RESPECT splits.

[Andy Bowden]

George Galloway splits from Respect
03/11/2007

George Galloway and his supporters have split from Respect. After a week in which he has tried to pretend that the SWP and other socialists were leaving Respect he has announced a rival conference on the same day as the Respect national conference.

The split conference, under the name Respect Renewal, does not have the support of the majority of Respect members nor has it been authorised or endorsed by any of the elected bodies of Respect.

George Galloway has chosen to ignore the resolutions from Respect branches around the country demanding that the Respect conference go ahead. The attempt by Linda Smith and Salma Yaqoob earlier this week to call off the long planned Respect annual conference failed because most rank and file members demanded that it go ahead.

George Galloway's response has been to try and split the organisation by calling a separate conference. He has failed to win votes at the national officers meetings or to put his call to a national council. He fears he will not have the support of a majority at the Respect conference.

Every Respect member should support the original and properly delegated conference. No other conference will be a delegate body with the authority to speak for Respect members. We remain committed to the radical, democratic principles of Respect as it was first founded.

http://www.respectcoalition.org/?ite=1624

[RedAnarchist]

It seems that all much of the Left is good at anymore is splitting. How can anyone expect to create a mass movement of the people when that movement is shattered to begin with?

[Wanted Man]

Congratulations, folks!

[Pawn Power]

meh, one blogger commenting on the subject. Whatever happens to Respect will be far from satisfactory, but the disorienting effect of this crisis leaves us with some important work to do, whatever side of the dispute one is on. (http://leninology.blogspot.com/2007/11/route-to-sanity.html)

[Enragé]

well, at least galloway split from respect, and not the SWP from respect :)

honestly galloway can just fuck off, perhaps respect is even better off in the long run

[More Fire for the People]

Why did Galloway split?

[Dr Mindbender]

does this mean he forfeits his parliamentary membership? I hope not. It was bad enough having a bench consisting entirely of blairites and petis reformists.

For all his good intentions Galloway was an arsehole. I'm glad i never jumped on the respect bandwagon.

[which doctor]

Originally posted by [email protected] 03, 2007 12:20 pm
It seems that all much of the Left is good at anymore is splitting. How can anyone expect to create a mass movement of the people when that movement is shattered to begin with?
RESPECT wasn't and never will be a working class movement set on proletarian revolution. Them splitting is like the US Democratic Party splitting. It has no or little effect on working class (anti)politics.

I've rarely seen authentic proletarian movements split and become opposed to each other. They tend to fizzle out instead which is the problem that should be addressed

[RedAnarchist]

Originally posted by FoB+November 03, 2007 07:42 pm--> (FoB @ November 03, 2007 07:42 pm)
[email protected] 03, 2007 12:20 pm
It seems that all much of the Left is good at anymore is splitting. How can anyone expect to create a mass movement of the people when that movement is shattered to begin with?
RESPECT wasn't and never will be a working class movement set on proletarian revolution. Them splitting is like the US Democratic Party splitting. It has no or little effect on working class (anti)politics.

I've rarely seen authentic proletarian movements split and become opposed to each other. They tend to fizzle out instead which is the problem that should be addressed [/b]
Yeah, we know that, but do a lot of people who aren't as knowledgeable of leftist politics know that?

[Sam_b]

Why did Galloway split?

Because the rank and file RESPECT activists were not going to allow him his one-man show. He seemed to think that it is his party, not anybody elses.

[YKTMX]

Originally posted by [email protected] 03, 2007 09:37 pm

Why did Galloway split?

Because the rank and file RESPECT activists were not going to allow him his one-man show. He seemed to think that it is his party, not anybody elses.
That's true, but the emphasis should be on the political nature of the split.


Galloway split because he knew the SWP was a block on his plan to turn Respect into a communalist, cross-class conservative organization.

[Luís Henrique]

Originally posted by [email protected] 03, 2007 07:42 pm
I've rarely seen authentic proletarian movements split and become opposed to each other.
Perhaps that's because you have rarely seen an authentic proletarian movement?

Luís Henrique

[Philosophical Materialist]

Originally posted by Hopscotch [email protected] 03, 2007 05:41 pm
Why did Galloway split?
He was never interested in socialism. Galloway is first and foremost a Gallowayist. His ego and career comes first.

[Hit The North]

Originally posted by Philosophical Materialist+November 04, 2007 03:20 pm--> (Philosophical Materialist @ November 04, 2007 03:20 pm)
Hopscotch [email protected] 03, 2007 05:41 pm
Why did Galloway split?
He was never interested in socialism. Galloway is first and foremost a Gallowayist. His ego and career comes first. [/b]
He's a kind of socialist. History is littered with a large variety of discredited socialisms.

Anyway, no one was under any illusion that Galloway was anything other than a typical left wing reformist robed in the conventional clothes of Labourism.

[Andy Bowden]

Galloway split because he knew the SWP was a block on his plan to turn Respect into a communalist, cross-class conservative organization.

And what exactly was it Galloway was doing - in terms of building a communalist, cross class conservative organisation - in the past few months that brought a split so quickly that he hasn't been doing in the past 3 years?

[More Fire for the People]

When you say conservative do you mean the conservative tendencies within the Muslim bloc within RESPECT?

[Cheung Mo]

Last time I checked, real socialists don't create personality cults for themselves, don't make guest appearances on Big Brother, and don't let wacko Islamist clerics use the platforms they created as a means of propagating homophobic lies.

[Sam_b]

in terms of building a communalist, cross class conservative organisation - in the past few months that brought a split so quickly that he hasn't been doing in the past 3 years?

He wasn't directly violating the constitution, or trying to block people form being delegates to conferences, or trying to expel people.

If Galloway wanted anything explicity anti-socialist to happen he'd always get defeated at confernce or national committee etc. He then started throwing his toys out of the pram.

[Colonello Buendia]

this could be good for respect, after all leaders that get sent cat food by rival MP's aren't the best sort of figurehead

[Andy Bowden]

Sam what your describing is political methods that are undemocratic, bueracratic etc. These are methods to a goal, a politically different kind of RESPECT that YKTMX said we should focus on.

My point is Galloways politics didn't radically take a shift to the right in the period of August - November 2007. For the past 2 years he hasn't taken the workers wage, engaged in celebrity nonsense, worked with the PJP, etc.

And hes done that all with the SWP turning a blind eye to it. The only reason it has now become an issue is that Galloway opposes their control, real or imagined, of RESPECT.

My guess is that hes deliberately wanted them to fuck off so he can start something anew with the CPB and Left Union leaders, who would have misgivings about working with the SWP.

[Axel1917]

Who cares? It is not like RESPECT was even a workers' thing anyway with its constant pandering to Islamic fundamentalism. There are all kinds of ultra-lefts sects out there that are splitting and in crisis. Nothing new.

[YKTMX]

Originally posted by Andy [email protected] 04, 2007 03:17 pm

Galloway split because he knew the SWP was a block on his plan to turn Respect into a communalist, cross-class conservative organization.

And what exactly was it Galloway was doing - in terms of building a communalist, cross class conservative organisation - in the past few months that brought a split so quickly that he hasn't been doing in the past 3 years?
Galloway, like most people, thought that, just recently, we were about to have a general election. In the run-up to this supposed election, in the seat he's planning to stand in this time, Poplar, be began to cosy up to "business and community" leaders in a way that has not been done in the preceeding three years. He was, for instance, "playing down" the socialist and trade unionist aspects of Respect's programme, aspects which the SWP argued must remain central. SWP members were bringing this up at Respect meetings, which frequently descended into shouting matches with SWP members, and others, questionning this policy of Galloway being abused and unfairly attacked. When the election didn't happen, Galloway felt that he would instead "re-orientate" the party at the conference instead. When he realised he wouldn't have enough support for this, he and his supporters tried to stop the conference happening. The SWP and most other Respect members thought that the conference should go ahead and voted in their brances accordingly.

Galloway doesn't like it and has split and called an alternative conference which he can dominate.

[The Feral Underclass]

This is what happens when you attempt to make deals with bourgeois politicians. Internal arguments, splits and a weakening of your 'movement'.

When will you people learn? Frontist opportunism will never achieve anything except disappointment. I have the urge to say "I told ya so", but I think you've suffered enough...

:blush: <--- The SWP

[Davros]

Originally posted by The Anarchist [email protected] 06, 2007 03:46 pm
This is what happens when you attempt to make deals with bourgeois politicians. Internal arguments, splits and a weakening of your &#39;movement&#39;.

When will you people learn? Frontist opportunism will never achieve anything except disappointment. I have the urge to say "I told ya so", but I think you&#39;ve suffered enough...

:blush: <--- The SWP
So you would rather the rampant Islamaphobic racism of the big three parties go unopposed? Taking the view that revolutionaries should never broker deals with bourgeois democrats has been historically fatal to the workers movement.

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by Davros+November 06, 2007 05:59 pm--> (Davros &#064; November 06, 2007 05:59 pm)
The Anarchist [email protected] 06, 2007 03:46 pm
This is what happens when you attempt to make deals with bourgeois politicians. Internal arguments, splits and a weakening of your &#39;movement&#39;.

When will you people learn? Frontist opportunism will never achieve anything except disappointment. I have the urge to say "I told ya so", but I think you&#39;ve suffered enough...

:blush: <--- The SWP
So you would rather the rampant Islamaphobic racism of the big three parties go unopposed? [/b]
The premise there is that we only have the option of siding with bourgeois "democrats" (Galloway clearly isn&#39;t a democrat, is he? This is why he takes such authoritarian measures as to split your conference so he can dominate it) to tackle &#39;Islamophobia&#39;. That&#39;s clearly just liberal mentality that is no use to working class people at all.

My position is that organising directly within communities and workplaces and forming real grassroot-organised networks, enabling working class people to be empowered to tackle these issues themselves, is a much better way of tackling prejudice and oppression - generally - rather than jumping on the Islam bandwagon, which is clearly just opportunism and which essentially back fired. Not to mention the fact that by doing so the SWP/RESPECT climbed into bed with some of the most disgusting religious reactionaries in Britain.


Taking the view that revolutionaries should never broker deals with bourgeois democrats has been historically fatal to the workers movement.

Yet the evidence is overwhelmingly to the contrary. This is yet another fine example of it&#39;s utter failure. Where are the working class and oppressed now? Are they better off thanks to RESPECT and George Galloway and this monumental split/downfall.

Of course they&#39;re not. While you lot play political intrigue, communities and working class people are still the victims of oppression and prejudice and they aren&#39;t being asked what "revolutionaries" can do to help; not by those in the SWP in any case.

The SWP should be ashamed of themselves once they&#39;ve got over the embarrassment of it all.

[Y Chwyldro Comiwnyddol Cymraeg]

Originally posted by The Anarchist [email protected] 06, 2007 05:12 pm


My position is that organising directly within communities and workplaces and forming real grassroot-organised networks, enabling working class people to be empowered to tackle these issues themselves, is a much better way of tackling prejudice and oppression - generally - rather than jumping on the Islam bandwagon, which is clearly just opportunism and which essentially back fired. Not to mention the fact that by doing so the SWP/RESPECT climbed into bed with some of the most disgusting religious reactionaries in Britain.


And thats why we all love TAT

My imoression (from newnight :blink: ) is that Galloway was flirting with pro-Taliban homophobes, and nearly forgetting he claims to be a socialist to win votes. Then the SWP and him fell out.

Dont get me wrong Galloway is/was the best bourguoise MP going...he had good views and argued well against Israel. But he is not a true working class politician, as TAT said we need more grass-root activism to gain support...not ego fuled big brother stars

[Davros]

Originally posted by The Anarchist [email protected] 06, 2007 05:12 pm
The premise there is that we only have the option of siding with bourgeois "democrats" (Galloway clearly isn&#39;t a democrat, is he? This is why he takes such authoritarian measures as to split your conference so he can dominate it) to tackle &#39;Islamophobia&#39;. That&#39;s clearly just liberal mentality that is no use to working class people at all.

My position is that organising directly within communities and workplaces and forming real grassroot-organised networks, enabling working class people to be empowered to tackle these issues themselves, is a much better way of tackling prejudice and oppression - generally - rather than jumping on the Islam bandwagon, which is clearly just opportunism and which essentially back fired. Not to mention the fact that by doing so the SWP/RESPECT climbed into bed with some of the most disgusting religious reactionaries in Britain.

Yet the evidence is overwhelmingly to the contrary. This is yet another fine example of it&#39;s utter failure. Where are the working class and oppressed now? Are they better off thanks to RESPECT and George Galloway and this monumental split/downfall.

Of course they&#39;re not. While you lot play political intrigue, communities and working class people are still the victims of oppression and prejudice and they aren&#39;t being asked what "revolutionaries" can do to help; not by those in the SWP in any case.

The SWP should be ashamed of themselves once they&#39;ve got over the embarrassment of it all.
The premise there is that the option of siding with bourgeois democrats on issues like Islamaphobia is the most effective measure to combat the trend of Islamaphobia and related problems in this country. Anyone involved with respect could testify to the localised and grassroots nature of the project. Respect has played a key role in counter balancing the BNP locally by the hard graft of its SWP rank and file. In case you didn’t realise, the country is hardly in the grip of revolutionary crisis. The idea that revolutionary&#39;s could stem the tide of Islamaphobic racism by virtue of their solitary efforts is ridiculous. This is why a broader alliance, although I dont like it, is crucial with idiots like Galloway.

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by Y Chwildro Comiwnyddol [email protected] 06, 2007 06:29 pm
we need more grass-root activism to gain support...not ego fuled big brother stars
You&#39;d think this was just common sense but the SWP will jump at any opportunity. Frontism is one of the wost problems with Trotskyism.

[Devrim]

Originally posted by Davros+November 06, 2007 04:59 pm--> (Davros @ November 06, 2007 04:59 pm) Taking the view that revolutionaries should never broker deals with bourgeois democrats has been historically fatal to the workers movement. [/b]
For God&#39;s sake, read Trotsky.

Trotsky very clearly opposes the idea of an alliance of &#39;bourgeois democrats&#39; with an alliance of workers&#39; organisations. He opposes the &#39;popular front&#39; with a &#39;united front&#39;.

I am quite shocked that SWP members/supporters can come out with this sort of thing.


Originally posted by The Anarchist [email protected]
Frontism is one of the wost problems with Trotskyism.

This is very true. It is not only the popular front that is a problem, but also the united front ends up being a front with bourgeois organisations. Ultimately it is very clear whose class interests end up being represented by these fronts.

Unfortunately TAT it is often a problem with anarchists too.


The Anarchist Tension
The SWP should be ashamed of themselves once they&#39;ve got over the embarrassment of it all.

Again TAT is right here, particularly in his choice of modal. I see no chance of this happening.

Devrim

[Andy Bowden]

Galloway rebels in talks with Lib Dems
07 November 2007
By Ted Jeory

THE rebel leader of MP George Galloway’s respect Party on Tower Hamlets council in his East London constituency has confirmed having had coalition talks with the Town Hall’s Lib Dem group.

But Cllr Oli Rahman has decided against any deal, he told the Advertiser today (Nov-7).

His breakaway ‘gang of four’ met Lib Dem leader Stephanie Eaton, he admits, but it has come to nothing.

The rebel councillors who split from the official Respect group last week had also been in talks with the ruling Labour group. “We’ve had discussions with Lib Dems and Labour about how to work together effectively in the council,” said Cllr Rahman. “But we are not going into coalition with any party.”

They are trying to find organisational back-up following their break with Galloway and Abjol Miah’s rump group of seven councillors.

Last week’s Advertiser revelations that the rebels were considering a coalition with Lib Dems sent shockwaves through the Left Wing movement. Galloway’s allies partly used the news as a pretext for changing the locks on his constituency HQ in Club Row, Bethnal Green.

They believed the Socialist Workers Party who have had a rift with Galloway had been behind Rahman’s breakaway. But Cllr Rahman denies it.
Respect’s troubles deepened this week when Galloway’s allies called a ‘Respect Renewal’ party conference at London’s Bishopsgate Institute on November 17, deliberately clashing with the long-planned annual party conference which the MP is boycotting.

http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=993

****

Just to confirm, Oil Rahman is a member of the SWP along with one other of the four rebel councillors, and is on the "Left" side of the split <_<

[Marion]

Those interested in the question of fronts and opportunism may be interested in the SWP Central Committee&#39;s recently stated rationale (http://www.swp.org.uk/respect_cc.php) for joining forces with Galloway in the first place:

The key thing was that he had been expelled from New Labour as the MP who had done more than any other to campaign against the war. As such he was, at the moment, a symbol of opposition to New Labour’s involvement in the US war to very large numbers of people who had always looked to Labour in the past.
To be honest, if you decide to make alliances on such a flimsy basis rather than a genuine commitment to the working class you&#39;ve got to shoulder a fair amount of criticism when things fall apart.

[Louis Pio]

So what you people think will happen?
I heard the International Socialist Group went with Galloway, those people are supposed to be marxists but from my experience with them in Denmark they ain&#39;t, they are just a bunch of petty reformists.
So what now? SWP gonna give it all up? After all their experiment has backfired? But then again SWP has never been good at admitting mistakes they just continue making them.

[Philosophical Materialist]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14, 2007 04:30 am
So what you people think will happen?
I heard the International Socialist Group went with Galloway, those people are supposed to be marxists but from my experience with them in Denmark they ain&#39;t, they are just a bunch of petty reformists.
So what now? SWP gonna give it all up? After all their experiment has backfired? But then again SWP has never been good at admitting mistakes they just continue making them.
Another popular front party, grouping some of the various Trotskyist parties will be my estimation. I imagine that they&#39;ll wish to establish a party of labour, and a party of the working class. I think the British working class won&#39;t follow unless the unions start affiliating to the new workers&#39; party.