FORMER Bradford MP George Galloway has launched a new political party in the wake of Labour's election defeat. 

Mr Galloway, who was leader of the Respect Party and MP for the Bradford West constituency from 2012 to 2015, has announced the new Workers Party of Britain, said to be "economically radical with an independent foreign policy". 

An introduction on the party website says: "Thousands of well-intentioned working-class people flocked to the Labour party, wanting to believe that Corbyn would be different from Blair, Brown and Miliband; that he would hold true to his professed principles and that, somehow, we would have socialism in Britain.

"The experience of the last few years alone is enough to demonstrate that one cannot make a silk purse from a sow’s ear."

The new party is described as a socialist organisation "unequivocally committed to class politics".

It says the party "postively embraces Britain’s withdrawal from the EU" and says: "Britain needs to be free of the EU regulations that would restrict our fiscal and monetary policy and prevent Britain from taking public ownership of key utilities and transport infrastructure."

Its ten-point programme includes: 

  • An end to imperialist wars and financial domination, starting with withdrawal from Nato.
  • Rebuild British industry and abolish the anti-worker ‘rationalisation’ that puts profits ahead of people to provide useful, secure jobs for all in decent conditions, with living wages, paid holidays, sick leave, maternity leave, etc.
  • Decent, cheap, secure housing for all.
  • High-quality, free pre-school childcare and education, followed by high-quality, free, lifelong education and vocational training.
  • Free and comprehensive healthcare with no waiting lists, accompanied by easy access to cheap and nutritious food.
  • Public, high quality laundries, crèches and dining facilities that enable women to take part in work and public life without prejudice or physical barriers.
  • High-quality, free provision of all necessary support services for the disabled, as well as the elderly. Full state support to enable families to look after their elderly, with nursing homes and sheltered accommodation for those in need of it, so that all workers are able to live full, dignified and meaningful lives.
  • Universal access to a cheap or free fully-integrated public transport system and all essential amenities: water, sanitation, heating, electricity, post, telephone, internet.
  • Open and easy access to all forms of culture and the media.
  • A government that prioritises giving resources to the solving of urgent problems such as the need to live sustainably and protect our natural environment, putting science at the service of the people.