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Four Bradford councillors rejoin George Galloway's Respect party Four Bradford councillors rejoin George Galloway's Respect party
(about 3 hours later)
Four Bradford councillors who quit George Galloway’s Respect 18 months ago have rejoined the party after apparently making up with the MP.Four Bradford councillors who quit George Galloway’s Respect 18 months ago have rejoined the party after apparently making up with the MP.
The move which could boost Galloway’s chances of re-election in the West Yorkshire city.The move which could boost Galloway’s chances of re-election in the West Yorkshire city.
Faisal Khan (Bradford Moor), Alyas Karmani (Little Horton), Ishtiaq Ahmed (Manningham) and Ruqayyah Collector (City), all well-known local campaigners, were originally elected in May 2012 in the aftermath of what Galloway called the “Bradford spring”, in which he won a byelection in Bradford West in spectacular fashion.Faisal Khan (Bradford Moor), Alyas Karmani (Little Horton), Ishtiaq Ahmed (Manningham) and Ruqayyah Collector (City), all well-known local campaigners, were originally elected in May 2012 in the aftermath of what Galloway called the “Bradford spring”, in which he won a byelection in Bradford West in spectacular fashion.
They resigned in October 2013 after falling out with the MP over his administration of the local party, his alleged absenteeism and his ambitions to become mayor of London. Galloway responded by accusing them of “factional disloyalty” and conspiring to seize executive power. He later wrote a blogpost accusing them of stabbing him in the back after being elected “on my coattails”.They resigned in October 2013 after falling out with the MP over his administration of the local party, his alleged absenteeism and his ambitions to become mayor of London. Galloway responded by accusing them of “factional disloyalty” and conspiring to seize executive power. He later wrote a blogpost accusing them of stabbing him in the back after being elected “on my coattails”.
The born-again Respect quartet have spent the last 18 months working as an independent group on Bradford council, along with Mohammed Shabbir (Heaton), who left Respect with them in 2013. Shabbir has refused to rejoin Galloway’s party.The born-again Respect quartet have spent the last 18 months working as an independent group on Bradford council, along with Mohammed Shabbir (Heaton), who left Respect with them in 2013. Shabbir has refused to rejoin Galloway’s party.
Respect now has five councillors on Bradford council after Asama Javed (Manningham) defected to Respect from Labour last week, accusing the party of breaching “all its fundamental principles”. Labour views her defection as sour grapes, pointing out that she had failed its selection process to re-run for the council when her term runs out in May. Javed is now Respect’s general election candidate in Halifax, where Labour has been caught up in controversy over the selection of its candidate.Respect now has five councillors on Bradford council after Asama Javed (Manningham) defected to Respect from Labour last week, accusing the party of breaching “all its fundamental principles”. Labour views her defection as sour grapes, pointing out that she had failed its selection process to re-run for the council when her term runs out in May. Javed is now Respect’s general election candidate in Halifax, where Labour has been caught up in controversy over the selection of its candidate.
In a joint statement announcing their Respect reunion, the four councillors said they believed the “fundamental” issues they had resigned over had “been resolved through intense dialogue initiated by Respect officials”.In a joint statement announcing their Respect reunion, the four councillors said they believed the “fundamental” issues they had resigned over had “been resolved through intense dialogue initiated by Respect officials”.
There have been persistent rumours in Bradford that some or all of the councillors were poised to join Labour. But in their statement they accused the mainstream parties in Bradford of failing “yet again to demonstrate that they actually represent the best interests of the ordinary working class”, particularly over Bradford’s poor educational standards.There have been persistent rumours in Bradford that some or all of the councillors were poised to join Labour. But in their statement they accused the mainstream parties in Bradford of failing “yet again to demonstrate that they actually represent the best interests of the ordinary working class”, particularly over Bradford’s poor educational standards.
Khan had a huge falling out with Bradford’s Labour administration last year after he was suspended as chair of governors at a local school caught up in allegations of Islamic fundamentalism linked to the so-called Trojan Horse plot.Khan had a huge falling out with Bradford’s Labour administration last year after he was suspended as chair of governors at a local school caught up in allegations of Islamic fundamentalism linked to the so-called Trojan Horse plot.
In an interview on Tuesday, Karmani said he was disgusted at the way Labour was failing to support his friend Naz Khan, Labour’s parliamentary candidate in Bradford West, who was chosen in a messy contest last month. She was being “used and abused”, said Karmani. “She’s not being given nearly enough help with her campaign. The resources aren’t there, the people aren’t there. There’s no money. No one is giving her any lines to take, no strategic advice. To throw a total rookie in there and leave her on her own is not right.” In an interview on Tuesday, Karmani said he was disgusted at the way Labour was failing to support his friend Naz Shah, Labour’s parliamentary candidate in Bradford West, who was chosen in a messy contest last month. She was being “used and abused”, said Karmani. “She’s not being given nearly enough help with her campaign. The resources aren’t there, the people aren’t there. There’s no money. No one is giving her any lines to take, no strategic advice. To throw a total rookie in there and leave her on her own is not right.”
There has been speculation too that another Labour councillor, Naveeda Ikram, the first Muslim woman to serve as Bradford’s lord mayor, was going to join Respect. The rumourmongers claimed that she had fallen out with Labour failing in the selection process to become the party’s candidate to fight Galloway in Bradford West, and that she was going to get her revenge by contesting Bradford East for Galloway’s lot. The suggestion was dismissed by Respect on Tuesday as “last week’s rumour”. In a text, Ikram said: “I’m still a Labour councillor and member.”There has been speculation too that another Labour councillor, Naveeda Ikram, the first Muslim woman to serve as Bradford’s lord mayor, was going to join Respect. The rumourmongers claimed that she had fallen out with Labour failing in the selection process to become the party’s candidate to fight Galloway in Bradford West, and that she was going to get her revenge by contesting Bradford East for Galloway’s lot. The suggestion was dismissed by Respect on Tuesday as “last week’s rumour”. In a text, Ikram said: “I’m still a Labour councillor and member.”
Galloway was revelling in the news on Tuesday, saying in a statement: “I am delighted to welcome our four comrades back and looking forward to working with them in the future. New Labour is imploding in Bradford.”Galloway was revelling in the news on Tuesday, saying in a statement: “I am delighted to welcome our four comrades back and looking forward to working with them in the future. New Labour is imploding in Bradford.”
He added: “I am confident that this won’t be the last such announcement.”He added: “I am confident that this won’t be the last such announcement.”