GEORGE GALLOWAY indicated yesterday that his Respect Party could contest future elections in Scotland if the fortunes of the Scottish Socialists continue to decline after their leadership change.

Until now Mr Galloway has concentrated his party’s efforts south of the border and particularly in London, tacitly accepting that there is no room for two hard-left parties in Scotland.

But since the charismatic Tommy Sheridan decided to stand down as leader of the Scottish Socialists amid well-founded reports that he had to bow to internal party critics, the SSP, which won six seats at the Holyrood election in 2003, has seen its fortunes falter.

Mr Galloway, the MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, was speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival yesterday. He said that the SSP had made a terrible blunder by replacing Mr Sheridan last November in the wake of newspaper allegations that are now the subject of a defamation action. Mr Sheridan said that he was standing down to spend more time with his family.

Mr Galloway, who set up Respect after being expelled from Labour in 2003, said that he had avoided Scotland owing to the success of the Socialists, even though he opposed their pro-independence stance.

He expressed surprise that SSP members had forced Mr Sheridan to quit after the newspaper stories and added: “I cannot understand why they did that. I hope he comes back. If he doesn’t come back, I think the SSP may well sink without trace at the next election. I hope that doesn’t happen but if it happens, then Respect will have to look again at its decision not to organise in Scotland.”

He also said that he agreed with Peter Mullan, the actor, film-maker and SSP supporter, who last week criticised the treatment of Mr Sheridan and the antics of SSP MSPs who were suspended from the Scottish Parliament for a month.

At last May’s general election the SSP did not win a seat and saw their share of the vote dip from more than 3 per cent to less than 2 per cent.

Mr Galloway said that Mr Sheridan, who was replaced as leader by Colin Fox in February, was “the most outstanding figure in the SSP by a country mile”.

“Ever since they got rid of him they’ve been sinking and if they’re not careful they’ll sink without trace. We would call on people to support them in the 2007 Scottish election but if they destroy the Left position in Scotland, then obviously we would have to think again,” he said.

Mr Sheridan adopted a low profile after his resignation but in recent weeks he has made several media appearances, prompting speculation that he may be ready to attempt a comeback to the leadership of the party which he founded. The SSP refused to comment last night.

Mr Galloway also revealed in Edinburgh that he would meet Fidel Castro by the end of the year to work on a book about the Cuban President’s life.

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