicians don't dare oppose Israel because they will lose their position," she noted.
Ms Forbes further expressed her support for the PSC call for a boycott of Israeli goods, adding: "We should also put pressure on arms companies to stop selling weapons to this murderous state."
Unions and activists link up to build mass climate movement
by LOUISE NOUSRATPOUR in Manchester
Tuesday September 23, 2008
The Morning Star
TRADE union and climate-change activists joined forces on Monday night to build a mass movement that would organise strikes and direct action to push ministers to adopt a low-carbon economy.
Speakers at the Convention of the Left stressed that the working class must be at the forefront of such a movement in order to take on the big corporations that control the world's resources and are the biggest polluters.
The threat of climate change is so great and urgent, speakers warned, that campaigns to encourage individual lifestyle changes, while admirable, will do little more than tinker around the edges.
Climate change academic Jonathan Neale said that "what we need is a mass campaign of workers and grass-roots organisations to transform the way we produce and consume energy."
Speakers agreed that the main focus must be on demands for the renationalisation of the energy sector and other key industries such as housing and transport.
Campaigners argued that the technology is available to shift the economy from being based on fossil fuels to one based on renewable energy.
They dismissed claims that a greener economy would mean massive job losses.
On the contrary, CWU senior deputy leader Tony Kearns argued, renewable energy would "create far more jobs."
The convention heard that wind power, for instance, creates 10 jobs per megawatt compared to one job per megawatt created in the fossil fuel industry.
Speakers said that it was understandable for trade unions with members in the nuclear and aviation industry to support job-creating airport expansions and plans for new nuclear power stations.
But anti-nuclear activist and scientist Martin Empson stressed that a united climate change campaign must bring the unions on board by making a strong case for the "huge potential" for job creation in the renewable sector.
Daniel Randall of Workers Climate Change, which grew out of the 2007 Heathrow climate camp, argued: "We need working-class solutions to the threat of climate change and trade unions must play the central role."
Tuesday September 23, 2008
The Morning Star
TRADE union and climate-change activists joined forces on Monday night to build a mass movement that would organise strikes and direct action to push ministers to adopt a low-carbon economy.
Speakers at the Convention of the Left stressed that the working class must be at the forefront of such a movement in order to take on the big corporations that control the world's resources and are the biggest polluters.
The threat of climate change is so great and urgent, speakers warned, that campaigns to encourage individual lifestyle changes, while admirable, will do little more than tinker around the edges.
Climate change academic Jonathan Neale said that "what we need is a mass campaign of workers and grass-roots organisations to transform the way we produce and consume energy."
Speakers agreed that the main focus must be on demands for the renationalisation of the energy sector and other key industries such as housing and transport.
Campaigners argued that the technology is available to shift the economy from being based on fossil fuels to one based on renewable energy.
They dismissed claims that a greener economy would mean massive job losses.
On the contrary, CWU senior deputy leader Tony Kearns argued, renewable energy would "create far more jobs."
The convention heard that wind power, for instance, creates 10 jobs per megawatt compared to one job per megawatt created in the fossil fuel industry.
Speakers said that it was understandable for trade unions with members in the nuclear and aviation industry to support job-creating airport expansions and plans for new nuclear power stations.
But anti-nuclear activist and scientist Martin Empson stressed that a united climate change campaign must bring the unions on board by making a strong case for the "huge potential" for job creation in the renewable sector.
Daniel Randall of Workers Climate Change, which grew out of the 2007 Heathrow climate camp, argued: "We need working-class solutions to the threat of climate change and trade unions must play the central role."
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