Open Letter to George Galloway – There is only one issue in the Holborn-St. Pancras By-Election – Labour’s Support for Genocide in Gaza

Two Years Ago in Rochdale You Said that Gaza was the Main Issue – What Has Changed? The Genocide is Still Continuing

In March 2024 at the count in the Rochdale by-election, which Galloway won with a stunning 40% of the vote, he said that Gaza was the main issue.

Arch-Zionist Luke Akehurst is Canvassing for Labour in Camden - is George Galloway Really Going to Help Her?

Now however the issue is not Gaza or Genocide or Zionism. Galloway is reported as saying that his decision to stand as a candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election is his differences with Zack Polanski over Ukraine and trans-rights. Gaza and Israel’s blitzkrieg in the Middle East has been forgotten. It seems that the real issue is George’s huge ego and his inability to stay out of the limelight.

Chris Williamson was right to resign as Deputy Leader of the Workers Party of Britain. The only choice in the election is between Polanski of the Green Party and Sagal Abdi-Wali, of the Labour Party. There is no other choice.

As The Standard said, Polanski has gained a huge boost from the backing of Andrew Feinstein, the former ANC MP and socialist who gained 7,312 votes in 2024 against the notorious liar, the unlamented Keir Starmer. Whereas Andrew gained 18.9% of the vote Starmer, despite being the incumbent Prime Minister, had a swing of 17.3% against him.

Polanski is clearly the anti-Genocide candidate standing against Labour’s genocide supporting candidate. For Galloway to stand, when it is clear he is going to get a derisory vote on a par with the 1.4% and 489 votes he obtained in Tom Watson’s old seat of West Bromwich East in 2019, or perhaps the 0.5% and 164 votes that Peter Ford of the Workers Party obtained in the 2025 by-election in Runcorn, demonstrates that Galloway’s hatred of the Green Party, or is it Polanski, is greater than his hatred of the Labour Party.

1.4% may be the difference between Polanski winning and losing. Galloway has always said that Palestine is for him the key issue yet here he is threatening to help the party of genocide, the Labour Party, win the election.

The reality is that Galloway’s primary concern has always been himself. He has never subordinated his own ego to the greater good. How can he be serious and say that trans rights is the main issue?  This is an issue that divides the left. It is an issue that the right-wing has campaigned on vociferously demonising anyone who doesn’t fit into the binary of male or female.

Given the attacks of Trump, Sunak and the far-right against transgender people one would expect anyone serious about left politics not to join in trans-baiting.

George Galloway: Children shouldn’t be taught that gay relationships are “normal”. pic.twitter.com/GCZzL5kKcv

— Novara Media (@novaramedia) May 1, 2024

Galloway has always had a bad record on issues of sexuality. In an interview with Novara Media Galloway said:

“I don’t want my children prematurely sexualised at all, I don’t want them taught that some things are normal when their parents don’t believe that they’re normal.”

He has opposed gay sex being treated as normal in the context of sex education in schools.

He has also had the Tate brothers on his Moats show. Andrew and Tristan Tate are notorious for building a massive online following by promoting extreme misogyny, hyper-masculinity, and luxury lifestyles, alongside facing criminal charges including human trafficking, rape, and sexual exploitation.

It is no surprise that Galloway finds the Tate brothers attractive, despite Andrew Tate being removed from Big Brother in 2016 after a video showed him attacking a woman with a belt.

The jury is out on whether Galloway can even be described as on the left. He made his name as a firebrand in Scotland, Chair of the Scottish Labour Party and the person who ousted Roy Jenkins of the SDP from his Glasgow Hillhead seat in 1997. He has represented 4 different constituencies including Bradford West, Bethnal Green and Bow and last of all Rochdale.

His attitude to refugees and asylum seekers has been little different to the far-right. In May 2021 hundreds of Glaswegians prevented the thugs of Priti Patel’s snatch squads from seizing and deporting refugees by surrounding their van. Nicola Sturgeon supported them. But Galloway vented his spleen instead against those who freed the refugees rather than the racist Priti Patel and the Home Office:

“A devolved assembly has openly and unlawfully defied the implementation of a UK government decision,”

Galloway indulged in what Mark Brown described as ‘bilious refugee baiting.’

Galloway has always has been a bitter opponent of Scottish devolution and independence. This ‘bilious unionism’ perhaps explains his support for Brexit and his attempt to stand for the Brexit Party of Nigel Farage. Although according to The Spectator he has now changed his mind and supports independence for Scotland.

At the time of the 2016 referendum over Brexit he appeared on the same platform as Nigel Farage and compared their relationship to that between Winston Churchill and Stalin. Galloway’s high points – his confrontation with US Senators over Iraq and the Rochdale by-election are unfortunately matched by his low points such as support for the Brexit party in the 2019 European elections.

Perhaps the only principle he has maintained throughout his career is support for George Galloway. One can only hope that he has second thoughts and doesn’t end up supporting the party of Genocide in Gaza, the Labour Party.

I have therefor written an Open Letter to Galloway in the hope that he will reconsider his egotistical decision to stand.

Tony Greenstein

In Loving Memory Of Our Jewish Anti-Zionist Comrade & Sister, Naomi Junnor, Who Was Cruelly Taken From Us – An Appreciation

Naomi was a working class fighter, a socialist who dedicated her life to supporting the Palestinians and opposing Zionism

Naomi Junnor speech at Scottish PSC demonstration

Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign pay tribute to their deceased comrade here and there are dozens of people who are also paying their own tribute.

I first met Naomi in January 2024 when I toured Scotland at the invitation of Scottish PSC. I stayed with Naomi in Glasgow on both the outward and return leg of my tour.

Naomi welcomed me into her home and made me feel part of her family as we talked, relaxed and ate.

I remember staying in her attic, which could only be reached by climbing up a ladder. I felt at the time as if I was taking my life in my hands climbing it. But apart from that the warmth of the welcome which I received more than outweighed the risk I was taking!

Naomi was a larger than life person despite her diminutive size with a booming voice. As the tributes to her from her many friends and admirers make clear she had a heart of gold.

She was in Jewish Network for Palestine and was our Scottish representative. We kept in touch and every month she would contact me for a donation for the Younis family in Gaza who depended on the money she raised. I hope that efforts can be made to ensure that they are not left to suffer as a result of Naomi’s passing.

Farida and Naomi Go to Edinburgh

Naomi was also an active  trade unionist and was a delegate from her branch to the last UNISON conference. Quite disgracefully she was removed from the National Conference in Brighton because she wore a red triangle in her hat.

Some Zionists complained that the red triangle meant she was a supporter of the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, and of course UNISON’s officialdom took the word of the genocide supporters in the union at their word. They also began disciplinary proceedings against Naomi.

She signed off that ‘They are beyond unprofessional’ which just about sums up UNISON’s full-timers who a few years ago also suspended me for 3 years for having criticised a scab official, Steve Terry.

My last conversation with Naomi was on Thursday 3 September, just two days before she passed away. She told me she had had a vivid dream about me decorating her home. I was sure that she had mistaken me for someone else as decorating is the last thing I would attempt!

Naomi's last message to me on 3rd September - she'd had a vivid dream about me - imagining I was going to decorate her home!

Naomi was widely respected and admired within the Palestine solidarity movement and below I post a number of tributes by those she worked with.

We have lost a fierce, determined, sometimes angry friend. Humanity has lost a bright burning light,  a sharp intellect, hopeful, keeping despair beyond reach, by action. Passionate about the futures possible, for peace, for our planet, for palestine and its people.

We wont see her fiery filskit eyes, not her mischievous grin, or hear her earthy laugh again , but the memory of her will live on.  Naomi would share her resilience in the face of the abominable crimes committed.

My memories of many marches, sharing simple pleasures, appreciating a shwarma, the restorative boost of a walk with her dog, enjoying the clouds, the wind or the sea.

Howard Zinn  describes the kind of hope i saw in Naomi in the face of the horrors of this barbaric genocide.

"To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage and kindness.  What we choose to emphasise in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places, and there are so many, where people have behaved magnificently this gives us the energy to act and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And, if we do act, in however small a way, we dont have to wait for some utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and, to live now, as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is in itself, a marvellous victory. "

Naomi gave so much of herself, she was magnificent and the world is a much much poorer place without her.

Thank you

Ann Davis

 

Tony

just seen your message in the chat. I still cant take it in, as I was speaking to her last Saturday.

By way of background I believe I have known Naomi for about 30 years after local government reorganisation and started working for Glasgow City Council, and became active in UNISON.  

She was a regular correspondent when I had the privilege of being her MP from 2015 to 2024, regularly on Palestine, and attended fundraisers when I could. 

My former Constituency Office staff remember her fondly, and were very sad at her passing.

When thinking of her, the following words ring out. Formidable, Campaigner, Activist, Kindness.

I look forward to reading your blog.  

best wishes

Chris Stephens

I met Naomi  at Jordanhill College in 1985 when we were both students on the Youth and Community(Adult Education) course.  Naomi was very much her own person then and that never changed. She was fearless and informed. Naomi was someone who wanted a fairer world and worked selflessly to raise awareness

of the genocide and apartheid being carried out in Gaza and to establish practical support    for anyone caught up in this.

Naomi was my friend. I will miss her. A brave individual whose moral compass should be an inspiration to us all.

James Allan

 

A Message from Caroline Wardle

Facebook page

Always so supportive of SACC and a great speaker for Palestine! Sincere condolences to all her family and friends

Julia Davidson

Ursula Mindermann

As a member of the board of trustees of the scottish network of Photographers for Palestine I am very sad about the loss of the member of the NPP. Naomi and me were working together about years and I will miss her strong voice, her power and herself in the board of trustees. Dear Naomi- may you rest in peace

The scottish Palestine solidarity wrote:

We have truly lost a strong voice & one of the heartbeats of the movement against the Genocide. Naomi Junnor was not only a passionate voice but a woman with love & compassion for all & who gave of herself at every moment. Her laughter, humour, passion for justice & true kindness will be dearly missed.

My condolences to your family.

Rest in Power & Peace always my friend.

Knowing Naomi I can only but smile knowing she’ll continue giving the Zio’s hell, so their peace will never continue. Love you Naomi. “

Omaya Najami

You will be truly missed 

Mowafaq Khaleel

All respect ursella and naomi

Levette Callander

So very sad to hear of the passing of Naomi Junnor. Naomi’s passion for justice for the Palestinians was inspirational. We’ve lost a friend indeed. 

Collings Simon Nikola 

by author

Great lady she angel up there with hashem.god bless you sister

 

Younis Al Jakhbeer

Naomi . A woman with a beautiful, big heart—the Scottish woman who stood by, helped, and championed the Palestinian cause for decades. A woman who dedicated her life to upholding justice and did everything necessary to support the cause of Palestine and its women and children. Rest in peace, beautiful soul. 

Amira Sayyad

Very sad news and a shock. I was chatting to her on Monday. Rest in Peace Naomi. 

Levette Callander

Heartbroken. We sat with her last Monday at the screening of Living Proof.”

She was a force of nature with a heart of gold.

Palestine has lost a champion.

Helen Skulina  ·

We will all miss you Dear Naomi .

Rest in Peace

·  Reply

Dvorah Kost  ·

Oh Younis, i’m so sorry for the passing of your dear friend Naomi. You’ve spoken of her many times to me. May her memory be a blessing. Sending you love and a big hug and tears.

Lizzie Éldridge

We love you Naomi Junnor

And we will miss you with all of our hearts  

Derdriu Ni Cathmhaoil

Gutted hearing this news. We will definitely miss Naomi. She was an amazing woman. Was proud to call her my friend. Rest in power x 

Ophira Gamliel

Oh, no... devastated to hear this... 

Billy Knox

R.I.P. Naomi I was only speaking to her on Thursday 

Niki Bryce

You will be sadly missed Naomi. Loved your sense of humour. X

 

I met Naomi through Avigail’s Palestine Book Club. We exchanged phone numbers when I heard her Glaswegian accent, and we visited each other a couple of times. 

We met countless times at demos, and exchanged countless messages on WhatsApp.  She came to my birthday lunch last Easter at the restaurant at Mugdock garden centre and got on well with my family. She had such lovely plans to change her house to accommodate asylum seekers and refugees and those needing refuge. I spoke to Naomi on the phone a few days before she died. I can only imagine what her family is feeling. 

All we can do is continue her work, in her memory, and know that she did not suffer because it looks like she died quickly. But her family and her friends are the ones suffering, as well as the Palestinian families she was supporting. They will be devastated. 

Love and blessings to all who are suffering because of her loss.

Margaret Forbes