Rochdale by-election: Candidates record – BBC Information

A by-election prompted by the demise of MP Tony Lloyd will likely be held in Rochdale on 29 February.

Sir Tony died on 17 January, days after saying he had an incurable type of leukaemia.

Eleven individuals have put themselves ahead to be the city’s subsequent MP.

The late MP secured a majority of greater than 9,000 within the 2019 common election.

The deadline to register to vote within the by-election is midnight on 13 February.

A change within the legislation final 12 months means individuals who wish to vote in individual should keep in mind to convey a type of photograph ID with them.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by surname.

Azhar Ali is the Labour chief on Lancashire County Council and was chosen from a shortlist of three.

Nevertheless, on 12 February Labour mentioned it had “withdrawn assist” for him after feedback he made concerning Israel.

It was too late for the get together to switch Mr Ali as its candidate.

The choice signifies that Mr Ali will stay on the poll because the Labour candidate for Rochdale, but when he’s elected he’ll sit as a impartial MP or be part of one other get together.

Mr Ali, from Brierfield in Lancashire, has been a councillor in Nelson East since 2013. He joined Pendle Council aged 24 and served a five-year stint as a authorities advisor underneath Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

At his marketing campaign launch occasion, he mentioned: “In Rochdale there’s so much to try this Tony (Lloyd) began.

“I’ve set out my 5 pledges round reopening the maternity unit, funding within the city centre, and free breakfast golf equipment within the major colleges, and there’s a lengthy record of issues that we have to do.

“And there is a actual alternative to ship Rishi Sunak a transparent message that Rochdale helps Labour and so they desire a common election to take away this authorities.”

Mark Coleman is a long-time local weather campaigner and Simply Cease Oil supporter who was imprisoned for taking nonviolent direct motion.

The 64-year-old labored as a vicar in Rochdale city centre till he retired in 2020 on account of Parkinson’s illness.

Mr Coleman mentioned: “The individuals of Rochdale deserve the reality – and that’s we’d like radical motion on local weather proper now to face any likelihood of a protected and secure future. Authorities insurance policies have put us properly on the way in which to local weather hell, and the Labour Social gathering is keen to let that occur.

“I need the individuals of Rochdale to have the ability to ‘vote change’ on this election to point out they need failing Westminster politicians to step up and defend our future.”

A former Rochdale MP is standing within the by-election for Reform UK, the get together based by ex-UKIP chief Nigel Farage.

Simon Danczuk was elected because the Labour MP in 2010, however was suspended from the get together in 2015 over allegations of what he referred to as “inappropriate behaviour”. He left the Labour Social gathering in 2017 and stood as an impartial in that 12 months’s common election, receiving 1.8% of the vote.

He mentioned: “The explanation I am standing is as a result of Rochdale’s being let down by the primary political events. You have bought the Conservatives nationally who’re failing to develop the financial system, and that impacts adversely on our city. After which secondly they’re failing when it comes to unlawful immigration. It is simply uncontrolled and that once more impacts on our city. Then regionally you have bought a lazy Labour Social gathering working the council who aren’t delivering.”

The Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate Iain Donaldson has promised to carry the Conservative authorities to account for “failings on the NHS, the price of residing disaster, and water firms polluting the rivers with filthy sewage”.

He mentioned: “The individuals of Rochdale have been hammered by the double whammy of a cost-of-living disaster and an NHS on its knees. This disastrous Conservative authorities has completely failed our space and so they should be held to account.

“Regionally, Labour have additionally taken individuals without any consideration as a result of they simply do not hear. It’s vital that the individuals of Rochdale are represented with a voice that can take our neighborhood’s points proper to the center of Parliament and pressure ministers to handle their considerations.”

Paul Ellison, the Conservative candidate within the by-election, was voted Rochdale Man of the 12 months in 2020 after he helped the borough achieve nationwide recognition within the Royal Horticultural Society In Bloom awards.

Mr Ellison, who runs a landscaping agency, mentioned: “In locations like Rochdale, individuals’s aspiration can usually be stifled by the impacts led to by destructive perceptions. If elected, I’m decided to be a champion to the borough.

“I consider there’s a nice alternative to point out the distinction an area candidate with Conservative values of working collectively, taking pleasure in your neighborhood, and facilitating progress can do, bucking the expectation of a so-called Labour protected seat.

“Labour cannot say what they’d do, as a result of they do not have a plan, which suggests nothing will get higher – taking us again to sq. one.”

Former Labour and Respect Social gathering MP George Galloway mentioned he was working to “train Labour a lesson”.

His Staff Social gathering of Britain says it has a 10-point programme geared toward “constructing a brand new working class politics in Britain”.

It “defends the achievements of the USSR, China, Cuba and so on, not least the debt owed by humanity to the Soviet Union and Pink Military of their struggle of liberation towards German fascism”.

Mr Galloway has contested by-elections in Larger Manchester earlier than. He stood within the Gorton constituency in 2017 and gained 5% of the vote.

He mentioned the primary focus of his marketing campaign will likely be calling for a decision to the battle in Gaza, including: “The variety of individuals in Rochdale vitally involved with the problems that preoccupy me… there’s in all probability not a constituency in the entire nation the place there are extra individuals involved about Gaza than there are in Rochdale.

“[No] extra individuals involved about Kashmir than there are in Rochdale. So, as I’ve been a spokesman for these causes for greater than half a century in each circumstances, it is apparent that I might be a candidate right here.”

Up to date 10 February 2024 to broaden upon the get together’s priorities

Michael Howarth is a “Rochdale born and bred” businessman who owns a lot of bars within the borough and works and lives within the city.

He mentioned he believed earlier Rochdale MPs put their get together earlier than the city, and mentioned “smartening up the city centre” can be one among his priorities.

He mentioned: “Get the empty outlets crammed and the outlying areas, Millstone Highway and the like. We have to get companies into city so my agenda can be to make a better path to open a brand new enterprise. Whether or not or not it’s a store, whether or not or not it’s a printers, no matter it could be. Let’s get companies open shortly. The extra companies on the town, the extra jobs. The extra jobs, the extra prosperity. We are able to make Rochdale a terrific place to be.”

Impartial candidate Billy Howarth is an area campaigner who co-founded the assist group Dad and mom Towards Grooming UK. He has not too long ago campaigned for higher housing for individuals affected by damp and mildew.

He raised the £500 candidate registration price from GoFundMe donations.

On the GoFundMe web page, he mentioned: “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.

“I’m Rochdale born and bred and have the wants of Rochdale near my coronary heart. I actually consider I could make the adjustments that this city desires and deserves.”

Man Otten’s title will seem on the poll paper, however quickly after the marketing campaign started the Inexperienced Social gathering mentioned he can be stepping down over beforehand criticising Palestinians and the Islamic faith.

A Inexperienced Social gathering spokesperson mentioned: “The Rochdale Inexperienced Social gathering candidate has mentioned that he has ‘determined to go away the stage’ following social media posts made some years in the past. As nominations have now closed, his title will nonetheless seem on the poll. Nevertheless, he won’t participate in any campaigning between now and polling day.

“We don’t touch upon disciplinary issues concerning Inexperienced Social gathering members. These are inner issues. Nevertheless, we’re clear, we condemn all types of racism and discrimination and don’t settle for it from any Inexperienced Social gathering consultant or spokesperson.”

The candidate for the Official Monster Raving Loony Social gathering, Ravin Rodent Subortna, mentioned that as MP he would marketing campaign for the introduction of a 99p coin.

He mentioned he would name for all roundabouts to have fairground carousels within the center to inform vehicles the place to go and stop street rage.

Amongst his different insurance policies is a plan for all new-build housing to have hedgehog houses included to assist eradicate homelessness for hedgehogs, and ensuring hedgehogs had lollipop indicators to assist them cross the street.

Ravin says he’s aiming to win “zero votes” as a result of “that may be truthful to offer everyone else an opportunity”.

Native businessman Dave Tully mentioned he was standing within the election to “be a voice for the individuals of Rochdale throughout each neighborhood that wishes to do good”.

He mentioned he was calling for the reinstatement of Rochdale’s maternity ward, wished extra monetary assist for native companies and would champion the neighborhood advantages of native newbie sports activities golf equipment together with the rugby league membership Rochdale Mayfield, the place he’s a committee member.

He added: “As an impartial with no allegiance to any of the events or any political beliefs or opinions, I simply wish to do the very best for my city and my neighborhood. That is mainly what I wish to obtain. That is what I’ll advocate.”

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