Split Respect Party rivals gather

Split Respect Party rivals gather

Two rival national conferences are being held for the anti-war Respect Party in London on the same day, following a split within its ranks.
Mr Galloway, the party's only MP, will speak at a Respect Renewal conference in London on Saturday.

This has been billed as an opportunity for members to discuss the recent "debilitating" divisions.

And Respect's website said the party's annual conference, also being held on Saturday, was "full to overflowing".

The website statement adds: "This year, due to extraordinary circumstances, the conference will be a one-day conference concentrating on how we move forward from the recent disputes within Respect.

'Learn lessons'

"It will be an important opportunity for members to discuss their vision for Respect, set campaigning priorities and take democratic decisions on the future of our organisation."

According to a circular sent to members by Respect Renewal, that conference 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".

A critic of the war in Iraq, Mr Galloway was expelled from Labour in 2003 for bringing the party into disrepute.

Standing for the Respect Party in 2005, he won the Westminster seat of Bethnal Green and Bow from Labour's Oona King.

He was previously MP for Glasgow Hillhead and Glasgow Kelvin, having first been elected to Parliament in 1987.