Unity Coalition

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The Respect Party was founded in London by Salma Yaqoob and George Monbiot, emerging from the Stop the War Coalition after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It revolved largely around opposition to the UK's role in the Iraq War and united a range of leftist and anti-war groups. Unofficially allied to the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) and the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), a far-left Marxist group, Respect saw its candidate George Galloway elected MP for Bethnal Green and Bow in 2005. The party came second in three other constituencies that year. Its support peaked after further gains in the 2006 and 2007 local elections, at which point it had one MP and nineteen councillors. In 2007, a schism emerged between SWP supporters and the Respect Renewal group led by Galloway and Yaqoob; the former left to form the Left List. Respect gradually lost its council seats and deregistered with the Electoral Commission in 2016.

In Their Own Story

In 2005, George Galloway was elected MP for Bethnal Green and Bow under the Respect banner, and the party came second in three other constituencies. By 2007, Respect had nineteen councillors in local government. That year, a schism split the party: SWP supporters left to form the Left List, while the Respect Renewal group led by Galloway and Yaqoob remained. Over the following years, Respect lost its council seats one by one. In 2016, the party deregistered with the Electoral Commission, ending its formal existence. The party's voting base was primarily among British Muslim communities in East London, Birmingham, and Bradford, built on opposition to the Iraq War and disenchantment with the Labour Party.

Reader's Guide

The Respect Party was avowedly socialist and opposed to capitalism. It called for nationalisation of much of the UK economy, including railways, water, gas, electricity, and the North Sea oil industry. It urged a substantial increase in corporation tax to fund public services, sought to overturn anti-trade union legislation, and introduced policies to tackle poverty and discrimination. Respect was Eurosceptic, promoting an anti-imperialist worldview and opposing the European Union as undemocratic and exploitative. It was anti-Zionist, rejecting the right to independent Jewish statehood in Israel, and supported the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and boycotts of Israel. The party supported anti-Zionist militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. In July 2006, Respect official Lindsey German stated, 'whatever disagreements I have with Hamas and Hezbollah, I would rather be in their camp... they want democracy. Democracy in the Middle East is Hamas, is Hezbollah.' In February 2013, George Galloway walked out of a debate because his opponent was an Israeli citizen, saying, 'no recognition, no normalisation. Just boycott, divestment and sanctions, until the apartheid state is defeated.'

Did You Know?

• The Respect Party was established in London by Salma Yaqoob and George Monbiot in 2004.
• At its peak in 2007, Respect had one MP and nineteen councillors.
• George Galloway was elected MP for Bethnal Green and Bow in 2005 under Respect.
• The party's name 'RESPECT' was a contrived acronym for respect, equality, socialism, peace, environmentalism, community, and trade unionism.
• Respect deregistered with the Electoral Commission in 2016.