I wouldn’t normally publish correspondence, but in the comments of the Respect Blog, Neil Williams wrote the following in response to my Earlier post about Yvonne Ridley.
Neil wrote: “That’s twice you have posted that item: Reference and evidence please (or was in in the latest NF news). I give you 24hours to back up your claim or we can all know this is just black propaganda.”
I was shocked that Neil seemed to be accusing me of links with the fascist National Front, and also of manufacturing black propaganda against a left organisation. These are the sort of smears and libels that Stalinist groups use to demonise political opponents. However I now understand that Neil mistook my blogger name "AN" for anonymous, and no harm or disrespect was intended by Neil.
However, having been publicly challenged for evidence in this way I feel I have no alternative but to publish the correspondence with both Yvonne Ridley and Ron Mckay to vindicate myself. neither Yvonne's nor Ron's e-mail can be considered private, so no breach of confidence is involved: Yvonne's e-mail was written to the editor of the web-site without any indication that it was not for publication, and Ron McKay's letter was officially issued from the Respect office.
Firstly on sources: the question that Yvonne sends her daughter, Daisy, to a private school is in the public domain. Thomas Crosbie Media (Ireland) in 2001 reported that Daisy went to a boarding school in Windemere, this was also reported by the BBC (North East) in 2001 and of course Harpers and Queens reported that it was a private school.- this was repeated in the Guardian on 24th Feb 2004, and the article is reposted on the Daawah communities webpage.
The Socialist Unity network received an e-mail from Yvonne Ridley dated 19th July 2004, which has the following extract: "Frankly I am sick and tired of this sort of pompous invective from men who have no idea about the struggles of working, single mums or single mums caught in a child care void who would love to work.I work to pay my daughter's school fees so I can work. Perhaps Andy Newman would prefer it if I quit my job, lived off the state and then Daisy could check in to the nearest school while I sit and do nothing but dream. I'm not sure if I have the time to write an article or a rebuttal - unless of course you care to offer me a professional fee ... after all, I am a working mum and have next term's school fees to consider. Yvonne Ridley”
I did approach the respect press office for comment back in 2004, and only received the following unhelpful reply direct to me from George Galloway’s business partner, Ron McKay. “You are one sad, small-minded, hypocritical fuck. Oh, and learn to spell. Particularly the name of the person you're trying to turn over. Fraternally, Ron McKay”
9 comments:
Reply from Neil Williams - Editor of the Respect Supporters Blog:
Andy for that is your name and not An:
When you came on to the comments section you signed your comment 'An said' (see the comments section above on my Blog above (link below) - I took that to mean 'anonymous' an attempt by someone to stir things up.
I do not censor comments on the Blog (unless they are clearly racist or insulting)and we do get the odd crank and NF member making comments.
I ofcourse apologise to you but now I know it is Andy (we may not agree on all issues but I would not insult anyone - its not my style)not 'An'short for 'Anonymous' as you posted.
I feel like a fly caught in a well laid spider web?
I do not and never will support private education - see my post on CASE - the Campaign for State Education of which I am a member and currently active in trying to stop an academy school in Milton Keynes (the Sir Frank Markham school.
My views on education can be found on the CASE site at:
http://www.campaignforstateeducation.org.uk/
Neil
http://respectuk.blogspot.com/
Neil
I accept you explanation and apology, and I have modified this post to make it less bad tempered.
But it still doesn't answer the question of how Respect can say one thing, while allowing leading members to do another.
As you are one of resepct's most enthuiastic supporters, perhaps youo can explain?
“You are one sad, small-minded, hypocritical fuck. Oh, and learn to spell. Particularly the name of the person you're trying to turn over.
Looks like Galloway's close associates are as friendly and thoughtful in response to criticism as he is.
Or as sick of pathetic sectarian carping as most of the rest of the world is.
Anonympus
So we should just accept foolish and inappropraite behaviour from the lesders of our organisations with a cheerful smile?
Why isn't Yvonne Ridley sending her daughter to an Islamic school, if she's so keen on it? Aren't there Islamic boarding schools somewhere in the world that she could go to?
Sue,
Daisy has been going to Windemere St Annes since before Ridley became a Moslem.
If you read press reports it would suggest that they hardly ever see each other, and in her interview with Harpers and Queens Ridley descrbed motherhood as "like being in a three-legged race with a ball and chain on the legs". ". She has also publically expressed bitterness about the pregnancy being unwanted. Which true or not is something you would think she would have kept to herslf, out of deference to daisy's feelings.
Ruth Kelly, is a fundamentalist nutter, pays shedloads for child's private schooling, denies she is a hypocrite
Yvonne Ridley, is a fundamentalist nutter, pays shedloads for child's private schooling, denies she is a hypocrite
have they ever been seen together at the same time?
I'ld rather live in a country run by Ruth Kelly's party than Yvonne ridley's though!
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