Community Life

Four prominent Tower Hamlets Respect Councillors – Oliur Rahman, Rania Khan, Lutfa Begum and Ahmed Hussain – have resigned the party whip and say they have formed an independent group within Respect.

Rania Khan told BBC London that elements within the Respect party are dividing the Bangladeshi Muslim community, which is a major electoral block in Tower Hamlets, in an effort to raise political support.

"I just had enough. I haven't resigned from the party but the way things are turning out in Tower Hamlets are not the reasons I joined Respect. It’s become very village politics based." she said, referring to the traditional politics of the local Bangladeshi community.

Azmal Hussain, the chair of Tower Hamlets Respect, responded: "I am very disappointed that four councillors have decided to resign the Respect whip."

Growing pains

Respect is a young political force, having fought its first successful General Election in 2005. It was founded by a coalition between the Socialist Workers Party and politicised Muslim and anti-war groups. But former whip, Rania Khan, says that the party has abandoned these socialist roots.

Meanwhile other Respect members argue that a mainstream political party cannot succeed without giving some ideological ground. This difference of opinion has created a split between the more socialist wing of Respect and the rest of the party.

Rania Khan insists that the SWP in no way influenced her decision to resign the whip, nor those of the other three councillors. "I was advised not to resign by SWP members," she said.

However, Azmal Hussain said, "Two of the councillors [who resigned the whip] are members of the Socialist Workers Party… The action of these councillors will confirm in the eyes of many that the SWP is seeking to sow division in and even split Respect."

Galloway continues to enjoy support

A party in trouble?

This is not the first sign of discord within the Respect party. In August 2007, Respect MP George Galloway sent a letter to Respect members calling for stronger leadership and greater unity.

Even so, in its most recent statement, the party insisted that it will survive the current internal upheaval. "We remain confident that Respect will win both constituency seats in Tower Hamlets and take control of the council," a spokesperson said.

What do you think? Send your comments to angela.saini@bbc.co.uk