SWP: Respect Councillor Joins.... Tories!

Would you “adam and eve it”, One of the Tower Hamlets gang of 4 who split from Galloway’s Jamaati Respect to form SWP/Respect has now defected again and joined the Conservative Party.

Cllr Ahmed Hussain was one of the very few Bengali card carrying “members” of the SWP. Mugs or what?

Poor old Oli (Rahman) – Hat Tip to Ted from East London Advertiser

Why is it that absolutely anything that Galloway touches eventually falls to pieces?

“A RESPECT councillor, former ally of George Galloway and member of the Socialist Workers Party has dramatically defected to the Tories in what is being seen a major milestone in Tower Hamlets politics.

Ahmed Hussain, who represents Mile End East at the Town Hall, met the Tories' shadow London minister, Bob Neill, and Tower Hamlets group leader Peter Golds to seal the move this morning (Wednesday).

He becomes the local party's first ever Bengali councillor and in doing so he has made the Tories, who less than two years ago boasted just one councillor in Tower Hamlets, the authority's official opposition with eight members.Mr Neill welcomed the defection as "momentous" and predicted that Tower Hamlets could soon become 'a Tory borough.'"It's a real step forward for the party and the area," he added.

Cllr Hussain, who was also being courted by Labour recently, said he had been interested by Tory Leader David Cameron's approach.He added: "I really believe Tower Hamlets Conservatives will continue to make a difference in this borough."

But political rivals will be dismayed and think Cllr Hussain's reputation will now lie in tatters.The former Labour supporter was one of MP George Galloway's '12 Bengali tigers' elected as a Respect councillor in 2006, and has voted against Conservative motions at the Town Hall since.He was one of four councillors to split from Galloway's Respect faction in October and remained a prominent member of the MP's bitter enemies, the SWP."

Who says politics is boring?

“Judean People's Front" v "People's Front of Judea”

This time a lift from East London Advertiser (by deputy editor Ted Jeory) about the latest farcical dispute in diss-respectland. The really fun bit is speculating whether or not the warring parties will stand candidates against each other in the forth coming Greater London Assembly and Mayor elections?

George Galloway appears to have decided to stand for Respect Renewal . Will he go for Mayor against Ken Livingstone and declared SWP Candidate Lindsey German ?(aka Respect Independent or is it now called "Respect - the Splitters coalition"?) or in “City & East” against Labour Assembly member John Biggs? Or will be stand down to pursue his many lucrative media business interests! We're have to wait and see.

"THE battle for the soul of MP George Galloway's Respect party has
entered a new phase with the warring factions squabbling over their
names.

The four councillors who split from their seven Respect colleagues on
Tower Hamlets council to become Respect Independent in October have now
changed their name again.

From today (Jan-15), the defecting group is known as Respect - the
Unity Coalition.

The first shots in the opening battle were fired today by Cllr Abjol
Miah, leader of the larger rump group which is still known as Respect.

He is lodging an official objection at the Town Hall because he says
the name is the 'official' party title, registered with the Electoral
Commission.

But Tower Hamlets council told the Advertiser that any objection would
not be upheld because "the name change is entirely valid for purpose of
council business."

The move by the four defecting SWP-sympathetic councillors, Oli Rahman,
Ahmed Hussain, Rania Khan and Lutfa Begum, is the first shot in what
promises to be a bitter fight over who can stand as Respect candidates
in May's London Assembly elections.

But the longer the 'farce' continues, as observers describe it, the
more both factions risk losing credibility with mainstream voters.

Respect Karaoke – A Song for George

Today two separate diss-Respect Conferences have taken place. Pretty soon we should discover what has gone on as delegates go home and start blogging and leaking furiously.

Many of course will be drowning their sorrows amidst the wreckage and recriminations of the respect project.

According to their web sites Respect Renewal (Galloway’s stooges) are going for a curry in Brick Lane after their conference. While Continuity Respect (SWP stooges) are off to the “Coach and Hounds”. I am not sure if there will be a Karaoke machine handy at either event? If there is a comrade has fraternally sent me a song they could all sing along to. Enjoy.

Oh! Respect Renewal is a-rollin' on over the land,

With the office locked up, Nick Wrack with the keys in hand.

A fat cigar! And humongous pay!
George Gall-oway! George Gall-oway! George Gall-oway!

Oh! Respect Renewal is a-comin' up round the bend,

Like a runaway train, its got to have a bad end.

But another defector, they’ve picked up today.

So, George Gall-oway! George Gall-oway! George Gallo-way!

He’s headin' straight on down, loaded down, with his Respect veto,

To Tow’r Hamlets, and elsewhere – yeah!

Respect Renewal is a -going without John Rees,
He’s split from the caravan with his comrade-ees
And it’s jobs for the boys, and on George’s say
So, George Gall-oway! George Gall-oway! George Gallo-way!

Oh! Respect Renewal is a-headin' on over the town,

Where the SWP are thick as eiderduck down.

Mariam appeal! More money wa-hey!

So, George Gall-oway! George Gall-oway! George Gallo-way!

You can listen to the original version for free here. Don’t forget to check out what has gone on in the respect saga so far and of course, the “Why we all hate Galloway video”