Photo: By Kuolem a - Own work, CC
The number of candidates for the Batley & Spen By-election due July 1st is attracting a lot of attention following the resignation of the sitting MP. Following the loss of Hartlepool, Labour are concerned they might lose a second seat which will trigger a renewed civil war inside their party. If the Tories score another victory it will strengthen Boris Johnson's government.
Already there are fears that parliamentary carpetbagger George Galloway will attract sufficient votes from the large Muslim community with his pretentious rhetoric about Palestine. Just a thousand or so could seriously undermine an already struggling Labour candidate who has already caused internal controversy by being pictured with pro-Palestinian wearing t-shirts illustrating the genocide of Israel.
The hard left raised objections to Kim Leadbeaters candidacy after she was fast tracked after just four month's membership. Labour had been planning to capitalise on the fact she was the murdered local MP's sister.
Already the far-right organisation Britain First has announced it will stand Jayda Fransen for the constituency which will cause controversy as Jo Cox's murderer shouted Britain First during the attack. Fransen has denied any connection wit the killer.
Finally in addition to all the normal fringe parties another right wing organisation For Britain led by Anne Marie Waters who began political life as a campaigner for secular rights and was in the running to be a Labour candidate before being accused of "Islamophobia" and former contestant for leadership of UKIP will be standing for the relatively new For Britain Party.
For Britain is backed by the controversial singer Morrissey and a recent video showed Anne Marie in conversation with Tommy Robinson about her candidature and the need for security during he campaign as she announces her candidature for the seat.
With so many political parties expected to contest this seat and the challenges that may face Keir Starmer and the Labour Party should their candidate fail to retain the seat will make this a very interesting by-election to stay up and watch.
I will leave this as the starter for AMW's manifesto:
ReplyDeleteThe key requirement is to get this key statement of principle from the Council of Europe
resolution(1804 – 2007) implemented via legislation with strong teeth:
"Nor may states allow the dissemination of religious principles which, if put into
practice, would violate human rights.
If doubts exist in this respect, states must require religious leaders to take an
unambiguous stand in favour of the precedence of human rights, as set forth in the
European Convention on Human Rights, over any religious principle."
https://pace.coe.int/en/files/17568/html
Practically, that should mean a ban on the teaching and practice of sharia in the UK. At the very
least, those aspects of sharia (see para 6 Council of Europe resolution 2253 January 2019) that are
incompatible with democracy and human rights.
The legal basis for action is this ECHR ruling (2003) on sharia:
"Noting that the Welfare Party had pledged to set up a regime based on sharia law,
the Court found that sharia was incompatible with the fundamental principles of
democracy as set forth in the Convention. It considered that “sharia, which
faithfully reflects the dogmas and divine rules laid down by religion, is stable and
invariable. Principles such as pluralism in the political sphere or the constant
evolution of public freedoms have no place in it”. According to the Court, it was
difficult to declare one’s respect for democracy and human rights while at the
same time supporting a regime based on sharia, which clearly diverged from
Convention values, particularly with regard to its criminal law and criminal
procedure, its rules on the legal status of women and the way it intervened in all
spheres of private and public life in accordance with religious precepts."
Annual Report 2003
http://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/Annual_report_2003_ENG.pdf
and these subsequent reports:
http://www.assembly.coe.int/Committee/JUR/ajdoc282016.pdf
https://pace.coe.int/en/files/25353/html