George Galloway MP

George Galloway MP (Respect) MP for Bethnal Green & Bow.

Digital Economy Bill

I share your very justifiable concerns about the draconian measures contained in the Bill, and I am also angered by the way the government is preparing to rush it through - with the loyal support of the opposition and certain Lib Dem peers it would seem - without any time for proper debate or scrutiny.

I can only see this whole debacle as one last reckless insult to democracy from a regime that should have placed itself before the electorate long ago.

I've recently been expressing opposition to the Bill on Twitter and Facebook.

I am also writing to the Speaker to ask for proper Parliamentary time for scrutiny and debate.

Naturally I am in favour of the workers in all the relevant industries receiving fair remuneration, but I do not think that forcing through this Bill, with all its inherent dangers, against the profound misgivings of the public, is the way to go. Given time, and good will, I am sure that mutually acceptable solutions could emerge.

Once again, however, this government is prepared to trample over your human rights in the name of political expediency. Surely the last days of a dying government should have been devoted to more productive matters. What about freeing local councils to directly invest in housing? Or reforming the laws that criminalise photographers and people peacefully protesting? Or agreeing to a Robin Hood tax on the banks?

Surgeries

Every Friday between 3pm and 6pm at the Respect office - 9, Club Row, London E1 6JX

You can contact George's Parliamentary office on 020 7219 6940 or his constituency office on 020 7613 5225. You can write to him at the following address:

George Galloway MP House Of Commons London SW1A 0AA

Early Day Motions

Signed Early Day Motion 263 Identity Cards 06 June 2005

That this House believes that a convincing case for the introduction of compulsory biometric identity cards and a national database has not been made, that the risks involved far outweigh any discernible benefit, that the introduction of identity cards will fundamentally change the relationship between the citizen and the state, diminish personal privacy and threaten civil liberties, that the present proposals do not provide properly costed, proportionate or effective solutions to the problems they are claimed to solve; and calls upon the Government to shelve plans for their introduction.

Signed Early Day Motion 1697 Use of the DNA database 27 Febuary 2006

That this House expresses its concern about the retention of DNA data taken from children aged 10 to 18 years who have never been charged or cautioned with any offence; notes large regional differences in retention policy between various police forces; and believes that this imbalance is being further exacerbated by the Government's unwillingness to issue clear guidelines to chief constables about the removal of innocent children from the National Police DNA Database.

Signed Early Day Motion 179 Software in Schools 21 November 2006

That this House congratulates the Open University and other schools, colleges and universities for utilising free and open source software to deliver cost-effective educational benefit not just for their own institutions but also the wider community; and expresses concern that Becta and the Department for Education and Skills, through the use of outdated purchasing frameworks, are effectively denying schools the option of benefiting from both free and open source software and the value and experience small and medium ICT companies could bring to the schools market.

EDM 1190: Twitter and the detection of crime

Proposed that the government "impose sanctions" (ban?) on Twitter unless it "fully cooperates" with UK authorities in the detection of crime.