George Galloway wins Bradford West byelection

Respect candidate takes seat from Labour with 10,140 majority, claiming ‘the most sensational victory in British political history’

Patrick Wintour, political editor | The Guardian | Friday 30 March 2012

 

George Galloway, right, is greeted by a supporter as he arrives to hear the results of the Bradford West byelection. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/PA

George Galloway, the leading figure in Respect, has grabbed a remarkable victory in the Bradford West byelection, claiming that “By the grace of God, we have won the most sensational victory in British political history”.

It appeared that the seat’s Muslim community had decamped from Labour en masse to Galloway’s call for an immediate British troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and a fightback against the job crisis.

On a turnout of 50.78%, Labour’s shellshocked candidate Imran Hussein was crushed by a 36.59% swing from Labour to Respect that saw Galloway take the seat with a majority of 10,140.

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Tony Blair to face ‘scathing criticism’ from Chilcot inquiry into Iraq war

Tony Blair will face scathing criticism from Sir John Chilcot’s inquiry over his role in the Iraq war, according to reports.

The former prime minister will be held to account for major failings in the war in which 179 British soldiers, 3,500 US soldiers and more than 100,000 Iraqis died, it has been alleged.

He will be criticised for claiming it was ‘beyond doubt’ Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, the Mail on Sunday reported.

Sir John Chilcot’s findings will also criticise Mr Blair for failing to admit to a ‘secret pledge’, allegedly made with former US president George Bush, that he would go to war.

In the report, due out this autumn, Mr Blair will also come under fire for failing to plan to avoid the post-war chaos in Iraq.

Former foreign secretary Jack Straw and ex-Downing Street spin doctor Alastair Campbell are also expected to be criticised.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/870992-tony-blair-to-face-scathing-criticism-from-chilcot-inquiry-into-iraq-war#ixzz1TllBQxxz

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Blair accused of trying to silence Murdoch critic

independent.co.uk
By Martin Hickman and Cahal Milmo
Monday, 11 July 2011

Tony Blair urged Gordon Brown to persuade the Labour MP who led the campaign to expose the phone-hacking scandal to fall silent, according to a report yesterday.

The Mail on Sunday stated that “well-placed” sources said Mr Blair had sought to encourage Mr Brown to ask his supporter Tom Watson to back off. A “friend of Mr Brown” was quoted as saying: “There is no doubt about it, Tony wanted Gordon to intervene.” Mr Watson, who claimed last week that News International had entered “the criminal underworld”, was reported to have been told that Rebekah Brooks, News International’s chief executive, “will pursue you for the rest of your life”.

Earlier this year, another Labour MP, Chris Bryant, said in a Commons speech that a senior figure allied to Mr Murdoch had warned his friends that speaking out about the scandal would not be forgotten.

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The Poodle’s Book Out!

Excerpted from: Tony Blair: Gordon Brown tried to blackmail me
The Daily telegraph
By Robert Winnett and Henry Samuel
Published: 6:31AM BST 01 Sep 2010

Tony Blair's book A Journey Photo: AP

The pressure on Mr Blair to step aside became so great that he admits he may have become reliant on alcohol as he faced coup attempts from Mr Brown’s supporters. He discloses that he began drinking every day and needed the “support” that alcohol provided.

He discloses his “anguish” over the Iraq war and admits that he failed to predict the “nightmare” in the aftermath of the conflict. But he insists going to war was correct and says he will devote the rest of his life to making amends.

He also discloses how American hawks, particularly Dick Cheney, the then US vice-president, were apparently keen to invade other countries in the Middle East, including Syria.

“Diana was a manipulator like me.”

George W. Bush did not recognise the prime minister of Belgium or understand why he was at a G8 meeting, Tony Blair has disclosed

The book also reveals:

• Mr Blair’s growing concerns over his relationship with alcohol. He describes how he used to drink a whisky or gin and tonic before his evening meal, then have several glasses of wine. He said he became aware it was “becoming a support”.
• He still feels “anguish” about the Iraq war and says that he had never guessed “the nightmare” that would unfold after he took the decision to commit British troops to the American-led invasion.
• He also discloses how American hawks, particularly Dick Cheney, the then US vice-president, were apparently keen to invade other countries in the Middle East, including Syria.
• George W Bush is praised for his intelligence.
• An entire chapter is devoted to the death of Princess Diana within months of his election. He says that both he and the princess were “manipulators”.

Tony Blair: Gordon Brown tried to blackmail me

Diana ‘was a manipulator like me’

Blair’s deep misgivings about Gordon Brown

Blair ‘lied to stop Northern Ireland peace talks collapsing’

George W. Bush did not recognise the prime minister of Belgium or understand why he was at a G8 meeting, Tony Blair has disclosed

Tony Blair: I did not understand Islam at time of 9/11 attacks

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/tony-blair/7974820/Tony-Blair-A-Journey-PMs-drinking-habit.html

Tony Blair ‘cannot say sorry in words’ about the Iraq war

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Blair’s “Journey” — Where it Ought to End, but Won’t!

Tony Blair will be signing copies of his forthcoming book, “My Journey”, in Waterstones (big British bookshop chain like Barnes and Noble), Piccadilly, on 8th September. Might even show up myself to kick up a stink! Blair has vowed to give the advance of £4.6 million to the Royal British Legion, an act which will result in his tax bill being cut by £2.3 million. To mark the auspicious occasion, those crazy “canooks” at Global Research Centre have published these two articles on the man.

Waterstones are pleased to announce a programme of book signings for the week of 6 – 10 September 2010.

6 September, Osama bin Laden: ‘Town Planning in Manhattan’

7 September, Radovan Karadzic: ‘Hill Walks above Sarajevo’

8 September, Tony Blair: ‘A Journey’

9 September, General Than Shwe: ‘Gated Communities in Rangoon’

10 September, President George W Bush: ‘Shock and Ore.’ ”

Blood Money.

Anthony Charles Lynton Blair, Q.C., former Prime Minister, alleged potential war criminal

by Felicity Arbuthnot
Global Research, August 21, 2010

Sometimes a topic simply will not go away. These weeks, Anthony Charles Lynton Blair, Q.C., former British Prime Minister, alleged potential war criminal, surreal Middle East Peace Envoy – who led an administration which shared responsibility for, if not quite rivers of blood, bloodied market places, mosques, squares, homes, humans, hospitals, beyond counting – just keeps coming back and back.

Fresh from the Balkans, after accepting a solid gold “Freedom Medal”, Kosovo’s highest Award – from a nation less than a shining example of the rule of law, where streets and the capitol’s main square are named after him,(1) he immediately re-invented himself as best selling author. His book signing is a “must attend” event, at literary emporium Waterstone’s showcase store, in London’s Piccadilly, on 8th September (2) – if you are prepared to relinquish your handbag, laptop, keys, cash, backpack, and other belongings, to a stranger, at the door.

Read more…

The Long Road to The Hague: Prosecuting Former Prime Minister Tony Blair

Part I

by Lesley Docksey
Global Research, August 23, 2010

Ex-Prime Minister and post-Downing Street millionaire Tony Blair, to celebrate the publication of his book A Journey, is holding a ‘signing’ session at Waterstones, Piccadilly on 8 September. That this man, responsible for taking us into an illegal war, playing his part in the ruination of an ancient country because he ‘believed he was right’, should advertise himself in this way has caused outrage. Time, I think, to look at where we, and Blair, actually stand in terms of what we can and cannot do to call him to account.

What hope for international law?

We have spent years constructing that body of treaties, statutes and conventions known as international law only to ignore it when it is most needed. How often has any state or rather, how many powerful Western states have been brought to account for breaching international law? And how many exempt themselves from the laws while insisting others abide by them?

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Death of Dr David Kelly: The damning new evidence that points to a cover-up by Tony Blair’s government

by Miles Goslett and Stephen Frost, Daily Mail/UK, June 26, 2010

The official story of Dr David Kelly is that he took his own life in an Oxfordshire wood by overdosing on painkillers and cutting his left wrist with a pruning knife.

He was said to be devastated after being unmasked as the source of the BBC’s claim that the Government had ‘sexed up’ the case for war in Iraq.

A subsequent official inquiry led by Lord Hutton into the circumstances leading to the death came to the unequivocal conclusion that Kelly committed suicide.

Yet suspicions of foul play still hang heavy over the death of the weapons expert whose body was found seven years ago next month in one of the most notorious episodes of Tony Blair’s premiership.

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You ruined my life, a ‘demented’ Brown repeatedly yelled at Blair

Row: Gordon Brown (L) is said to have screamed at then Prime Minister Tony Blair (R) during a phonecall in 2006, pictured at the party conference the same year

By James Chapman
Last updated at 2:30 PM on 25th February 2010

• Row as he demanded to know when Blair would quit
• ‘Titanically demented’ Brown also rang PM at Balmoral
• Brown denies unleashing ‘forces of hell’ on Darling
• PM likens team woes to Fabio Capello’s England

Gordon Brown repeatedly yelled at Tony Blair ‘you ruined my life’ in a final row before the former was made Prime Minister, it was claimed last night.

The then chancellor also accused Mr Blair of a ‘Trotskyist plot’ in attempting to stop him from getting into No 10, according to a book by the journalist Andrew Rawnsley.

Mr Brown’s infamous temper flared during a two-hour meeting with Mr Blair in September 2006.

He insisted that Mr Blair give him a resignation date and ensure that no other candidate stood for leader – a promise he said he could not deliver

The new revelations about the Prime Minister’s temper came after he was forced to deny unleashing the ‘forces of hell’ on Alistair Darling and again deny being a bully.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1253653/Gordon-Brown-yelled-ruined-life-Tony-Blair.html#ixzz0gZmfxSN6

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Tony Blair: Gaza’s Great Betrayer

It’s more than a year since Israel launched its immoral attack on Gaza and Palestinians are still living on the verge of a humanitarian disaster. So what has Tony Blair done to further peace in the region? Virtually nothing, argues the historian Avi Shlaim

• Avi Shlaim
• The Guardian/UK, February 3, 2010

Tony Blair in June 2009 speaking at a press conference in Gaza calling for a quick reconstruction. Photograph: Hatem Moussa/AP

The savage attack Israel ­unleashed against Gaza on 27 December 2008 was both immoral and unjustified. Immoral in the use of force against civilians for political purposes. Unjustified because Israel had a political alternative to the use of force. The home-made Qassam rockets fired by Hamas militants from Gaza on Israeli towns were only the ­excuse, not the reason for Operation Cast Lead. In June 2008, Egypt had ­brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Islamic resistance movement. ­Contrary to Israeli propaganda, this was a success: the average number of rockets fired monthly from Gaza dropped from 179 to three. Yet on 4 November Israel violated the ceasefire by launching a raid into Gaza, killing six Hamas fighters. When Hamas ­retaliated, Israel seized the renewed rocket attacks as the ­excuse for launching its insane offensive. If all Israel wanted was to protect its citizens from Qassam rockets, it only needed to ­observe the ceasefire.

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Clare Short: Tony Blair lied and misled parliament in build-up to Iraq war

• Blair ‘lied’ over war preparations
• Attorney general ‘misled’ government
• Brown ‘marginalised and unhappy’
Clare Short at the Iraq war inquiry – as it happened

James Sturcke, The Guardian/UK, Feb 2, 2010

Clare Short arriving to give evidence at the Iraq inquiry. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Clare Short, the former international development secretary, today accused Tony Blair of lying to her and misleading parliament in the build-up to the Iraq invasion.

Short, giving evidence to the Chilcot inquiry into the war, also said that the 2003 conflict had put the world in greater danger of international terrorism.

Declassified letters between Short and Blair released today show she believed that invading Iraq without a second UN resolution would be illegal and there was a significant risk of a humanitarian catastrophe.

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• Letter from Clare Short to Tony Blair on humanitarian planning and the role of the UN, 14 February 2003 (pdf).

• Letter from Short to Blair on the UN and US roles in post-conflict Iraq, 5 March 2003 (pdf).

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Storm of protest as Blair slinks into Iraq inquiry

By Paddy McGuffin, Morning Star Online,  January 29, 2010

A sea of placards filled Parliament Square on Friday morning

“Blair lied, thousands died.” That was the chant which reverberated around Parliament Square on Friday as former prime minister Tony Blair gave evidence to the Iraq inquiry.

Even from the safety of the Queen Elizabeth II centre, where he had been spirited by his security detail hours before the inquiry was due to start, Mr Blair could not have failed to hear the fury of the hundreds of protesters who thronged the square throughout the morning.

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