After a month that hosted George Galloway’s run in with the US Senate, the release of the new ‘Star Wars’ movie and even the General Election (remember that?) we take a look at the story of RESPECT: the unity coalition.

Last year, on a January afternoon at the RESPECT founding conference; speaker after speaker stood in line to articulate what kind of politics should shape the future. No matter how you align yourself, there is no denying that it was a beautiful thing. People who seek change spoke along side full time Revolutionaries, Environmentalist and the God-fearing about how to make the world a better place.

A year and a half later, who would have believed that RESPECT: the Unity Coalition would be celebrating not only the election of its first Member of Parliament, but also unprecedented coverage of its slap to the U.S Senate? In the same week that much of the World was gearing up for the final instalment of ‘Star Wars,’ we had the pleasure of witnessing a genuine battle of galactic proportions. George Galloway MP’s tirade of facts: regarding the war in Iraq, the injustices of the US arms trade, the ‘I’ll scratch your back’ relationship between Sadam and the US and the general abhorrence of US foreign policy was nothing short of stupendous.
So now that RESPECT has your attention perhaps its time to see what all the fuss is about.

First things first: RESPECT grew out of the Anti-War Movement. True to its origins it fulfilled its mission of being the most pro-peace, pro-Palestinian, pro-civil liberties party in the UK. Who else can claim to have presented the plight of the Palestinian people as a major election issue? Who else can claim to have consistently demanded an end to the Occupation of Iraq and consistently defended civil liberties? In fact, whilst we’re at it, which other Party has a members list that reads like the ‘whose-who’ of the Anti-War Movement? From filmmaker, John Pilger to journalist, Yvone Ridley, playwright Victoria Brittan, Head of The Muslim Parliament Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui and former Muslim Association of Britain President Anas Altikriti and so on.

In fact, let’s not omit Salma Yaqoob. The Birmingham based Psychotherapist who was spat upon in the street in the weeks following the September 11th attacks. The hijab wearing, Second Generation, British Pakistani, ‘felt lost and scared’ after her ordeal. So what did she do? Become introverted? Stay at home? Do nothing and talk about how terrible the World had become? Actually she became a key part of the Anti-War Movement and beat both the Tories and the Liberal Democrats as a RESPECT candidate. Three thousand votes more and Salma would have been the first Muslim female MP in British history. Perhaps we won’t have to wait too much longer.

In just a few months RESPECT established itself as a serious political force, not only in Birmingham’s Sparkhill (where Salma gained 28% of the vote) but also in East Ham, West Ham, and the Poplar and Canning constituencies, in all of which RESPECT came either second or a close third, beating parties that have been established for decades. These areas are now hot beds of RESPECT activity.

In addition, there are towns and cities across the country where the RESPECT vote during the recent elections, including the Euro’s, was significantly higher than established ‘left’ parties, such as the Greens. The Labour party was left wondering how many more casualties their neo-liberal leanings would cost them. Let’s hope Oona King’s head will be the first of many to roll.

We cannot for a moment underestimate the significance of these victories. Vibrations resonate throughout the political landscape. We are starting to see the fruits that RESPECT always intended to bear; a unifying voice for people who can all agree that there is no place for war, poverty, racism or exploitation in our world. Not only is RESPECT Britain’s youngest and fastest growing party, it is the new face of politics based on issues and conviction rather than ideologies and protocol.
Less than a year stands between RESPECT and its next electoral opportunity. In May 2006 the Council elections will provide another barometer with which to measure the effect of the RESPECT project.

We can at least aim to slap Tony with some truth. But progress can only be sustained through the constant push for higher ground. The opportunities facing those of you who wonder, who really want to change things, are immense. RESPECT provides a vehicle that can only ever be fuelled by people power. That vehicle has already received a kick-start, now it is up to everyone with a desire for change to ensure it makes it to 5th gear.

To join RESPECT: the Unity Coalition, or for more information, visit www.respectcoalition.org