George Galloway splits from Respect is the headline on the message. The SWP run Respect conference is bound to be a dismal affair. They set out to occupy a space to the left of Labour through creating a broad formation. It will end with several hundred SWP members in a hall by themselves having shed several longstanding members and cut themselves off from people with whom they have worked closely over recent years. It means that the SWP cannot be a credible participant in any broad regroupment project for some time to come.

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 a 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.