There has not been a moment in this century or most of the last one when the call for a new workers’ party could not have been raised. It is an eternal propaganda demand. It is also a convenient way of closing yourself off from the real world as the Socialist Party so well demonstrates.

We also can agree on some of the things that would be a requirement for it to come into being. First among these would be a mass movement. Next would be large numbers of youth and workers radicalising to the left of Labour. A rejection of imperialism would be welcome. Having a real base of support among sections of the working class is also necessary.

Respect meets all these criteria. Without the anti-war movement it would not exist. From every one of its platforms you hear an uncompromising rejection of British imperialism. This is a new thing in the British working class movement. The votes that it received in east London (in Tower Hamlets it beat Labour and in Newham it came second), parts of Birmingham and Preston show that in some areas it became a mass force in less than six months.

The vast majority of its voters are working class. Many of them are Muslims. Large numbers of Muslims continued to vote for Labour and the Liberals. It was evident at polling stations that Respect was the party of choice for the majority of Muslim youth in these areas. They chose an explicitly secular organisation with local leaderships and activists who have long-established records as socialists.

There was no sleight of hand either. The Respect newspaper in east London had originally been commissioned for the Socialist Alliance. The only changes to it were the addition of some new text and photos. It openly supported the rights of gays and lesbians, women’s rights and defended asylum seekers. Publicity from Respect’s national office was unambiguous in its support of asylum seekers. How many Labour candidates could make the same statement truthfully?

Respect’s electoral success means that the momentum towards becoming a functioning party with a mass membership is almost unstoppable. Several supporters of Workers Power have an opportunity to see this first hand. If readers of this paper want to help create a new anticapitalist, anti-imperialist workers‚ party they should join Respect.

Liam Mac Uaid
London

Workers Power 288 – July / August 2004