Respect?

[New Direction]

Did anyone else hear about the launch of a new socialist party in England and Wales last week?

I think the name of the new party is Respect, which is an acronym for something. It was launched by George Galloway and is going to be standing in the European elections in England and Wales.

The reason it is not standing in Scotland is because of the success of the Scottish Socialist Party who hope to return an MEP.

I think the Scottish Socialist Party has united the left in Scotland, although I don't know how strong this alliance is. If this new party can do likewise in England and Wales, then I think it could exert some significant influence.

[The Children of the Revolution]

I think "Respect" is meant to be a new "left-wing" Party which claims to represent the "disenfranchised" working class. But I don't think their ideas are radical enough; I think they are selling out to try and appeal to the voters. I guess the emergence of a new "left wing" Party is encouraging though. If it succeeds in any substantial way then one could suppose that the political dominance of the right was being challenged...

Bear in mind also that George Galloway is far from a "revolutionary leader"! He has taken money from oppressive governments (notably Iraq) and insists that he MUST live on no less than £150,000 a year!! He may, in fact, tarnish the reputation of the party before it has even begun!!!

Oh well, never mind...

[monkeydust]

George Galloway, what a wanker. This guy's far from socialist, Labour were right to kick him out.

He tried to come across as a hero, standing against the war. I wonder if it had anything to do with the two luxury estates Saddam had bought him in Spain? Or the various cash gifts he'd got from Saddam? Galloway's a greedy deceptive bastard, I feel he will undermine any Socialist party, which is a great shame.

[mentalbunny]

Well at the moment Respect looks like it could go far. However, likeleft said, Galloway's not a guy I'd trust instantly and who knows what could go wrong.

Children of the Revolution, I think that Reespect can't be too radical at the beginning, it needs popular support and if people wanted radical then they would have supported the Socialist Alliance.

From what I've gathered (I wasn't at the launch) Respect is supposed to represent the people who marched against the war, the people who want an alternative to Blair but aren't necessarily hardcore leftists. I know that it's all a bit risky, but we may at least try, otherwise we'll never get anywhere.