are preparing to fight a major campaign in next May's local elections, reports Fisher Gate. Preston, Lancashire, has seen some of Respect's most successful local election campaiglis In 2004, Respect stood five candidates in the City Council elections, winning 2,423 votes, over 30% of the vote, across a large swathe of the inner citv areas and coming second in three of the seats.
This built on the success of Michael Lavalette, who was elected as 'Socialist Alliance Against the war In LUUS, defeating a sitting Labour councillor
It was a sensational result that helped lead to the formation of Respect.
While Respect narrowly failed to win a seat in 2004, it established Respect as a serious force in the City. In 2004, Respect also won 6% across the whole city in the European Elections - the only area in the North West where Respect beat the Green Party. The Connoided Respect/Green vote across the whole city was over 10%.
In May 2005, Respect stood in both the General Election and in six seats in the County Council elections.
While Michael Lavalette won an excellent 6.8% in the Preston parliamentary constituency, in the local elections the Respect vote was even higher - 2,795 votes, 10.3% of the ahol Respect came second in two County divisions.
contested the equivalent of 14 wards, two thirds of the total, on the City Council.
2005 was an eventful year for Preston Respect as it is estaousne• usen as a serous political force across the city. A Labour councillor defected
Respect, giving it two
the City councilors on Council and the ability to propose a variety of initiatives.
Respect threw itself into Michael Lavelette In the local media and on the Council,
it is treated as a "Party'. Publicly it projects itself as
the Respect a joint demonstration with trade unions against the closure of a local factory. Respect started to be treated as a serious force within the Council and was able to put pressure on councillors and the ruling Labour Group in particular.
For the 2006 local elections Respect faces a dilemma. There is the serious possibility of winning several seats in the inner city, where the muslim and anti-war population is largest.
This would be a major breakthrough, especially given the 'first past the post' system that keeps smaller parties out of local politics. A strong focus on winning those seats could reap significant rewards in terms of national and local recognition for Respect.
However, thousands of people across the City have been prepared to vote for Respect in the past, despite knowing it has little chance of winning.
By confining its challenge to comparatively few areas, those outside the inner core who are sick and tired of New Labour and looking for an alternative will not be able to vote for Respect. There is the danger that Respect will be labelled a 'muslim party' rather than achieving broader recognition.
Respect's strong position has also but Dressulc on Labour councillors in the minority administration. They are in the invidious position of actually implementing a Tory budget after Labour voted against Respect's alternative budget in February.
Preston was unusual in having a strong left wing in the Labour Party until 2000, when following the death of left wing MP Audrey Wise, her daughter, Val Wise, narrowly lost the battle as left wing candidate for the nomination to a Blairite.
There are still a number of councillors who support left wing causes, most noticeably opposition to the war, solidarity with Palestine and support for trade union struggles.
Respect will not be standing against such councillors, and indeed will be striving to build links with them and with the LWO 'Labour Independents' on the Council.
Its position on the Council and the wide contesting of local elections, gives Preston Respect a position not shared by most branches of Respect, particularly Laose OutsIde London. In the media and on the Council, it is treated as a 'Party'. Publicly it projects itself as the 'Respect Party'.
While the debate at the
conterence about moving forward to a party faltered, in practice Respect is being transformed into a party-type organisation Preston.
In the same way that winning a seat on Preston City Council showed the capacity for a wider force than the Socialist Alliance, further development of Respect in Preston may have lessons for its overall development and growth. TEND BAFLE X