Why Mick Rix resigned from Stop the War Coalition

“Mick Rix [ex-leader of ASLEF, the Train Drivers trade union], who resigned from Stop the War's elected steering committee in October last year, did not do so because he believed that we endangering the lives of Iraqi trade unionists” (Lindsey German, Convenor of the Stop the War Coalition, their web site on 9 January).

This is what Mick Rix told Andrew Murray, Chair of the Stop the War Coalition in widely published correspondence in October 2004: “The movement that I was brought up in, comrade, allows constructive criticism, yourself, StTW and Respect crossed the line, in terms of human decency, and was an all out assault. The language that was used was deliberate, archaic, violent, and plain downright stupid and dangerous if you happen to be an Iraqi at this present time. Then again you are not. I don't think you also realise the danger that your actions and those of the Respect colleagues in the StTW have placed Abdullah and perhaps others in the IFTU against attacks from extremists. Some people talk about life and death situations, some unfortunately have to live it and so do their families in Iraq and I don't see why you, Respect or the coalition have a right to think you can place them in that situation, when they are living daily with those consequences, because they are not the "new" friends of yourself, George , StTW or Respect such as extreme nationalists, or religious fundamentalists. It is you who have attacked the IFTU and Abdullah. So much for the bold statement the StTW will not interfere in Iraqi internal politics, your statement, and that of the StTW at worst, did, the statement has probably placed these good trade unionists and socialists at a terrible risk.”