Community Life

It is a very confusing time for supporters of the Respect Party. Created in January 2004, in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States and as an alternative to New Labour, the party had promised to offer traditionally left-wing policies combined with an opportunity for Muslims in London and Birmingham to become more involved in mainstream politics.

The original brains behind the party had included Salma Yaqoob, who is now a local councillor in Birmingham, George Galloway, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, and John Rees, a prominent activist in the Socialist Workers Party.

Between 2004 and 2007 Respect rode a wave of popularity, picking up many councillors in local elections in Newham and Tower Hamlets. The party did particularly well with the local Bangladeshi population, living in the area around Brick Lane in Tower Hamlets, which is a few streets away from Respect’s head office on Club Row.

But today, the party has fragmented, with members and supporters divided between the two halves.

Who gets the name?

Problems came to a head at the time of Respect’s annual conference in November 2007.

George Galloway at the 2007 conference

It ended up holding two party conferences, one in Westminster and one in the City, each representing a different half of the party – one half wanted to stay true to Respect's radical, socialist roots, with John Rees remaining as National Secretary.

The other half of the party, headed by George Galloway and Salma Yaqoob, said it did not want to see the party to be controlled so much by the demands of the Socialist Workers Party.

Since then, both sides have been claiming the party's name 'Respect' for themselves.

In January 2008, after months of wrangling, the Electoral Commission refused to intervene to decide which side should retain the original name 'Respect'.

An acrimonious split

Respect Councillors in Tower Hamlets have been split between the two camps – seven stayed with Galloway while four joined the other party. In a subsequent twist, one of the councillors who had joined the party headed by John Rees, defected to the Conservative Party.

In Newham, all three councillors stuck with Galloway.

Lindsey German, who was selected as Respect's candidate for London Mayor in April 2007 has now been rejected by George Galloway’s half of the party.

Galloway, meanwhile, is standing as a candidate in the upcoming London Assembly elections.

Send your thoughts about this story to angela.saini@bbc.co.uk