Friends of Socialist China successfully held its second annual China Conference on Saturday September 27. More than 100 people gathered in London’s Bolivar Hall to hear expert presentations from a broad range of progressive scholars and activists on such topics as 80 years since the defeat of fascism: China as a force for peace and multipolarity; China’s achievements in overcoming poverty and building socialism; and How China is leading the fight against climate breakdown.
We were honoured to be addressed in our opening session by senior diplomats from the embassies of China, Russia, Cuba, Laos and Venezuela. The closing session was addressed by leaders of the Communist Party of Britain, Communist Party of Ireland and the Association of Indian Communists (the UK and Ireland organisation of members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)).
We will be carrying more material on the conference in coming days.
But most immediately, we draw attention to the fact that our opening session was also due to be addressed by George Galloway, leader of the Workers Party of Britain (WPB) and former Member of Parliament (1987-2005 – Glasgow Hillhead and Kelvin; 2005-2010 – Bethnal Green; 2012-2015 – Bradford West; and 2024 – Rochdale). However, that morning George and his wife, Gayatri Galloway, also a leading member of the Workers Party, were detained by Sussex Police on their arrival at Gatwick Airport under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. This draconian, anti-democratic law, as the BBC reported, “allows an officer to stop, question, search and detain a person at a port or the border area in the UK to determine if they have engaged in hostile activity. Those being detained can be required to provide information including passwords to devices.”
In other words, in terms of the right to remain silent, access to legal representation, and in other ways, detention under this law accords its victims even fewer rights than those enjoyed by those formally arrested. It has increasingly been used by the repressive Starmer government against journalists, activists and now a prominent political figure, who oppose its reactionary and war-mongering policies at home and abroad.
The WPB released two statements on their Telegram channel and other social media regarding the detention of George and Gayatri in the afternoon of September 27 and on their release without charge in early evening. They stated:
“Our party condemns the attempt to intimidate those who seek amity rather than enmity with the rest of the world… We were obstructed from providing legal support and the conduct of the affair has been designed to intimidate political opponents of the drive towards war with Russia and China.”
Friends of Socialist China vehemently condemns this further brazen assault on democratic rights by the British state and its attacks on anti-imperialists. We extend our full support and solidarity to George and Gayatri and to the comrades of the Workers Party, as we do to all those subject to state repression on account of their political work against imperialism and war and in support of peace, democracy and social progress.
At time of writing, George Galloway was due to make a full statement on the detention of himself and Gayatri at 7pm BST, Sunday September 28 on his Mother of All Talk Shows (MOATS).
URGENT STATEMENT BY THE WORKERS PARTY
At 11am we were informed by police officers in Gatwick that our party leader George Galloway and his wife have been detained at the airport @sussex_police @BTP .
The police agreed that they would pass a message to our comrades from us and pass back a reply from them.
Despite repeated attempts to gather further information, and despite repeated calls to the police, we have no further information on their wellbeing, nor on the observation of their Rights.
There is no information on charges or alleged offences. Therefore we may conclude this is politically motivated intimidation.
We call on all supporters and friends to amplify this message and demand the IMMEDIATE RELEASE of our leaders.
PARTY STATEMENT ON RELEASE OF GEORGE AND GAYATRI GALLOWAY
Our party condemns the attempt to intimidate those who seek amity rather than enmity with the rest of the world.
Our leader George Galloway and our deputy chair Gayatri Galloway have now been released without charge.
There was never any chance of an offence.
We were obstructed from providing legal support and the conduct of the affair has been designed to intimidate political opponents of the drive towards war with Russia and China.
A fuller account will be given, tomorrow night so be sure to watch and follow @MoatsTV for the full account.
ENDS
