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Diary: A message to the SWP from Delhi: stay away Diary: A message to the SWP from Delhi: stay away
(6 months later)
• There were bound to be repercussions once that awful transcript of the Socialist Workers party dealing with rape allegations against one of its senior officials saw light of day. The fact that many seemed reluctant to pursue the accusations very vigorously. The fact that great efforts were being made to keep the whole matter away from "the bourgeois court system". News of a second case has only made matters worse. In the first instance, the alleged victim claimed she was subjected to offensive questions about her sexual past and drinking habits. As the row rumbles on, members are quitting. Now, the anger over the way the SWP has handled sexual abuse allegations has spread to India. Central committee member and international secretary Professor Alex Callinicos was to play a starring role in next week's first South Asian Historical Materialism Conference. He would have been part of one debate and chaired another. He has been abruptly disinvited. He's not happy. "I understand of course how important the issue of rape and sexual violence is in India, especially after last December's gang rape and murder in Delhi," he says in a letter to the organisers, posted on Facebook. "It is also a very important question in Britain, and for me personally, as it is for the Socialist Workers party. We are strongly committed to women's liberation. We took the rape allegations against a leading member extremely seriously; the controversy over how the party handled these allegations is indicative of that seriousness." A special conference held recently will "review our procedures, and we intend to use this to reinforce our efforts to combat the oppression of women", he says. But there's been no reply. Maybe, if the party can find its way to the 21st century, he'll be asked again next year.• There were bound to be repercussions once that awful transcript of the Socialist Workers party dealing with rape allegations against one of its senior officials saw light of day. The fact that many seemed reluctant to pursue the accusations very vigorously. The fact that great efforts were being made to keep the whole matter away from "the bourgeois court system". News of a second case has only made matters worse. In the first instance, the alleged victim claimed she was subjected to offensive questions about her sexual past and drinking habits. As the row rumbles on, members are quitting. Now, the anger over the way the SWP has handled sexual abuse allegations has spread to India. Central committee member and international secretary Professor Alex Callinicos was to play a starring role in next week's first South Asian Historical Materialism Conference. He would have been part of one debate and chaired another. He has been abruptly disinvited. He's not happy. "I understand of course how important the issue of rape and sexual violence is in India, especially after last December's gang rape and murder in Delhi," he says in a letter to the organisers, posted on Facebook. "It is also a very important question in Britain, and for me personally, as it is for the Socialist Workers party. We are strongly committed to women's liberation. We took the rape allegations against a leading member extremely seriously; the controversy over how the party handled these allegations is indicative of that seriousness." A special conference held recently will "review our procedures, and we intend to use this to reinforce our efforts to combat the oppression of women", he says. But there's been no reply. Maybe, if the party can find its way to the 21st century, he'll be asked again next year.
• Endlessly scratchy in Tower Hamlets, east London where there is total war between Labour and the independent mayor Lutfur Rahman. He says the party stitched him up, forcing him to run as an independent. Critics accuse him of disloyalty and consorting with extremists, and vow that next time Labour will give him a jolly good thrashing. It's ugly. How ugly? Well, this week three Lab activists – Ian Mackenzie, a former special adviser to Lord Prescott, former MP Greg Pope and Rob Marchant, a former Labour manager and party sage – were discussing the prospects on Twitter. The worry was that Rahman might win again or even seek readmission to the Labour party. "Makes mental note to keep revolver well cleaned and oiled," tweeted Marchant. The gloom ran deep. "I will load the revolver and we can all take turns," he said. To shoot themselves or to shoot the mayor? One guesses the former, and Marchant says the thought was indeed self-harm rather than assassination. For all that, Rahman's office – gleaning a "death threat" – has reported it to the police.• Endlessly scratchy in Tower Hamlets, east London where there is total war between Labour and the independent mayor Lutfur Rahman. He says the party stitched him up, forcing him to run as an independent. Critics accuse him of disloyalty and consorting with extremists, and vow that next time Labour will give him a jolly good thrashing. It's ugly. How ugly? Well, this week three Lab activists – Ian Mackenzie, a former special adviser to Lord Prescott, former MP Greg Pope and Rob Marchant, a former Labour manager and party sage – were discussing the prospects on Twitter. The worry was that Rahman might win again or even seek readmission to the Labour party. "Makes mental note to keep revolver well cleaned and oiled," tweeted Marchant. The gloom ran deep. "I will load the revolver and we can all take turns," he said. To shoot themselves or to shoot the mayor? One guesses the former, and Marchant says the thought was indeed self-harm rather than assassination. For all that, Rahman's office – gleaning a "death threat" – has reported it to the police.
• It's the life of Brian at Liverpool's John Moores University as the Queen guitarist and animal rights activist Brian May stands down as chancellor. The Jewish Chronicle notes he is to be replaced by that other man of the moment Lord Justice (Brian) Leveson. The judge's "unparalleled professional experience and personal integrity" will be of "great benefit" said the vice-chancellor, Professor Nigel Weatherill. No doubt. But with him around, who'd edit the student newspaper there?• It's the life of Brian at Liverpool's John Moores University as the Queen guitarist and animal rights activist Brian May stands down as chancellor. The Jewish Chronicle notes he is to be replaced by that other man of the moment Lord Justice (Brian) Leveson. The judge's "unparalleled professional experience and personal integrity" will be of "great benefit" said the vice-chancellor, Professor Nigel Weatherill. No doubt. But with him around, who'd edit the student newspaper there?
• There's still important work for Leveson, especially at the likes of Mojo magazine in which standards of accuracy seem to be in freefall. This from the May edition: "New York punk progenitor Richard Hell writes to very firmly point out that he does not claim to have based his haircut on the French poet Rimbaud – a charge repeated in Mojo's review of his memoir, I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp. We're delighted to clear that up." Cue Leveson's exemplary damages.• There's still important work for Leveson, especially at the likes of Mojo magazine in which standards of accuracy seem to be in freefall. This from the May edition: "New York punk progenitor Richard Hell writes to very firmly point out that he does not claim to have based his haircut on the French poet Rimbaud – a charge repeated in Mojo's review of his memoir, I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp. We're delighted to clear that up." Cue Leveson's exemplary damages.
• Finally, acronyms. Government types do like their acronyms. In the US, the arms procurement mantra is for weaponry fast, inexpensive, simple and tiny – Fist. Irked by "the mounting chaos of funding for Hinkley C" nuclear power station, Labourite Paul Flynn, unveils the UK equivalent – Complex, Random, Asinine and Prodigous, Crap. Will it catch on?• Finally, acronyms. Government types do like their acronyms. In the US, the arms procurement mantra is for weaponry fast, inexpensive, simple and tiny – Fist. Irked by "the mounting chaos of funding for Hinkley C" nuclear power station, Labourite Paul Flynn, unveils the UK equivalent – Complex, Random, Asinine and Prodigous, Crap. Will it catch on?
Diary@guardian.co.uk Diary@guardian.co.uk
Twitter: @hugh_muir Twitter: @hugh_muir
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