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Respect Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | George Galloway |
| Founders | Salma Yaqoob George Monbiot |
| Founded | 25 January 2004 |
| Dissolved | 18 August 2016 |
| Youth wing | Student RESPECT |
| Political orientation | Socialism Anti-Zionism |
| European affiliation | European Anti-Capitalist Left |
| Slogan | "Peace, Justice & Equality" |
The Respect Party was a socialist party in the UK from 2004 and 2016, most notable for being led by George Galloway between 2013 and 2016. At its peak in 2007, the party boasted one Member of Parliament (MP) and nineteen councillors in local government.
History[edit | edit source]
Origins[edit | edit source]
Respect emerged from a group of activists involved with the Stop the War Coalition, an organisation campaigning against British involvement in wars, that was at that time protesting against the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In November 2003, a series of meetings were held around creating an alliance of parties opposing Tony Blair and the Labour Party, and on 24 January 2004, 'Respect—the unity coalition' was officially launched by Salma Yaqoob and George Monbiot.[1]
2007 Schism[edit | edit source]
The Socialist Workers Party (SWP), a Trotskyist party, had been a significant part of the coalition from its inception; however, its relationship with Galloway was strained. In August 2007, tensions came to a head, and over the next few months, Respect would break into two factions: SWP supporters and Galloway supporters. This lead to a chaotic battle over which faction was the true Respect Party, including one memorable occasion where Galloway changed the locks of the Respect national office. The rules of the Electoral Commission meant that only one party could hold the name, and as Nominating Officer Linda Smith, a Fire Brigades Union activist and a member of Galloway's faction, controlled the use of the name, Galloway's faction won out, whilst the SWP faction split and became Left List.[1]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Timothy Peace (2013). All I'm Asking, Is For a Little Respect: Assessing the Performance of Britain's Most Successful Radical Left Party. Parliamentary Affairs, vol.66 (pp. 405–424). doi: 10.1093/pa/gsr064 [HUB]