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Respect Renewal is led by [[Linda Smith (UK politician)|Linda Smith]], the National Chair, Leader and Nominating Officer of Respect, and was formed in November 2007. Its supporters include [[George Galloway]] MP, [[Ken Loach]], [[Victoria Brittain]], [[Salma Yaqoob]] and [[Nick Wrack]]. It held an open conference on November 17 2007.
Respect Renewal is led by [[Linda Smith (UK politician)|Linda Smith]], the National Chair, Leader and Nominating Officer of Respect, and was formed in November 2007. Its supporters include [[George Galloway]] MP, [[Ken Loach]], [[Victoria Brittain]], [[Salma Yaqoob]] and [[Nick Wrack]]. It held an open conference on November 17 2007.

==History==
Respect was created in January 2004<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3788125.stm BBC News]</ref>, using the issue of the [[Iraq War|war in Iraq]] to mobilise its vote. Beyond this issue, it attempted to have a broad [[socialism|socialist]] agenda. Respect allows its members to hold membership of other political organisations and notably included the [[Socialist Workers Party (UK)|Socialist Workers Party]]. The party's most high profile figure has been George Galloway, former [[Member of Parliament]] for the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].

===The crisis in Respect===
In September 2007, Galloway wrote a letter to Respect's national council members saying that the party was "too disorganised" and "faced oblivion" unless it reformed its internal party management.<ref>[http://www.themuslimweekly.com/fullstoryview.aspx?NewsID=215082B330A483E173B045F1&MENUID=HOMENEWS&DESCRIPTION=UK%20News Galloway slams own Respect party], [[The Muslim Weekly]], 14 September 2007</ref> The letter also criticised the amount of money spent on the Organising for Fighting Unions conference and on an intervention at the Pride London [[LGBT]] rights event.

The letter was the opening shot in a dispute in Respect initially between Galloway and his supporters (including founding member Salma Yaqoob) on one side, and supporters of the SWP on the other. However the arguments later began to effect all of the membership including those not in the SWP or close to Galloway or Yaqoob. In particular, Galloway called for the appointment of a National Organiser, who would work along side the National Secretary, [[John Rees]] (SWP Member). The SWP perceived this to be an attempt to undermine John Rees who was the dominant voice for the SWP within Respect's leadership. A letter from their Central Committee stated: "The SWP believed that the post was created to undermine Respect National Secretary John Rees."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/692/swp%20party%20notes.htm|title=From the SWP's Party Notes}}</ref> In the course of the dispute, the SWP expelled three members who sided with Galloway: Kevin Ovenden and Rob Hoveman, who both worked for George Galloway, and Nick Wrack, who was nominated for the position of National Organiser.

On 3 November 2007, Galloway's side announced plans to hold the "Respect Renewal" conference on 17 November, the same day as the planned national conference of Respect. The Respect Renewal conference was an open event and organisers claim 350 people attended. This figure has been disputed. The Respect national conference, which went ahead on the same day was attended by 270 delegates from 49 local branches and 17 student groups, as well as 90 observers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.isj.org.uk/index.php4?id=396&issue=117|title=The Crisis in Respect|accessdate=2008-01-05|publisher=[[International Socialism journal]]|year=2008|author=Chris Harman}}</ref>

Linda Smith, Respect's national chair at the time of the split, has claimed: "The sectarianism and ‘control freak’ methods of the SWP have led us to a situation where Respect is irretrievably split."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://respectrenewal.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20|title=Renewing Respect}}</ref> The SWP has attributed the split to a shift to the right by George Galloway and his allies, motivated by electoralism (placing election-winning above other principles). This, say the SWP leadership, led to attacks on the SWP as the most prominent left group in Respect.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swp.org.uk/respect_cc.php|title=The record: The Socialist Workers Party and Respect|author=SWP Central Committee Statement|date=[[2007-11-03]]}}</ref>

===Tussle over the name===
The [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] has refused to take a side in the split and therefore will continue to recognise Linda Smith as the Nominating Officer for Respect.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.electoralcommission.gov.uk/regulatory-issues/regpoliticalparties.cfm?frmGB=1&frmPartyID=467&frmType=partydetail|title=Register of political parties: Respect—The Unity Coalition|accessdate=2008-03-17}}</ref> This means that her signature is required for candidates wishing to use the electoral label "Respect" (and similar registered names) on ballot papers in UK elections. A letter from the Electoral Commission to Linda Smith on 23 January 2008, set out its position on the split, following confusion on the matter from both sides.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=1617|publisher=Socialist Unity|title=RESPECT—SWP can't use the name}}</ref> Respect Renewal candidates have gone on using the Respect name, while the side that included the SWP have adopted the electoral label of the [[Left List]].

Respect Renewal candidates are standing in the [[City and East London]] [[London Assembly]] constituency as well as contesting the London-wide list in the [[London Assembly elections, 2008|forthcoming elections]]. Galloway heads the London-wide party list, and Respect Renewal candidates are standing under the name 'Respect (George Galloway)'.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.respectrenewal.org/content/view/211/1/|title="We Can Win In East London This May"|publisher=[[Respect Renewal]]|date=[[2008-03-15]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.respectrenewal.org/images/stories/downloads/respectspecialeditionmar08.pdf|title=Respect Newspaper Special Edition|publisher=[[Respect Renewal]]|date=[[2008-03-15]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 10:03, 14 April 2008

Respect Renewal is a platform within Respect – The Unity Coalition, a UK political party.

Respect Renewal is led by Linda Smith, the National Chair, Leader and Nominating Officer of Respect, and was formed in November 2007. Its supporters include George Galloway MP, Ken Loach, Victoria Brittain, Salma Yaqoob and Nick Wrack. It held an open conference on November 17 2007.

History

Respect was created in January 2004[1], using the issue of the war in Iraq to mobilise its vote. Beyond this issue, it attempted to have a broad socialist agenda. Respect allows its members to hold membership of other political organisations and notably included the Socialist Workers Party. The party's most high profile figure has been George Galloway, former Member of Parliament for the Labour Party.

The crisis in Respect

In September 2007, Galloway wrote a letter to Respect's national council members saying that the party was "too disorganised" and "faced oblivion" unless it reformed its internal party management.[2] The letter also criticised the amount of money spent on the Organising for Fighting Unions conference and on an intervention at the Pride London LGBT rights event.

The letter was the opening shot in a dispute in Respect initially between Galloway and his supporters (including founding member Salma Yaqoob) on one side, and supporters of the SWP on the other. However the arguments later began to effect all of the membership including those not in the SWP or close to Galloway or Yaqoob. In particular, Galloway called for the appointment of a National Organiser, who would work along side the National Secretary, John Rees (SWP Member). The SWP perceived this to be an attempt to undermine John Rees who was the dominant voice for the SWP within Respect's leadership. A letter from their Central Committee stated: "The SWP believed that the post was created to undermine Respect National Secretary John Rees."[3] In the course of the dispute, the SWP expelled three members who sided with Galloway: Kevin Ovenden and Rob Hoveman, who both worked for George Galloway, and Nick Wrack, who was nominated for the position of National Organiser.

On 3 November 2007, Galloway's side announced plans to hold the "Respect Renewal" conference on 17 November, the same day as the planned national conference of Respect. The Respect Renewal conference was an open event and organisers claim 350 people attended. This figure has been disputed. The Respect national conference, which went ahead on the same day was attended by 270 delegates from 49 local branches and 17 student groups, as well as 90 observers.[4]

Linda Smith, Respect's national chair at the time of the split, has claimed: "The sectarianism and ‘control freak’ methods of the SWP have led us to a situation where Respect is irretrievably split."[5] The SWP has attributed the split to a shift to the right by George Galloway and his allies, motivated by electoralism (placing election-winning above other principles). This, say the SWP leadership, led to attacks on the SWP as the most prominent left group in Respect.[6]

Tussle over the name

The Electoral Commission has refused to take a side in the split and therefore will continue to recognise Linda Smith as the Nominating Officer for Respect.[7] This means that her signature is required for candidates wishing to use the electoral label "Respect" (and similar registered names) on ballot papers in UK elections. A letter from the Electoral Commission to Linda Smith on 23 January 2008, set out its position on the split, following confusion on the matter from both sides.[8] Respect Renewal candidates have gone on using the Respect name, while the side that included the SWP have adopted the electoral label of the Left List.

Respect Renewal candidates are standing in the City and East London London Assembly constituency as well as contesting the London-wide list in the forthcoming elections. Galloway heads the London-wide party list, and Respect Renewal candidates are standing under the name 'Respect (George Galloway)'.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ BBC News
  2. ^ Galloway slams own Respect party, The Muslim Weekly, 14 September 2007
  3. ^ "From the SWP's Party Notes".
  4. ^ Chris Harman (2008). "The Crisis in Respect". International Socialism journal. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
  5. ^ "Renewing Respect".
  6. ^ SWP Central Committee Statement (2007-11-03). "The record: The Socialist Workers Party and Respect". {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Register of political parties: Respect—The Unity Coalition". Retrieved 2008-03-17.
  8. ^ "RESPECT—SWP can't use the name". Socialist Unity.
  9. ^ ""We Can Win In East London This May"". Respect Renewal. 2008-03-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Respect Newspaper Special Edition" (PDF). Respect Renewal. 2008-03-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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