News

Respect Conference 2009

Tuesday 17th November 2009

The Respect annual conference took place in Birmingham on Saturday with 210 delegates attending from all corners of England. New branches and new branch leaderships were well represented, reflecting the continued growth of Respect in the last few months.

Three key themes of dominated proceedings: anti-racism and defence of multiculturalism, resisting the public service cuts agenda of the three old parties, and international solidarity.

One Society, Many Cultures

Respect Party leader, Salma Yaqoob, introduced the opening session. Salma laid into New Labour for creating the conditions under which the British National Party has grown with its attacks on the Muslim community and increasingly anti-immigrant rhetoric.

She described how, since 9/11, Labour has resisted any examination of the disastrous role of its own foreign policy in creating a homegrown terrorist threat, leaving the impression that there is something intrinsic to the religion and culture of British Muslims that presents a threat. She cited Jack Straw's attacks on Muslim women who wear niqab; the attacks on mainstream Muslim organizations like the Muslim Council of Britain and Muslim Association of Britain for "sitting on the sidelines" in the fight against terrorism from the former Secretary for State for Communities, Ruth Kelly; and the Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) agenda, now described by Liberty as the 'biggest spying operation' since the Cold War.

Salma challenged myths about immigrants being responsible for the recession or shortages in housing and concluded by emphasizing Respect's twin track approach in tackling racism. On the one hand, upholding and defending multiculturalism and challenging all forms of racism; and on the other hand, challenging the social inequality that allows the politics of resentment and division to breed.

The following discussion was by far the best of the conference. Not only was the quality of contributions largely very impressive, but they also conveyed a deep sense of commitment to tackling racism and an engagement in that struggle. There was a serious debate about the tactical flexibility that Respect required to engage public debates and organize against the BNP and the English Defence League provocations. There was also discussion of the role of immigration in the economy.

Resisting the Cuts Agenda

George Galloway MP led this session focusing on the recession and the politics of an alternative to economic crisis. The session was dominated by the strategy for the General Election due next year. He insisted that, given that his election campaign had begun in Poplar, he would stand as a Respect candidate and not as part of any alliance with minor left-wing groups.

Where there is no credible Left challenge, Galloway called for a vote for Labour on the grounds that Labour can be pushed to deliver while the Tories are rotten. Respect is part of the labour and trade union movement and is not indifferent to the prospect of a Tory landslide. Respect can play a small role in helping to avoid this scenario. Where there are credible left of Labour candidates such as Caroline Lucas, Peter Tatchell, Dave Nellist or Val Wise, they should be supported.

The concentration of resources should be directed at Respect's target seats and towards winning more councilors. A breakthrough would enable Respect to act as a pole of attraction for those looking for an alternative to Labour.

Where we can establish friendly relations with any other progressive party or coalition, Respect will do so but we have an opportunity to advance the left by getting Respect MPs elected. If we fail, it will not be for the want of trying. Unfortunately, the discussion did not have time to reach beyond this debate into the highly relevant areas of the recent postal dispute and our alternative strategy to the public service cuts.

A message to the Respect Conference from Peter Cranie, the Green Party candidate in the North West at the European Elections supported by Respect, was read out to an enthusiastic ovation.

Motions on electoral alliances, the People's Charter, the political content of our election campaign and alternative strategies to deal with the economic crisis were passed. Respect agreed to affiliate to the Campaign for Free Public Transport.

Internationalism

This was introduced by Andrew Murray, Stop the War Coalition Chair, who received a standing ovation for his passionate call for opposition to the war in Afghanistan and for Respect to use its strengths to help Stop the War reconnect with its core support. Francisco Dominguez of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign gave vivid insight into the Bolivarian revolution 10 years on, the threats it faces, and the importance of international solidarity.

Kevin Ovenden outlined exciting new developments in Palestinian solidarity, describing the way that Viva Palestina was fast becoming a global campaign, finding new and significant support in Malaysia among other places, and deepening its productive relationship with the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign.

Motions calling for support for the VSC, opposition to the Honduran coup, opposition to military involvement in schools and opposition to Trident were passed.

Constitutional and Party Business

The Respect elected a new National Council reflective of the greater breadth of the organisation achieved in the last year. It also voted to alter the manner of election of the National Council in future years to enable developing areas to participate. We also amended our constitution so that we are now officially the Respect Party.

The conference demonstrated the powerful sense of strategy and direction emerging from the new group of officers. The strengthened local and national structures of Respect were apparent along with a wave of new faces. It is indicative that 78 new members were registered in the week running up to the conference alone.

Respect has a huge responsibility as the best placed left of Labour electoral force. The conference gave strong evidence of the commitment of the membership to stepping up to the task.

Peter Cranie's statement:

"In the Euro Election campaign both Salma Yaqoob and George Galloway took the unprecedented step of endorsing Green candidates, recognising that the Greens represented the best tactical option to keep the BNP out of power. This was a courageous step and I sincerely thank you, and your many colleagues from Respect, that supported us in the Euro Elections."

"In the North West the Greens were less than 5,000 votes away from defeating Nick Griffin in an electorate of 5 million. Sadly, the Labour Party betrayed anti-racist voters in our region by distributing leaflets that stated "only a vote for Labour can stop the BNP" - a clearly false claim in a proportional election. We will never know how many anti-racist voters were misled by that claim."

"Left unity has been incredibly difficult to build. We all know the pitfalls. The fact that Birmingham Greens democratically decided not to stand a candidate against Salma Yaqoob is a signal back that progressive political parties can work together."

"The time has come to build anti-racist unity on the left. When faced with greatest far right threat in Britain since the 1930s, we must respond. Respect and the Greens have shown what is possible, and I hope that a new type of politics will be possible in the coming years. We must ensure that in 2014 that the BNP are ousted from the two Euro seats they have won, and cut off the oxygen of publicity it has given them. I hope we can work together to achieve that aim."

"I wish you every success with today's conference."

Blair attends the Iraq Inquiry - George Galloway reports

I'm A Photographer Not A Terrorist

Is it a pack, gaggle, a snapshot or a click of snappers? Who knows, but either way there's a hell of a lot of them and they're all here for the I'm A Photographer Not A Terrorist mass photo gathering; a flash mob with flash guns. By 12 there's a fair couple of thousand of photographers, all looking for that perfect shot, leading to an interesting scenario where the photographers, instead of documenting someone else's story, have now become the story themselves. So at 12.15pm, when a school portrait style group shot is set to take place on the steps of the Square, everyone gets slightly confused as to whether they should be taking the picture or starring in it. "Cheeeese," announces the grinning crowd as the sound of hundreds of shutters snapping fills the nippy winter air.



With pint sized placards doing the rounds, there are, handily, plenty of photo opportunities. The person in the fluro jacket and Guy Fawkes mask a la V For Vendetta understandably gets a lot of love from the lenses as do those sporting hoodies and t-shirts emblazoned with the events slogan as well as the person in the gorilla suit - there's always one, isn't there? Then there are the things that no one can quite see what anyone is taking photos of, but people get involved in the spiralling circle pits of snapping because, well, it seems like fun. And it is.

Less fun is the moment all the photographers are ordered down from the steps at the entrance of the National Gallery, which looks out over Trafalgar Square, and which provide a perfect vantage point for an all encompassing shot of the event. People are shooed down the stairs and flimsy barriers are placed at the bottom of the steps, but not before one young man argues his case to a security guard who shakes his head as the on-looking photographers give him a boo worthy of a pantomime baddie.

In amongst all the snapping and shooting, 'Stop and Search' cards, worded by Mark Thomas are being handed out, to be shown in times of need. "I pledge to waste your time if you decide to waste mine," they say, informing officers that if the stop and search they carry out is intrusive, unlawful or malicious, a complaint will be made to the Police Professional Standards Department and then to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. With the cards duly placed in camera bags an announcement is made thanking the crowd for their attendance and informing them of that all important next step, a well deserved trip to the pub.

Leonie Cooper

Fujitsu are not having 'IT' all their own way

Fujitsu bosses as like many other employers, hope that their employees' feeling of general insecurity would make them swallow compulsory job losses, the closure of the final salary pension scheme to new starts and a pay freeze.

Magnificently the workers haven't succumbed and have chosen to fight back, their courage strengthens us everyone in the trade union movement.

It is understood that the strike action has already forced Fujitsu bosses to back down on some of the demands.

Jerry Hicks said "I will be doing all I can to support these workers knowing that a victory here makes it far more likely everywhere".

Whoever wins the next General Election election, cuts and attacks are staring every workplace, every union member in the face.

Labour would legislate to halve the deficit. £75bn in cuts and even more Privatisation. The Liberals have said they would make savage cuts. George Osborne the Tory shadow chancellor boasted that within 3 months of being in office they would be the most unpopular Government since the 2nd World War.

This year will see two elections. Both are likely to be defining moments. The General Election and the election for General Secretary of the country's biggest trade union 'Unite'.

Given the size and make up of Unite, it makes the election for the union's General Secretary the most significant union election for decades.

Statement from Salma Yaqoob on the deportation of George Galloway MP from Egypt

The Viva Palestina convoy brought desperately needed aid to a population in Gaza subject to a brutal economic blockade by the Israeli government. This blockade was described by the United Nations-sponsored Goldstone report as a form of 'collective punishment' against the entire population. Oxfam's director, Jeremy Hobbs, said that the "world powers have failed and betrayed Gaza's ordinary citizens" by failing to help bring an end to this blockade. He is right. And Egypt, which borders Gaza, has the ability and the duty to do something positive for the Palestinian people.

Instead, by its obstruction of the Convoy, its brutal assault and tear gassing of its supporters, and now the arrest of Viva Palestina activists and deportation of George Galloway MP, the Egyptian authorities have disgraced themselves in the eyes of the world. Once again they have failed in their humanitarian duty towards their Palestinian neighbours.

I call on supporters of the Palestinian cause to convey their opposition to the deportation of George Galloway to Egyptian representatives, consulates and Embassies throughout the world.'

Salma Yaqoob
Leader, Respect Party

British MP George Galloway in Cairo 'Deportation'

Police - who at one point numbered 25 mainly plain clothes officers - refused him to return.

Several officers even followed Galloway to the toilet, rest room and a BA lounge.

The incident began after George Galloway and his colleague Ron McKay arrived at the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt. As soon as they emerged onto Egyptian soil both men were forcibly pushed into a van, refused exit and told that they were leaving the country. They were then driven off in a police convoy.

The Viva Palestina convoy of 550 people from 17 countries was attacked by Egyptian riot police and plain clothes intelligence officers in the early hours of Wednesday (6th January). 55 of the convoy members were injured and 7 were also arrested.

However Galloway and Turkish MPs struck a deal with Egyptian authorities. Part of this deal was that the seven detainees were released without charge.

On the enforced drive to Cairo, news came through of the imminent arrest of the 7, but when Galloway demanded to return to Rafah, permission was repeatedly denied.

Viva Palestina break the siege of Gaza

Having agreed to Egyptian demands, the convoy of 500 people re-routed their journey from Aqaba in Jordan (some seven days ago), after receiving guarantees of a safe passage to Gaza. The recent actions of the Egyptian police are shameful.

Earlier today at the Rafah border violence broke out as hundreds of Palestinians began throwing stones across the border at Egyptian security forces, who then fired back at the protesters. This was in retaliation to the way the activists were treated by Egyptian police.

Viva Palestina convoy leader Kevin Ovenden says - We are all emotional to see that all of Gaza are out to greet us! - Our Viva Palestina convoy is symbolic! It shows the Palestianian people just how much the people of the West do care. We come in peace to deliver humanitarian aid and we hope that our convoy (and convoy's like ours) will help to build pressure on the Israeli government to break the siege.

The convoy aimed to cross the Rafah border into Gaza on 27 December 2009, to mark the first anniversary of the beginning of Israel’s 2008/9 land and air assault on Gaza, which killed 1,400 Palestinians in three weeks.