Respect grows as Ishtiaq wins

May 4 2007 By Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail

THE rise of anti-war party Respect continued as it clinched a second seat on Birmingham City council.

Mohammed Ishtiaq stormed to victory in Sparkbrook with 3,514 votes, a massive 1,111 majority.

Respect party leader George Galloway even campaigned in Sparkbrook yesterday for Mr Ishtiaq.

It comes after Muslim mother-of-three Salma Yaqoob became the first Respect councillor for Birmingham, also in Sparkbrook, by unseating Labour last year.

Coun Ishtiaq said: "I would like to thank George Galloway for being there for me as well as all the people in Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath.

"Respect's popularity is growing because we are a party that speaks the truth. We are still quite young and building the party too."

It is a huge step for Respect, which was only set up three years ago and is relatively small in comparison to its major competitors. But party members have pumped resources into gaining support in inner city, predominantly Muslim areas such as Sparkbrook and Springfield.

Fellow Respect councillor Salma Yaqoob had wanted to be at the count but was forced to stay home due to illness.