March 30, 2006
UK: Labour Friends of Venezuela group launched

(Ven-Global News) - "The Labour Friends of Venezuela group was launched at the House of Commons supporting the reformist policies implemented by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez

On March 28, the Labour Friends of Venezuela group was launched at the House of Commons. This is the second group of this kind launched in the House.

The creation of such important instance is one of some other initiatives of support to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and the reform policies currently underway in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela .

A bit over a month ago, the ruling Labour Party promoted an Early Day Motion (EDM) in the House of Commons supporting the Venezuelan government. At the same time, a number of union leaders, intellectuals and social leaders sent a letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair supporting Chávez.

Several members of Parliament (MPs) signed the motion on Tuesday, 28. It is expected that over 100 MPs will adhere to this motion.

Colin Burgon MP was elected as Chair of the group. He spoke about the importance for the Labour Party regarding the process of change currently underway in Venezuela. He said that the spirit of that process is similar to that of the Labour Party.

Mr. Burgon also said that the only precedent to this group was the one created to support Israel.

Richard Gott, renowned British intellectual and journalist, also spoke about the advances made in Venezuela and Latin America under the Bolivarian government. According Mr. Gott, in his forty years writing and researching about Latin America, he had never seen the creation of a group like the one taking place. He said that this is the result of the high level of interest and solidarity in the UK for the Venezuelan government.

Venezuelan Ambassador to the UK, Alfredo Toro Hardy, discussed the importance of this initiative in the context of the media campaign against Venezuela. He then thanked the solidarity of the Labour Party in creating this group, as well as other diverse sectors from British society".