19.02.2004

George Monbiot quits

The environmental campaigner and Guardian columnist, George Monbiot, has resigned from Respect. Luke Zephyr reports

The environmental campaigner and Guardian columnist, George Monbiot, has resigned from Respect. In his letter to the coalition he says he cannot belong to an organisation which threatens to stand for the seats of “two of the best elected representatives in Britain”: that is, Green Party MEPs Caroline Lucas and Jean Lambert.

Monbiot feels that he has been placed in an “impossible position” after negotiations between Respect and the Green Party failed to reach a satisfactory compromise. Though Monbiot is careful not to apportion “blame”, understandably the already well established Greens - who also have three members of the Greater London Authority - refused to budge. Why make way for an amorphous and unproven coalition with neither programme nor policies that only trades in platitudes? The Green Party believes it can successfully push ahead under its own steam and win more seats in June’s European and London elections.

Monbiot states that he “joined Respect in the hope that we would build a genuine coalition of progressive forces in Britain. I cannot think of a more urgent or necessary task.” He would “happily rejoin” Respect if unity could be secured with the Greens. Till then “I will have to stand back.”

The Guardian’s political correspondent, Matthew Tempest, comments that Monbiot’s letter will be a “crippling blow” for Respect (February 17). He adds that it comes on top of the “failure to attract the backing of both the Greens and the Communist Party of Great Britain.”

Presumably what he refers to is not the publishers of the Weekly Worker, but the Morning Star’s Communist Party of Britain. Its special congress in January voted by 60% to 40% to shun Respect as “an SWP front”. Nevertheless despite that decision the CPB’s Rob Griffiths-John Haylett leadership continues to back Respect. Much to the fury of the John Foster-Kevin Halpin majority, the Morning Star generously provides wide coverage.

Meanwhile relations between Respect and Peter Taaffe’s Socialist Party in England and Wales are growing tense over which GLA candidate to choose in Lewisham and Greenwich. SPEW - which has an observer on Respect’s executive - wants to stand Ian Page, its sitting councillor. Reportedly the SWP has other ideas. So another “crippling blow” could be in the offing.