Respect departs from the SWP

international | anti-capitalism | news report

Monday November 05, 2007 12:32

by Funny Girl

Conference called for same time as sceduled/"rigged" Conference

This document to Respect members marks the definite division of Respect and the end of Respect as it has been heretofore. Almost all the non-Socialist Workers Party members of the Respect National Council have called this Conference. It coincides with the scheduled Respect Conference which the signatories have claimed has been packed by the SWP and would be pointless to attend.

Readers interested in balanced and detailed information on the crisis in Respect (the broad leftwing Unity Coalition in England and Wales) since August are referred to the 'Socialist Unity' blog.

Though it looks like much can be salvaged from the old Respect, it is a shame that yet another attempt at the development of a new left appears to have fallen foul of left sectarianism.

RENEW RESPECT

We are inviting you to attend the Respect Renewal conference.

It will take place on Saturday 17 November, at the Bishopsgate Institute in London, from 11am to 5pm.

Speakers include George Galloway MP, Linda Smith, Cllr Salma Yaqoob, Ken Loach. There will be plenty of time for debate.

It will be an opportunity for all Respect members and others who want to continue the process of building a vibrant, radical, left alternative to New Labour to come together and discuss how to do this following the recent debilitating divisions that have split Respect.

It will be an opportunity to reflect on the mistaken methods and lack of political vision that have led to the split in Respect and to learn lessons on how to work together and with others in the future.

We remain committed to the radical policies which have been the cornerstone of Respect since its inception. Our organisational model is based on plurality, democracy and transparency.

For us, the acronym RESPECT – Respect, Equality, Socialism, Peace, Environment, Community and Trade Unions – remains as valid today as it did at our launch in 2004.

We want to build Respect but we also want to work together with all others who share a vision of a better, more equitable society, to create a broader, united party to represent the interests of all working-class people.

We want to reach out to all those in the anti-war movement who still need a voice for peace and against imperialism.

We want to reach out to all those concerned about climate change and the destruction of the environment.

We want to reach out to all those in the trade unions who feel betrayed by New Labour under Brown as under Blair.

We want to reach out to all those in the black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities who suffer racism and Islamophobia.

We want to reach out to all those who want to fight against discrimination, whether or the grounds of religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age.

We want to reach out to the dispossessed, the asylum seeker, the migrant worker and to all who defend them.

If you want to reach out with us, come along and join in our discussion.

The Respect Renewal conference is called by the following Respect National Council members:

Linda Smith National Chair,
Salma Yaqoob National Vice-Chair,
Mobeen Azhar,
Ayesha Bajwa,
Victoria Brittain,
Rita Carter,
Ger Francis,
George Galloway MP,
Jerry Hicks,
John Lister,
Ken Loach,
Abdul Khalik,
Abdurahman Jafar,
Abjol Miah,
Bernie Parkes,
Yvonne Ridley,
Clive Searle,
Alan Thornett,
Nick Wrack.

If you would like to attend to our conference, or would like to know more about us, please get in touch.

e-mail: respectrenewal@gmail.com

http://www.respectrenewal.org

Tel. Nos: Ghada 07958 450 867; Rob 07507 600 561; Kevin 07930 532 952 or 020 7219 6940.