Regular Harry’s Place readers will no doubt be aware of most of them already but for laggards, newbies and the hard of remembering Andrew Anthony provides us with a handy aide memoire to the most obvious of George Galloway’s contradictions:
Galloway, as might be expected of someone who placed himself firmly on the Soviet-sympathising side of the Labour movement, has over the years nurtured a deep and historical loathing of Trotskyists. He is still wont to use “Trotskyist” as a dismissive insult, as he did earlier this year when he called Christopher Hitchens a “drink-soaked former Trotskyist popinjay”.
Yet once again Galloway has shown admirable tolerance in overcoming his prejudice and forming a united front with the “Trotskyist” Socialist Workers party. The result is Respect, the party for which he was elected MP in Bethnal Green and Bow.
I’ve often wondered how the Trots justify being led by someone who clearly has little sympathy for them. Just another of life’s mysteries I suppose.
