Can George Galloway repeat 2005 success?

[Colston]

[Brown Sauce]

# 09:36

A BBC journalist at the Poplar and Limehouse count says he has done a tally of the tables with only five or ten minutes left of counting and says George Galloway has definitely lost and it looks like Labour will comfortably win the seat.

[Colston]

[faceless]

being beaten by a tory bastard must smart a bit for auld Georgie... it pisses me off anyway!

[Colston]

[modern]

Disappointed for Salma and George. I wonder what next for Top Cat?

[modern]

A heartfelt thanks to everyone who worked so hard in the election campaign in Tower Hamlets. We could not have asked for greater effort or dedication from candidates, members and supporters.

Everyone will naturally be disappointed that George, Abjol and Salma in Birmingham were not elected. We are still awaiting all the council results even at this time but they are unlikely to change the picture.

Given the results here and elsewhere, it’s clear that we were up against a national political trend that no amount of extra campaigning would have reversed.

In Tower Hamlets and Birmingham we have fought hard to establish a political presence locally that could present Respect as a serious alternative. But in this election the national picture was overwhelming. The TV debates between the three main party leaders engaged millions of people and shook up the election. The outcome, however, was the dominance of the two big parties – Labour and the Tories – with everyone else squeezed out of the picture.

So the Lib Dems, despite their initial bounce in the polls, ended up with much the same percentage as they got five years ago but with five fewer MPs.

In many historically Labour seats the fear of the Tories returning to power meant that poorer people, working people and ethnic minorities voted Labour despite its appalling record. That certainly happened in Tower Hamlets.

It was also the case in Wales and Scotland, where the left nationalist parties lost ground to Labour. In Wales, an independent left MP lost to Labour even though he and his left predecessor had held the seat at the previous two elections.

The leader of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas, did extremely well to win in Brighton, and Respect nationally has congratulated her.

Elsewhere, however, even the Greens found their vote squeezed down. On a warmer note, the pull towards the two main parties also hit the fascists of the BNP who not only failed to get their leader elected, but also lost all their seats in Barking.

But it was still a bad night for progressive forces in Britain. Respect didn’t win an MP, but we got 17,000 votes across Tower Hamlets and 12,000 for Salma in Birmingham. But this is still in a different league from others on the left who also stood in the election.

We have a lot to be proud of in our record in Tower Hamlets over the last five years and we have a responsibility to continue to speak out for the poor and marginalised communities we seek to serve.

Whatever government emerges from the political turmoil over the coming days and weeks will move to introduce savage austerity measures, which will only increase all the social problems and suffering in places such as East London.

Respect will be discussing over the next days how we can continue our mission to give a voice to the voiceless and to offer a political alternative based on peace, justice and equality.


With great thanks and respect,

Rob Hoveman, Election Agent

Kevin Ovenden, Campaign Manager for George Galloway