Lindsey German
Encyclopedia
Lindsey German is the convenor of the British
anti-war organisation Stop the War Coalition
and a former member of the central committee of the Socialist Workers Party
. She was editor of Socialist Review
for twenty years until 2004. She has twice stood as a left wing candidate for Mayor of London
, coming fifth in 2004 and most recently standing as the Left List
mayoral candidate in the May 2008 elections
. In February 2010, following "increasing disenchantment" with the leadership, she resigned from the SWP, after 37 years membership. She has written several books, including two on women's rights.
in 1951 and educated in Hillingdon
. She studied law at the London School of Economics
, where she first became an active socialist. In 1970 she attended the "Stop the '70 Tour" demonstration organised by Peter Hain
against the tour of the all-white South African cricket team. She had planned to attend a march against the Vietnam War in 1968, but did not. She was part of the original National Abortion Campaign in 1975 and was involved in struggles to achieve equal pay for women.
German joined the International Socialists
, forerunner of the Socialist Workers Party
(SWP) in the early 1970s, later becoming part of its elected central committee and therefore a full timer for the group by 1977. She was employed by the organisation continuously until the January 2009 SWP party conference. At that conference the proposed slate did not include John Rees
a long standing member of the CC. German proposed an alternate slate which did include Rees. When it became clear that this would be overwhelmingly defeated, Lindsey German and Chris Nineham
withdraw their names from the election and were not selected. As the Central Committee slate was the only proposed slate that went to the vote at conference she was not re-elected to the SWP's Central Committee in 2009. In 2010 German resigned from the SWP. She was editor of the SWP's monthly magazine, Socialist Review
, from September 1984 until May 2004.
In the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the US, German helped to found the Stop the War Coalition
, which was established to oppose what later became known as the War on Terrorism
. German became convenor of the Stop the War Coalition, speaking at meetings and demonstrations.
In January 2004, German supported the move to form Respect – The Unity Coalition, which included the SWP and other opponents of the war in Iraq, including Muslim groups and which stood as a left alternative to the Labour Party
in elections. At the SWP's Marxism 2003 event she commented: "I'm in favour of defending gay rights, [...] but I am not prepared to have it as a shibboleth, [created by] people who . . . regard the state of Israel as somehow a viable presence."
She was Respect's candidate for Mayor of London
in 2004, in addition to standing in the election for a seat in the London Assembly
. She came 5th in the mayoral election and was within 0.43% of winning a seat on the assembly. In 2005 she stood for the West Ham
, London
, constituency in the general election
, coming second with 19.5% of the vote.
On 18 April 2007 she was selected as Respect's candidate for the 2008 London Mayoral election
. However, a subsequent split within the organisation meant that German was not able to use the party's name in the election. Instead German stood as the candidate of the Left List
, finishing in eighth place.
German currently lives in London with John Rees, her partner and another former member of the SWP.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
anti-war organisation Stop the War Coalition
Stop the War Coalition
The Stop the War Coalition is a United Kingdom group set up on 21 September 2001 that campaigns against what it believes are unjust wars....
and a former member of the central committee of the Socialist Workers Party
Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far left party in Britain founded by Tony Cliff. The SWP's student section has groups at a number of universities...
. She was editor of Socialist Review
Socialist Review
The Socialist Review is the monthly magazine of the British Socialist Workers Party. As well as being printed it is also published online.-Original publication: 1950-1962:...
for twenty years until 2004. She has twice stood as a left wing candidate for Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
, coming fifth in 2004 and most recently standing as the Left List
Left List
Left Alternative was a UK political party resulting from the split within Respect – The Unity Coalition in late 2007. It operated in England and Wales. It was backed by the Socialist Workers Party...
mayoral candidate in the May 2008 elections
London mayoral election, 2008
The London mayoral election, 2008 for the office of Mayor of London was held on 1 May 2008 and was won by Conservative Party candidate Boris Johnson....
. In February 2010, following "increasing disenchantment" with the leadership, she resigned from the SWP, after 37 years membership. She has written several books, including two on women's rights.
Biography
Lindsey German was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1951 and educated in Hillingdon
Hillingdon
Hillingdon is a suburban area within the London Borough of Hillingdon, situated 14.2 miles west of Charing Cross.Much of Hillingdon is represented as the Hillingdon East ward within the local authority, Hillingdon Council...
. She studied law at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, where she first became an active socialist. In 1970 she attended the "Stop the '70 Tour" demonstration organised by Peter Hain
Peter Hain
Peter Gerald Hain is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for the Welsh constituency of Neath since 1991, and has served in the Cabinets of both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, firstly as Leader of the House of Commons under Blair and both Secretary of State for...
against the tour of the all-white South African cricket team. She had planned to attend a march against the Vietnam War in 1968, but did not. She was part of the original National Abortion Campaign in 1975 and was involved in struggles to achieve equal pay for women.
German joined the International Socialists
International Socialists
International Socialists is the name of a number of Trotskyist organizations.Most organisations using this name are in the International Socialist Tendency...
, forerunner of the Socialist Workers Party
Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far left party in Britain founded by Tony Cliff. The SWP's student section has groups at a number of universities...
(SWP) in the early 1970s, later becoming part of its elected central committee and therefore a full timer for the group by 1977. She was employed by the organisation continuously until the January 2009 SWP party conference. At that conference the proposed slate did not include John Rees
John Rees
John Rees may refer to:*John Rees , British political activist *John Rees , American journalist*Conway Rees, John Conway Rees, Welsh rugby union international...
a long standing member of the CC. German proposed an alternate slate which did include Rees. When it became clear that this would be overwhelmingly defeated, Lindsey German and Chris Nineham
Chris Nineham
Chris Nineham is one of the founder members and now one of the National Officers of the Stop the War Coalition in the UK. He was one of the main organisers of the 15 February 2003 anti-war protest against the invasion on Iraq....
withdraw their names from the election and were not selected. As the Central Committee slate was the only proposed slate that went to the vote at conference she was not re-elected to the SWP's Central Committee in 2009. In 2010 German resigned from the SWP. She was editor of the SWP's monthly magazine, Socialist Review
Socialist Review
The Socialist Review is the monthly magazine of the British Socialist Workers Party. As well as being printed it is also published online.-Original publication: 1950-1962:...
, from September 1984 until May 2004.
In the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the US, German helped to found the Stop the War Coalition
Stop the War Coalition
The Stop the War Coalition is a United Kingdom group set up on 21 September 2001 that campaigns against what it believes are unjust wars....
, which was established to oppose what later became known as the War on Terrorism
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
. German became convenor of the Stop the War Coalition, speaking at meetings and demonstrations.
In January 2004, German supported the move to form Respect – The Unity Coalition, which included the SWP and other opponents of the war in Iraq, including Muslim groups and which stood as a left alternative to the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
in elections. At the SWP's Marxism 2003 event she commented: "I'm in favour of defending gay rights, [...] but I am not prepared to have it as a shibboleth, [created by] people who . . . regard the state of Israel as somehow a viable presence."
She was Respect's candidate for Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
in 2004, in addition to standing in the election for a seat in the London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
. She came 5th in the mayoral election and was within 0.43% of winning a seat on the assembly. In 2005 she stood for the West Ham
West Ham (UK Parliament constituency)
West Ham is a parliamentary constituency in the London Borough of Newham, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, constituency in the general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
, coming second with 19.5% of the vote.
On 18 April 2007 she was selected as Respect's candidate for the 2008 London Mayoral election
London mayoral election, 2008
The London mayoral election, 2008 for the office of Mayor of London was held on 1 May 2008 and was won by Conservative Party candidate Boris Johnson....
. However, a subsequent split within the organisation meant that German was not able to use the party's name in the election. Instead German stood as the candidate of the Left List
Left List
Left Alternative was a UK political party resulting from the split within Respect – The Unity Coalition in late 2007. It operated in England and Wales. It was backed by the Socialist Workers Party...
, finishing in eighth place.
German currently lives in London with John Rees, her partner and another former member of the SWP.
Selected Books
- Material girls: Women, men and work ISBN 1905192177
- Sex, class and socialism ISBN 0-906224-54-3
- The Balkans: Nationalism and Imperialism (editor), ISBN 1-898876-50-9
- Why We Need A Revolutionary Party
- Socialists and Class , ISBN 1-898876-05-3
- Stop the War: The story of Britain's biggest mass movement, (editor with Andrew Murray), ISBN 1-905192-00-2
Selected articles
External links
- Lindsey's Blog German's blog at Stop the War Coalition
- On Campaign Trail German's blog of her May 2005 election campaign