The Respect Party is a socialist party in the United Kingdom that was formed in 2004. Salma Yaqoob established it in London with the support of George Monbiot. After the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Respect Party grew up to become the voice of leftists and anti-war groups. However, the party’s idealogy remained as a broad coalition of the left-wing interests. Some of the critics called the party a far-left and called the party a combination of socialism and Islamism.
The Respect Party has been raising the voice for the minorities in the community while acting as a powerful tool to challenge the government policies that are in the ways of the best interests of the minorities. They are focused on creating programs for society with a bunch of responsibilities that we will discuss below.
Salma Yaqoob, the former Respect party leader, is planning to run for Labour in the mayoral election. She has decided at the 11th hour to apply for this nomination in an attempt to challenge the current conservative mayor, Andy Street. Salma Yaqoob is a 48-year-old psychotherapist who decided to join politics after the abuse she received after 9/11. She has first involved in the Stop the War coalition after the Iraq war and then led to co-founding the Respect party in 2004. Yaqoob decided to quit in 2012 when she said that the time and relations are not working out for her and the party.
Salma Yaqoob has also received great support from the locals in Birmingham and The Balck Country. However, she said that she does not enjoy mainstream politics as it does not reflect her concerns about the citizens in Birmingham. She said, “ I have stood for those values (equality, justice, and peace) all my life.”
Yaqoob said that her campaign would raise the issues like improving public transport, affordable housing, green energy, and equality. She wants to implement new ways of development with green technology that can create new jobs in the sector. She promises to provide for everyone and not just a few. Yaqoob’s nominations will add new features to the local labor movement of Birmingham.
Over the years, the Respect Party has presented itself as a leftist part. The major support for the Respect party came from the British Mulsim community. Traditionally, British Muslims have been voting for the Labour Party, but over the years, the agendas of the Respect party have attracted a lot of people, including the non-muslims. However, at no point, the Respect party has claimed to be a specifically Muslim Party like the Islamic Party of Britain or the Muslim Party in Birmingham. Despite having campaigns related to the British Muslim communities, the party has always considered itself focused on broader objectives of equality, peace, and green energy initiatives.