Rochdale voters will go to the polls immediately for a by-election unexpectedly besieged by political controversy and media scrutiny.
Within the run-up to polling day, each Labour and the Greens have withdrawn assist for the candidates they initially put ahead over disputes regarding the Israel-Gaza battle. This leaves Labour with no actual method to win the seat which they’ve held since 2010.
Controversial candidates George Galloway and Simon Danczuk may also seem on the poll.
Right here’s your information to all eleven candidates standing in Rochdale:
Azhar Ali, “Labour”
Though Azhar Ali’s identify will nonetheless seem as a Labour candidate on the poll, the get together has withdrawn its assist for him. Following Mr Ali’s high-profile suspension, he could be thought of an unbiased MP in parliament ought to he win immediately’s by-election.
Mr Ali was suspended from the get together following allegations of anti-semitism. At a gathering of different Labour members, Mr Ali stated that Israel had “allowed” the 7 October assaults to mandate the nation’s invasion of Gaza. He later apologised for the feedback.
Labour moved to withdraw assist on 12 February, after being criticised for inaction, however this was too late for them to face one other candidate.
Nonetheless, ought to Mr Ali win it’s unlikely he would stay on this place for much longer than 6-10 months. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has indicated his intention to name a common election in direction of the top of the 12 months when the seat will go to the polls as soon as extra.
This provides Labour the chance to pick out a brand new candidate for Rochdale.
Mr Ali is initially from Brierfield, a city in Pendle, Lancashire – 45 minutes away from Rochdale. He joined Pendle Borough Council in 2000 at 24, changing into council chief in 2003. In 2013, Mr Ali joined Lancashire County Council, changing into chief in 2017.
In 2015 and 2019, he stood as Labour’s parlimentary candidate for Pendle. In 2020, Mr Ali was awarded an OBE for his companies to the group within the North West.
Mark Coleman, Unbiased
Reverend Mark Coleman is a long-time local weather campaigner and Simply Cease Oil activist, who has twice been jailed for non-violent direct motion. The 64-year-old labored as a vicar in Rochdale till his retirement resulting from Parkinson’s illness.
Rev Coleman continues to function a Church of England priest and is operating on a platform of climate-related insurance policies.
Simon Danczuk, Reform UK
On 1 February it was revealed that former Labour MP for Rochdale Simon Danczuk would stand as a candidate for Reform UK, aiming to regain the seat he held from 2010 to 2017.
In 2015, Simon Danczuk was suspended from the Labour get together after allegation he exchanged sexually express textual content messages with a teen. He was barred from reselection by the get together for the 2017 common election.
Mr Danczuk nonetheless stood as an unbiased candidate, coming fifth with 1.8 per cent of the vote.
“He had an unwise relationship with a younger woman however nothing unlawful and he accepted what he did was daft and unwise,” stated Reform UK chief Richard Tice.
“He has a superb monitor report of integrity and being courageous sufficient to name out the grooming gangs in Rochdale”.
Iain Donaldson, Liberal Democrats
Iain Donaldson is a retired administrator for the College of Manchester, and has 19 years of expertise as a councillor within the space. He hopes to regain Rochdale for the Lib Dems, who held the seat from 2005 to 2010.
Paul Ellison, Conservative
The Conservative’s candidate for Rochdale, Paul Ellison, is a businessman and campaigner who owns and operates a landscaping firm within the space. His marketing campaign messaging emphasises his native roots, stating that he has been a political campaigner within the space for over 30 years.
George Galloway, Staff Celebration
George Galloway is a former Labour and Respect Celebration MP, who’s now chief and founding father of the Staff Celebration of Britain. He has stated he’s operating to “train Labour a lesson”.
His get together, shaped in 2019, goals to construct a “new working class politics in Britain”. Its 10-point programme contains bringing an finish to imperialist wars” and rebuilding British business. Mr Galloway has stated the principle focus of his marketing campaign shall be to acheive a decision to the battle in Gaza.
Mr Galloway has been a mainstay within the UK political panorama for the reason that late 80s, first changing into a Labour MP for Glasgow Hillhead in 1987. He was expelled from the Labour Celebration in 2003 by Tony Blair for outstanding opposition to the Iraq Warfare.
In 2004 he joined Respect, profitable the seat of Bethnal Inexperienced and Bow for the get together within the 2005 common election. Mr Galloway remained on this seat till 2010. He was Respect MP for Bradford West for one time period from 2012 to 2015, and has not been an MP since – regardless of numerous campaigns.
Michael Howarth, Unbiased
Michael Howarth is a businessman from Rochdale who owns a number of bars within the borough, in addition to residing and dealing within the city. He’s operating on a platform of native city and enterprise enchancment, vowing to open empty outlets and enhance road security.
William Howarth, Unbiased
“Billy” Howarth is an area campaigner and co-founder of the assist group Mother and father Towards Grooming UK. His marketing campaign is centred on tackling points round grooming within the wake of Rochdale’s grooming gang scandal. He raised his £500 registration payment by fundraising.
“After 30 years of kid abuse cover-ups, two drained leaderships accompanied by failures to guard the city’s constituents, I’ve determined that this city must be independently represented,” reads Mr Howarth’s GoFundMe marketing campaign.
Man Otten, “Inexperienced”
Like Labour, the Greens have additionally withdrawn assist for his or her Rochdale candidate, Man Otten over feedback made on Twitter.
The retired solicitor referred to as the posts “regrettable,” confirmed he had “determined to go away the stage” and halted his campaigning efforts from 7 February. His identify will nonetheless seem on the poll as a Inexperienced Celebration candidate.
Ravin Rodent Subortna, Monster Raving Loony
Candidate for the Official Monster Raving Loony Celebration, Ravin Rodent Subortna has made a raft of bizarre guarantees on the marketing campaign path, as has develop into custom for the get together.
His insurance policies embody the introduction of a 99p coin, fairground carousels on roundabouts, and hedgehog properties to “stop hedgehog homelessness”. Mr Subortna has stated his goal is to get “zero votes”
David Tully, Unbiased
“Born and raised in Rochdale,” David Tully operates a car restore centre within the space. He’s operating on a platform of community-focused pledges, aiming to halt the “decline” of Rochdale city. He’s an avid rugby and soccer fan, and the one candidate to satisfy with the native membership, Rochdale AFC, on the marketing campaign path.
