Former SWP Candidate In Big Brother House

international | arts and media | opinion/analysis

Tuesday July 03, 2007 16:39

by Owen Bruton

Why are SWP so obsessed with entering BB?

After George Galloway's appearance another Respect member has joined the Big Brother house. Carole Vincent is a member of the Socialist Workers' Party and was a candidate in the 2006 local elections. She has entered the house as she "wants to bring important issues to the public"

SWP member Carole Vincent ran as a Respect candidate in the 2006 elections in the Markhouse ward of Whaltamstow Council in London. She won 471 votes.

Carole features on the Respect website and in the pages of Socialist Worker . In the edition of 11 November 2006 (issue 2026) the Socialist Worker reported on a rally for NHS services in Whaltam Forest: "Respect local election candidate Carole Vincent told the meeting to loud applause, “I don’t want to die in an ambulance on the A12”. She called for a mass campaign to save Whipps."

The SWP have an unclear position on Big Brother being used as a platform for activists. While initially opposing Galloway's entry to Big Brother, in the lead-up to the May 2006 local elections the SWP's line changed somewhat. In the Socailist Worker of 4 February 2006 (issue 1986) an interview was carried with MP George Galloway. In that interview the decision of Galloway to enter Big Brother was portrayed in a generally positive light - the word "effective" was even used as a subheadline in the article. The article attacked the TV producers for censoring political discussion.

According to the New Stateman (21 June 2007) the Socialist Workers' Party internal bulletin reported "At no point did Carole consult the SWP leadership about joining the programme, and it is not part of our strategy to enter BB in order to manipulate the media."

Seems to be one rule for George and another for Carole?

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Comments (2 of 2)

Politics?

by BB watcher

Tue Jul 03, 2007 16:51

I've watched BB this year and this is the first time that I've heard carole is a political activist. She's in the SWP and there to raise politics but she does not say anything other than give out about food and cleaning and get nominated all the time. Where's her politics? SWP have a very odd attitude towards BB. At time of Galloway they were against, but still defended him and have generally been unclear. This lack of clarity then feeds into decisions SWP activists make such as Carole. She (and I'd say a significant section of the SWP) beleives that youc an go onto BB and make political change. Out of touch. What gets me is not that some SWP member went into the House, but that she was nominated by them as an election candidate!

People BBefore Profit Alliance

by BB viewer

Fri Jul 13, 2007 21:55

The former SWP candidate Carole Vincent was today on the show leading a mock protest. Big Brother gave the contentants the task of making a blanket for the mock Global protest and then singing a song called "Give me a Piece of your Peace". They all had to wear white T-shirts and hold plackards as they sung a verse or two. It was all a wind up by Big Brother taking the mick out of them. Carole's enthusiasm for the task was sickening. She loved wearing the white T-shirt (as SWP do at anti-capitalist protests) and singing a stupid song. Carole then went into the Diary room and read out a statement in Greek supposedly to Greece which made her look more like a prat.

When all this antics was happening my thoughts were: This reflects badly on the Socialist Workers' Party. A candidate of theres (someone they were happy to represent working people and their party on a Council) could not see through the bullsh1t of making a giant quilt and singing a seriously de-politicised song about nothing. Is this what passes as politics and anti-capitalist global protest in the eyes of the Socialist Workers' Party.

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Former SWP Candidate In Big Brother House

Comments (2 of 2)