The by-election was precipitated by Labour MP Marsha Singh’s recent decision to step down owing to “serious illness”. The seat looks to be solid Labour, with Singh having retaken the seat with an increased majority in 2010, securing 45.6% of the vote with the Conservatives trailing a distant second with 31.1%. Although the Labour Party would have been the first to be aware of Singh’s intentions, it has yet to select its candidate from amongst a shortlist that includes individuals with no links to Bradford (but then again, that’s the case with many of its electors too these days).
Despite Ed Miliband’s awkwardness, dreadful oratory and inability to devise credible or appealing policies, the running average of polls shows that nationally the Labour Party is slightly ahead of the Conservative Party leading by 39% to 37%. Admittedly, the ConDem Government does not offer us anything palatable, so the contest looks as if it is going to be a mere rubberstamp for the Labour succession, which is the probable reason underpinning the Labour Party’s laggardly attitude towards selection.
Why then bother to even comment upon this lacklustre and dull campaign? Is there really anything of note that could possibly happen? Probably not, but then again, the declaration of one particular media pussy (this title is appropriate I am informed by people who have watched Big Brother, and as I have just discovered by watching the ludicrous video clip below) that he is to stand as a candidate has elicited a little interest in the national media: George Galloway, the fellow who fawned upon Saddam Hussein and who has courted the Islamist vote as a member of Respect since 2005. Indeed, a video showing him addressing a crowd of several thousand Muslims in Tower Hamlets in June 2010 reveals that he is quite happy to play the religion and race cards, which accounts, presumably, for the Glaswegian turning up in Bradford West to once again stand for Respect. ‘Respect’ has always struck me as an odd name for a party, particularly the one of which he is a member, for it would be more appropriate if it were to be named ‘Submit’.
Who else will be entering the electoral fray? Have any of the other candidates ever given such embarrassing televisual performances as Galloway? The junior partner in the ConDem Coalition is fielding Jeanette Sunderland who belongs to Bradford Council and at least possesses local links and roots, whereas the senior partners have chosen Jackie Whiteley from Rotherham. UKIP is forwarding Sonja McNally, a local woman and former Green Party member who has done much work for a homeless charity in the city, whereas the Greens have chosen Dawud Islam, who is as local as his name would suggest, having stood in Brent at the last General Election.
The small amount of interest that will arise from this contest will thus centre upon the performances of Galloway and McNally. Will Galloway manage to lure away a sufficient number of Labour supporters to allow the Tories to take the seat? Will his Muslim magic prove potent, or will Galloway’s mischievous genie remain firmly trapped inside its lamp?
McNally on the other hand might pick up some votes from those who previously threw in their lot with the BNP – who polled better than UKIP in the seat in both 2005 and 2010 – and possibly the Democratic Nationalists in 2010. Neither of the latter two parties have declared any intent of standing on this occasion, but if their supporters know much about some of McNally’s other activities, they might desist from voting for her, as she
Feversham College can be adjudged to be a forcing house for Islamic fanaticism, for it will not allow any male to set foot within the school grounds. Moreover, according to UKIP, “Sonja is also on a Hate Panel - an initiative that sees local residents meeting up regularly to discuss how police deal with reported cases of a hate crime.” I wonder if it bothered to look into the hate directed against white Catholic pupils at St Bede’s by their Muslim classmates and elder relatives from amongst the Muslim ‘community’ last September? It would seem unlikely. If ever proof were needed that UKIP is not a nationalist party, this must be about as compelling as it gets.
Exactly. UKIP is just the EU-hating wing of the GLOBALIST CONServative Party in permanent exile as one look at their Thatcherite (hence globalist) economic policies proves. It really is about time the British electorate recognises this but perhaps they do since UKIP is unable to achieve a real national breakthrough as it only performs well as a vehicle for anti-EU protest votes in EU elections.
ReplyDeleteThat a former Green Party member (Green on the outside, Red on the Inside with even more crazy open-borders policies than Labour and the Tories) can so easily join UKIP is another clue as to the reality of UKIP being a non-nationalist party.
Barry
Yes, it's astonishing that they have a former Green standing for them isn't it? Then again, it seems that given her position as a governor of an Islamic school, she may have mistaken the green of her former party as standing for the flag of Islam?
DeleteI do not wish to sound a pessimist, but is it too late? There are so many Muslims in Britain that everyone will now have to cater to them. I don't know the exact stats. I watch from Canada, worried.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's not too late Anne. It can look that way at times, but with the right set of policies put in place by a new party (see here: http://durotrigan.blogspot.com/2012/03/beyond-fringe-building-credible.html)the Islamist threat would wither and die.
DeleteI cannot speak for the BNP who's organisation in Bradford has completely collapsed. I can however speak for the Democratic Nationalists (DN). The Party has selected Neil Craig (the Party Chairman) as their candidate. Neil is a publican in Bradford who will have some voter recognition in Bradford West as he stood for the same constituency in the 2010 General Election. He has the necessary signatures for his nomination papers which will be submitted early next week. The main advantage to a small party standing in a by election is two fold.
ReplyDeleteThe first advantage is a chance for the Party name to become known to many thousands of persons. The cost to the Party is the £500 deposit and the cost of printing the leaflets. The Royal Mail delivers a leaflet to every door in the Constituency. The second advantage is National Press coverage. The Bradford West campaign will of course get more coverage than a 'normal' by election in a supposedly 'safe' Labour seat. This is because there will be a lot of interest in this campaign with Galloway standing.
I mentioned above the quite substantial costs of putting up a candidate in this by election. If anyone wants to send us a donation to help with these expenses you can contact us on thednparty@virginmedia.com or go to our website. Their is a link to our website in the right sidebar and a visit to the 'Contact Us' page of the website gives a link.
Ivan Winters
Democratic Nationalists
Thanks for this update Ivan. You are right in noting that the DNs will get a mention in the national press thanks to participating in this contest, which will probably be the first time (excuse me if I'm wrong here) that they will have been afforded such publicity. Good luck to Neil!
DeleteNuLab have announced their Islamist candidate and surprisingly enough, he is a Muslim.
ReplyDeleteImran Hussain
Thanks for the update Roadhog. Any bets as to the percentage of the vote that Galloway might poll?
DeleteMore comments from know nothing outsiders.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean outsiders, anonymous?
ReplyDelete