This is the conference report from the national office.

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 defense 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 councillors. 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, supporting 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.

These will be posted onto the website very soon.

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 Message of Support:

“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 distrib
uting 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.”