Respect: the Unity Coalition was set up by the Socialist Workers Party in conjunction with George Galloway (when he was expelled from New Labour for his anti-war stance) and other people, primarily Muslims and those involved in the now-disbanded Socialist Alliance.

Galloway was elected as Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow (in the East End of London) on the 5th of May 2005.

What really put Respect (and Galloway himself) on the map was his barnstorming performance in front of the Senate committee in the USA when he was accused of profiteering from the oil-for-food programme which was part of the vicious sanctions regime imposed by the West on the Iraqi people. Galloway not only proved the documents fabricated and showed that the US knew and turned a blind eye to sanctions-busting by countries like Turkey (which oppresses the Kurds within its borders and is in NATO), but revealed live on TV that US Secretary of State for “Defense”, Donald Rumsfeld, met Saddam to sell him arms and maps to target the guns (which obviously came from the CIA).

I, Steve Wallis, launched the Revolutionary Platform of Respect, initially as a one-person organisation. There is however a fringe meeting to "launch a Respect left opposition" at the 2005 Respect conference (Saturday 19 November, 6pm, Lucas Arms, 245a Grays Inn Road, London WC1), which could launch the platform proper. It should be an organisation whose only requirement is that members are revolutionary socialists who want Respect to adopt more socialist and revolutionary policies.

Supporters as well as members of Respect are welcome on this list. Only spammers will be censored.

I have also set up a group for the Revolutionary Platform of the Scottish Socialist Party.