Thanks to comrade C for this nugget from the Herald. It’s hard to think of anyone less suited to the job of reunifying Scottish socialists. Apart from Paris Hilton or Tommy Sheridan but I’m sure that the issue is currently the subject of a well informed and democratic debate in Respect.
In this context “a source close to” can only mean one person.

George Galloway wants to expand his Respect party into Scotland in an alliance with Scotland’s split left-wing factions.

The former Labour MP for Glasgow Kelvin, who now represents the London seat of Bethnal Green and Bow for Respect, has ruled himself out of contesting a Scottish seat again.

But he has ended a pact with Tommy Sheridan, leader of the Solidarity Party in Scotland, which meant Respect did not extend its organisation or election challenge north of the Border.

When the Scottish Socialist Party split last year, with one part becoming Solidarity, Mr Galloway backed Mr Sheridan’s faction against the remaining Scottish Socialist Party led by Colin Fox.

A source close to the Respect leader said yesterday the Respect-Solidarity pact not to compete with each other “expired with the election”.

“George wants to see realignment on the left, including all the defeated elements on the left. This is not a definitive decision. It’s more of an ambition.”

Earlier this month, Mr Galloway told a party meeting: “There are many activists from Solidarity and the SSP who have seen the disaster of their own making but don’t want to give up the fight and could look to a unity coalition like ours to pull them together.”

Mr Galloway disagrees with the two main left-wing Scottish parties in opposing independence, but he has agreed with Mr Sheridan to back an independence referendum, and that they can campaign on either side of that debate.

The Solidarity leader said: “Since the election, I’ve had a couple of chats with George. He was happy that at least Solidarity established itself as the principal left force, and that if he was discussing stronger relations with anyone, it would be with Solidarity.”

Mr Sheridan said he expected the name Solidarity to remain under a stronger form of alliance, and the most likely outcome was for the parties to agree terms for fighting the European and Westminster elections together.