Tribune – Comment, news and reviews from Britain's democratic left

The richest Cabinet in generations went to war on the richest public sector workers, publishing the salary and remuneration packages of all those public sector workers who earn more than the Prime Minister. The so-called “public sector rich list” – topped by the Office of Fair Trading’s John Fingleton on £288,000 a year – did not stop at Whitehall. Some 50 housing association bosses also earn substantially more than the Prime Minister – or even Mr Fingleton. Housing minister Grant Shapps revealed that the highest paid housing association boss earned almost £400,000 a year. He was John Belcher, the chief executive of Anchor, a specialist provider of housing, care and support for elderly people, before his departure last November. In addition to not being the highest earner in Whitehall, David Cameron is not even the richest in his Government, which boasts 18 millionaires worth a combined £50 million among its 23 Cabinet members. The Prime Minister comes third or fourth from the top of the Cabinet rich list.

Will the left formulate a socialist foreign and defence policy? Like Robin Cook’s ethical foreign policy, this will be easier to do than to implement. A debate should clarify thinking. At present, the messages are mixed.

Britain’s “illegal” war against Iraq is condemned. Would it be supported if it were “legal”? Who determines legality and using what criteria? The United Nations? The UN is composed of 192 members, 15 on the Security Council, each with its own interests to pursue.

What would have been the correct socialist attitude to Britain’s declaration of war against Germany in 1939? The Communist Party of Great Britain supported it until the Soviet Union said it was an “imperialist” war. Then the CPGB switched to opposition. Ed Balls and Ed Miliband have declared their opposition to the Iraq war. Why now?

Saddam Hussein ordered four giant guns from Britain which would have brought Israel into range for bombardment with conventional weapons and chemical and nuclear shells. British customs stopped delivery, but his intentions were clear.

Mark Seddon (Tribune May 21) argues: “Labour must call a halt to the ruinous war in Afghanistan”. The Second World War was ruinous. Did we make the wrong decision then? What of the consequences for British security and Afghan women’s human rights? Do we care?

With surprise I read a completely false statement in an article mistakenly titled “Colombian ambassador brands president ‘disappointing’ ”, written by René Lavanchy (Tribune June 4).  In a paragraph of this article it says that the source of this comment is Labour MP Jim Sheridan. To Jim Sheridan, René Lavanchy and to all the readers of your publication, I ratify that these declarations are absolutely false.

When René Lavanchy requested that the Embassy comment on this alleged position of mine, I sent a statement reiterating what I had said in the meeting attended by Jim Sheridan:  “The judicial system in Colombia is completely independent of the executive branch and I fully trust that judges in my country  will decide based exclusively on legal considerations”.
Despite my response by email to René Lavanchy only a couple of hours after his request, he answered that he could not include my statement as the edition had already been closed. I find this conduct very unprofessional and biased.

— Mauricio Rodríguez Múnera, Ambassador of Colombia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Editor’s response: I am perfectly satisfied that René Lavanchy acted with professional diligence throughout, contacting the Embassy as soon as he received relevant information and advising of the deadline. We are grateful for the efforts made to meet this deadline with the comment included above – which does not amount to a denial – but it did indeed arrive too late for publication.