Brian Leishman, Liberation’s new parliamentary chair, explains the need for a new approach to foreign policy in the UK and highlights some priorities for work on behalf of Liberation in Westminster
We live in extremely volatile and turbulent times. Anger and discord are dominating the political landscape both domestically and internationally. People are feeling disenfranchised, disillusioned and millions are in despair.
My community has been let down by successive governments. It has been ravaged from four decades of deindustrialisation. Once vibrant and lively places have been decimated because of political choices and the creation of a society that has left workers and their communities behind as victims of the corporate greed those political choices promoted.
Low paid employment, reduced public services, terrible transport links, closed leisure facilities, limited access to GP’s and dentists, an explosion in alcohol and drug addiction rates that often lead to domestic violence incidents. The deadly societal consequences of austerity, and they are prevalent all across the UK.
The same consequences that many politicians today are trying to convince people are the fault of immigrants.
Let me be clear, the way that the government is talking about immigration is wrong.
As the descendent of an immigrant, I was appalled at the deplorable language used by the Prime Minister when he described the possibility of the UK becoming an “island of strangers”.
However, the risk of becoming a nation of communities at odds with each other is real. But it is not because of immigration.
The growing disconnect felt between working class communities and the politicians elected to serve them is because of the gross inequality that has been created through the erosion of industry, opportunity and the public services that people rely on and help to civilise our society. That is the root cause of division in today’s UK.
I’m of the opinion that the rise of extremist right wing politics that we see here and across Europe and the subsequent pandering to these views from our own government only serve to legitimise and allow these feelings of intolerance to become mainstream, normalised and ultimately, accepted.
With political parties going down the route of appeasement to far right sentiment, then it falls on the trade union movement and organisations like Liberation to show the leadership that working class people and communities need.
The alarming division, poverty and injustice we are seeing at home is even more apparent in many other places around the globe.
The original aims of campaigning for the rights to self-determination of colonial peoples and the struggle against imperialism are as relevant now than ever before. It is incredibly important that parliamentarians use our platform to highlight dire humanitarian issues, and campaign to advance peace, political freedoms and social justice across the world.
That is what I want to do in my role as Liberation parliamentary chair.
Because the need for the UK to take a new approach to international relations is manifest. It is time for a new internationalism.
The UK must forge a new direction in international relations that means breaking away from American influence and wishes. Safeguarding and protecting human rights, upholding international law and using our position in the world as a force for peace and justice should be at the heart of our international policies.
The UK must forge a new direction. Fundamentally that means breaking away from American influence and wishes.
Safeguarding and protecting human rights, upholding international law and using our position in the world as a force for peace and justice should be at the heart of our international policies.
Human rights and humanitarian law are cornerstones of democracy. These principles are in grave danger. The UK is selling arms to states that are abusing human rights, ethnically cleansing areas and committing genocide.
British made weapons are being used to target oppressed people and our government are allowing this to happen, complicit in crimes against humanity.
We need to campaign to secure accountability for breaches of human rights and international law, for example sexual intimidation and violence, starvation and other abominable threats and deeds.
We must also challenge our government to prioritise conflict prevention and to become peace builders. We are seeing tensions escalate in many places with military action looking almost inevitable. Our government should be at the forefront of international diplomacy that would avert war, with us being advocates for peace.
There is no denying that this will require a shift from our government, and not just internal change in foreign policy. The size of the challenges humanity currently faces is incredible. There are political tensions, conflicts and a world economy that benefits a select few with inequality forcing millions into poverty.
The principles of redistributing wealth and power to achieve equality and of ending imperialism motivate us as much today as they ever have.
The need to achieve social justice has never been greater.
Comrades, as the Liberation parliamentary chair, I want us to work together, so Liberation members are heard in Westminster. I wish to represent our values in Parliament and speak for all of us on a wide range of issues that we as Liberation members hold dear.
Alongside comrades on the Executive Committee and Central Council I want us to try and impact UK foreign policy and promote international solidarity and the advancement of the working class.
I have identified and engaged with parliamentary colleagues who share the same ideals of achieving peace and human rights for oppressed, disadvantaged and vulnerable people and could add their voice to calling for self-determination and justice.
Building a wide support base is obviously of paramount importance.
In Parliament, I will continue to utilise methods that are open to me, including:
Written Parliamentary Questions, Oral Questions on the floor, submitting requests for Urgent Questions and Statements in the House, applying for Westminster Hall Debates, Adjournment Debates and Backbench Business Debates.
I am willing to host events, discussions and presentations from affiliated organisations within Parliament and to invite fellow parliamentarians to attend.
An example of how impactful gatherings like these can be was at the event in Parliament for International Women’s Day in March that saw women from Gaza, Sudan, Iran, Iraq and Western Sahara speak so powerfully about the realities of life for them. Their contributions left an impression on everyone that was in attendance as to the issues facing women in the Middle East and North Africa.
Comrades, it is an honour to represent Liberation in Parliament and I want to effectively highlight issues that mean so much to us in Liberation. Another world is possible.
In solidarity.
Brian Leishman is the Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, and was elected in 4 July 2024. He is a member of the Socialist Campaign group of Labour MPs. He was confirmed as the parliamentary chair of Liberation at Liberation’s AGM in May 2025.
Photo: Ryan Woolies / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The views expressed in the articles published on this website do not necessarily represent those of Liberation.
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