Fabians debate foreign policy

A workshop at the Fabian Society conference on 14th January examined Global Britain: Must foreign policy divide? The report kindly mentions the following from my own intervention: In a contribution from the floor, Gary Kent of Labour Friends of Iraq, said. ‘Why don’t we ask Iraqis what they want from us. Whatever our positions on the war, we should be able to agree on a policy of solidarity and offer practical assistance to those struggling to build an Iraqi labour movement’.

From making similar comments at other events, I find that there is a ready “market” for the call for solidarity and yet it remains a low priority for much of the British labour movement, which needs convincing that backing Iraqi democrats is not the same thing as backing Bush. There needs to be a step change in the movement her, and internationally, if “our side” – trade unionists, progressives and others – are to stand a chance of influencing the development of Iraqi democracy from within.

Whatever view you took on the war, I urge you please to raise this issue in your local party or union branch and with friends. Time is pressing. This is not an academic debate but a life and death issue for Iraqis many of whom believe that a potent labour movement can unite working people regardless of religion or ethnic identity.

Gary Kent
Director, LFIQ

The workshop speakers were: Haleh Afshar (Professor of Middle Eastern Politics, University of York); Nick Cohen (Observer); John Kampfner (Editor, New Statesman); John Lloyd (Contributing Editor, Financial Times); Chair: Stephen Twigg (Fabian Executive & Foreign Policy Centre)