As Tony Blair contested a third election in 2005, the Labour government’s popularity was in tatters. The divisions in the country were running deep, following a United States-led war in the Middle East. The general election, held alongside the locals, saw the emergence of new radical political parties. They seized an opportunity to break the two-party consensus by opposing foreign wars and weaponising an increasingly politicised Muslim vote. Not much is written today about Respect, but it had some success fighting on an anti-Iraq war platform. George Galloway, the party’s leader, won in Bethnal Green and Bow. Although Respect’s staying power proved limited, what is emerging for next month’s local elections might prove more durable. This time, the left-wing, anti-Labour alliance is built around the Green party and various independent candidates who are cutting deals, forming pacts and encouraging tactical voting, united by the issue of Palestine. ✍️ Robin Simcox Article | spectator.com/article/how-ga…