09.02.2006
Salma Yaqoob's motion to Respect national council
Points 2a through to 2d were passed
National council agrees the following statement:
1. The national council recognises the immense contribution made by George Galloway to Respect and the anti-war movement. By his principled stand against the war, his successful fight against the odds in Bethnal Green and Bow, and his unstinting defence of muslims against racism, he galvanised anti-war opinion in this country and around the world, and paved the way for the formation of Respect.
The national council recognises that Respect has to fight to reach a mass audience. The mainstream media deny us coverage and distort our message. It is valid to consider new ways of reaching a wider audience. However, the national council also believes that the decision of George Galloway to appear on Celebrity big brother was an error of judgment. We deeply regret that George decided to sign a contract with Channel 4 without consultation, and therefore without the opportunity to consider wider views on the advisability of his actions.
In our founding statement we said: "There is a crisis of representation, a democratic deficit, at the heart of politics in Britain. We aim to offer a solution to this crisis." There is no doubt that this crisis, which prompted the formation of Respect, continues to this day. With Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats all competing on the same rightwing terrain, the need for a coalition like Respect could not be greater.
Our founding statement also declared that: "We want a world in which the democratic demands of the people are carried out; a world based on need, not profit; a world where solidarity rather than self-interest is the spirit of the age." This vision remains as vital today as it was at the birth of our coalition.
2. National council instructs the officers' group to carry out the following measures and to present a report of its views to the next national council:
(a) To draw up guidelines for all elected representatives and officers which will clearly establish mechanisms of accountability.
(b) To review the functioning of the national council to ensure that it is able to exercise greater control over the direction and policies of Respect and improve communications with the branches.
(c) To circulate agenda and minutes of national council and officers' group meetings.
(d) To review the functioning and composition of the officers' group to ensure officer participation is facilitated, it is broadly based and representative of the different parts of the coalition, and able to control its day to day activity.
(e) To issue a bulletin to all individual members containing the national council's view on the Big brother issue and positive material designed to reinforce the confidence of members in the future of the coalition.