Salvinder Dhillon fights for Respect

Ealing Southall

ICT teacher Salvinder Dhillon was unanimously nominated by supporters last night as the Respect candidate to fight the coming parliamentary by-election in Ealing Southall. Young and old, black and white, male and female, believer and atheist, gay and straight – all united behind their chosen representative.

"I will put people before profit," Salvinder told the enthusiastic audience. "I've often been asked why I don't join one of the major parties to get elected," he added, "but Respect is the only one with principles. I want the wealth created by all workers to be used for their services not war. I have always talked about empowering ordinary people to control their lives."

"We stand for true equality of all people, genders and faiths. We genuinely care for the environment. We are not ashamed to talk of socialism, and we prioritise trade union participation. We put people before profit, public good before private gain. Many politicians talk about the need for respect in society. But we practice it."

During the meeting Respect MP George Galloway predicted that Salvinder would be a truly accountable representative. "Southall's man in Westminster, not Westminster's man in Southall". Galloway also promised that Salvinder would not shirk from asking the difficult questions about why the UK has become a target for recent murderous attacks.

Respect National Secretary John Rees pointed out that with the major parties calling in non-elected individuals from outside their own ranks, you could no longer be sure that the party you voted for would actually govern with their own policies. "Salvinder will stay true to some basic principles of freedom, justice and equality, which are shared by voters across this broad constituency."

Respect will compensate for the lack of monied benefactors with the drive and imagination of its supporters everywhere, who will take our policies to all corners of this needy area of west London. Nevertheless we welcome all donations.

Respect supporters are confident that this election is a wide-open contest. The sitting Labour group has yet to decide their candidate. The Tory candidate is a rich outsider and the Lib-Dems have a lot to prove about the distinctiveness of their policies.

He stood for Respect in Green ward, Southall, in the council elections two years ago, coming second.

RESPECT