WATCH: Independent candidates and voters and the Workers’ Party of Britain join forces to tell both Labour and Tories to stop the genocide in Gaza or face a revolt at the polls.

George Galloway, center, head of the Worker’s Party of Britain, with campaign manager James Giles. First row: independent candidates for May 2 council elections, at Saturday conference in Blackburn. (Joe Lauria)

By Joe Lauria
in Blackburn, England
Special to Consortium News

There is a rebellion brewing in England, particularly in the north, where voters are fed up with the similar, repressive policies of both Labour and Conservative Parties, in particular when it comes to Gaza.

This movement is being spearheaded by a surge of independent candidates for local council elections slated for May 2, and by George Galloway’s new Workers’ Party of Britain. Galloway became the first member of the party to be elected to Parliament in February representing Rochdale, outside Manchester.

Former British diplomat Craig Murray is now standing for Parliament in Blackburn with the Workers’ Party, and Andrew Feinstein, who worked closely with Nelson Mandela in South Africa, is challenging Labour leader Keir Starmer for his seat in Holborn and St. Pancras in London as an independent in the general election to be called later this year.

The independents and Workers’ Party came together in Blackburn on Saturday to tell both major parties there’s a new movement in the land and it’s gathering force.

Below are Parts One and Two of the conference, followed by individual videos of addresses by George Galloway, Craig Murray and Andrew Feinstein. Speakers list at the end.

Part One:

Part Two: 

George Galloway: 

Craig Murray: 

Andrew Feinstein:

Video: Joe Lauria. Editor: Cathy Vogan

Craig Murray, candidate for Parliament for Blackburn, England speaking at the conference on Saturday in Blackburn. (Joe Lauria)

Speaker’s List

PART ONE

1: Alan Gibbons, Councillor Liverpool Community Independents

2: Michael Lavalette, Councillor Independent PPC for Preston

3: Craig Murray, former diplomat, Workers’ Party candidate for Parliament for Blackburn

4: Suleman Khonat, deputy leader, Blackburn Independents

PART TWO

Speakers in order of their first appearance:

Group of Independent Candidates

1: George Galloway, MP Rochdale, Workers’ Party leader

2: Shockat Adam, Independent MP Candidate for Leicester South.

3: James Giles, Councillor Kingston, London; Galloway campaign manager.

4: Shanaz Saddique, Worker’s Party

5: Councillor Lotte Collett, Independent Socialist Group Leader, Haringey Council

6: Salma Yaqoob, former Chair, Respect Party

7: Andrew Feinstein, candidate for Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras, challenging Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer’s seat.