Respect confident of assembly win

Mr Galloway has been shouting himself hoarse from the top of his bus

George Galloway is confident that by Friday he will hold two posts - MP and London Assembly member.

The Bethnal Green and Bow MP is top of Respect's list for the London-wide list, which is elected by a form of proportional representation.

He is losing his voice after talking "seven hours a day" from the top of his open-top bus which has been through all corners of London "at least twice".

He says it is important Respect wins a seat, if Boris Johnson is to be mayor.

The party is fielding 12 candidates and targeting one constituency seat, City and East, and says the response has been "very good".

Mr Galloway said he was looking forward to a result that will "surprise" the media.

'Important platform'

"The best result we can contemplate at the moment is winning the City and East constituency which is our heartland, and my election as top of the list," he said.

But he admits City and East could be difficult to win as it a geographically large seat with a varied electorate - taking in areas like the City of London and Barking and Dagenham - where the BNP hold 12 council seats.

Mr Galloway intends to carry on as MP for Bethnal Green and Bow if he is elected to the assembly: "I would be doing two jobs for one salary, so the London taxpayer will gain from electing me."

"It's an important platform and I intend to do my best with it to fight for the interests of the people we represent, the working people, the poorest people, the minority communities who need a big voice in London."

The party is also fielding candidates in by-elections for Tower Hamlets council, and in councils in Manchester, Wigan, Birmingham, Bradford and Walsall.