KARACHI: There are not many personalities who would want their memoirs to be a compilation of their boldest quotes. Sir Gerald Kaufman, a fiery member of the House of Commons, came across as one such individual.

Regarded as something of a treat by the British press for his cutting remarks, Kaufman’s statements have been as varied as calling a BBC breakfast show host “a gibbering parakeet” to Israel being “a pariah state.” And he had described the Labour party’s left wing 1983 manifesto as “the longest suicide note in history.”

Kaufman visited Karachi recently to deliver a speech on ‘The responsibility of being Pakistan’ for the graduation ceremony of Szabist. A clear departure from the stiff upper-lipped, somewhat stuffy members of the British parliament, Gerald Kaufman is a character out of a Wildean setting - attired in a hip mustard and orange striped shirt and armed with sardonic wit.

Kaufman’s beginnings are just as curious as his image. A former tabloid journalist with the Daily Mirror and New Statesman, his nine-year reporting career was at a time when tabloids were fairly prim and known for more than their page three contents. “I always wanted to be in the parliament but also loved my time as a journalist. I learnt so much and had some wonderful experiences,” he recounts.

One such experience also made Kaufman’s political dreams come true. “I went to interview former Prime Minister Harold Wilson and during that interview he asked me to work for him,” says the MP with a smile. “I spent five years at 10 Downing Street and was with him constantly, accompanying him on all his travels.” But was Wilson a handful to work with? “He was a lovely man but he thought that no one had anything else to do except work for him,” he laughs.

Kaufman has now spent 37 years in the House of Commons. “I was chairman of the National Heritage Committee for five years. It later became the Culture, Media and Sports committee and I headed that for another six years,” he says.

When asked about some of the achievements of his tenure, Kaufman cites the resurrection of the British film industry as one of his committee’s significant feats. “We persuaded the government to provide financial aid and tax relief to the film industry which revived it.”

Being an avid opera buff, Kaufman also focused on the Royal Opera House. “The management was a mess and we proposed that there be public representation on it. There were mass resignations from the board and things are so much better now,” he explained.

Another feat was the preservation of the Cavalier in the Chatham Dockyards. “We preserved it, spruced it up and the area around it and now it has become a huge tourist attraction.”

Speaking about the accomplishments of his government, Gerald Kaufman believes that it has many firsts to its credit. “Ten years ago there was appalling unemployment. Today more people are employed than ever before. There is more money in the National Health Service and education and I have really worked for that in my constituency of Manchester Gorton. Schools have improved and it is the first time that we have a National Minimum Wage.”

However, the most interesting aspect of Kaufman’s politics is the fact that he is regarded as a ‘self-hating Jew’ and a leading Jewish critic of Israel who has called it a ‘pariah state’ and Sharon ‘a war criminal’. “In its early years I was a strong supporter of Israel. But it does not see that Palestine has the same aspirations for self-government as the Jews. Not understanding is one thing but suppression is unacceptable.”

“Some four years ago, I also wrote a book about my falling out of love with Israel called The End of an Affair. I will never go there again,” he says overwhelmed with bitterness.

In stark contrast, however, stands his attitude towards his Muslim constituents. “I am very concerned about the poverty and suffering in Kashmir and the whole Indo-Pak conflict. I have been to Srinagar and India and have come to Pakistan before.”“The issue that disturbs me the most about Pakistan is the deaths of small children caused by contaminated water. The government should spend some money on that rather than weapons,” he says.

Interestingly, Kaufman also has a few books and a renowned script to his name. “I wrote How to be a minister and Meet Me in St. Louis which starred Judy Garland. I also wrote the script for ‘that was the week that was’ but nothing is in the pipeline anymore because I am too lazy.”

Gerald Kaufman became a knight close to four years ago on the recommendation of Prime Minister Tony Blair and has also received the Hilal-e-Pakistan.—Reema Abbasi