Stop the War Coalition

The Stop the War Coalition (STWC) was formed on 21 September 2001 at a public meeting of over 2,000 people in London. The organisation co-ordinated, in conjunction with Muslim Association of Britain and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, massive demonstrations in London against wars in Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003).

Organisations from the British 'old left' tend to predominate the coalition, especially trade unions and socialist/communist groups. STWC has been accused of operating as a quasi-front for the Socialist Worker Party [1].

Steering committee

The following people were elected to the Stop the War Coalition Steering Committee in 2004: [2]

• Tony Benn (President)
• George Galloway MP (Vice President)
• Alice Mahon MP (Vice President)
• Tariq Ali (Vice President)
• Caroline Lucas MEP (Vice President)
• Jeremy Corbyn MP,
• Andrew Murray Chair - 2001-2011
• Lindsey German (Convenor)
• Linda Smith (Treasurer)

Campaign groups

• Jim Addington (Action For UN Renewal)
• Explo Nani Kofi (African Liberation Support Campaign Network)
• Regan Scott (Bertrand Russell Trust)
• Fahim Ahmed (Campaign Against Crimimalising Communities)
• Kate Hudson (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament)
• Tekin Kartel (Day-mer)
• Ibrahim Dogus (FEDBIR)
• Riad Al Tahrir (Friendship Across Frontiers)
• Chris Nineham (Globalise Resistance)
• Muslim Association of Britain
• Carol Turner (No War On Iraq Liaison)
• Louise Christian (Human Rights Lawyer)
• Fred Leplat (ISG)
• Sabah Jawad (Iraqi Democrats)
• Jane Shallice, Shahed Salem (Just Peace)
• Simon De Ville (Labour Against The War)
• Walter Wolfgang (Labour CND)
• Jim Brann (London CND)
• Betty Hunter (Palestinian Solidarity Campaign)
• Hannah Kuchler (School Students)
• Simeon Andrews (Socialist Campaign Group of MPs)
• Claire James (International Socialist Resistance)

Political parties

• Graham Stevenson (Communist Party)
• Paul Ingram (Green Party)
• Nick Wrack (Socialist Alliance)
• Ken Smith (Socialist Party)
• John Rees (Socialist Workers Party)
• Kuldip Bajwa (Workers Power)

STWC Staff

• Ghada Razuki (STWC Office)
• Andrew Burgin (STWC Press)
• Niall Sookoo (STWC Press)

Unions/representatives from unions

• Steve Bell (Communication Workers Union)
• Fire Brigades Union
• Mick Ryan (GMB)
• Trevor Phillips (NATFHE)
• National Union of Journalists
• Louise Hutchins (National Union of Students Executive Committee)
• Tom Whittaker (National Union of Students)
• Bernard Regan (NUT Exec, personal capacity).
• RMT
• Andy Bain (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association)
• UNISON

Contact details

Stop the War Coalition
27 Britannia Street
London
WC1X 9JP

Email: office AT stopwar.org.uk (replace AT with @)
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

Related

• Ken Smith, Socialist Party rep on STWC steering committee, "Building The Anti-War Movement", The Socialist, 4 April 2003.

External links

Articles on alleged domination of STWC by the Socialist Workers Party:

• Mark Thomas, "Crap Comrades", New Statesman
• SchNEWS, "Monopolise Resistance - The SWP try to hijack anti-war protests"