Rochdale by-election: Candidates list – BBC News

A by-election prompted by the loss of life of MP Tony Lloyd might be held in Rochdale on 29 February.

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

Eleven folks 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 regulation final 12 months means individuals who need to vote in particular person should bear in mind to carry a type of picture 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.

However, on 12 February Labour stated it had “withdrawn support” for him after feedback he made concerning Israel.

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

The determination 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 unbiased 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 5-12 months stint as a authorities advisor beneath Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

At his marketing campaign launch occasion, he stated: “In Rochdale there’s a lot to do that Tony (Lloyd) started.

“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 faculties, and there’s a lengthy list of issues that we have to do.

“And there’s a real opportunity to send Rishi Sunak a clear message that Rochdale supports Labour and they want a general election to remove this government.”

Mark Coleman is a protracted-time local weather campaigner and Just Stop Oil supporter who was imprisoned for taking nonviolent direct motion.

The 64-12 months-previous labored as a vicar in Rochdale city centre till he retired in 2020 because of Parkinson’s illness.

Mr Coleman stated: “The people of Rochdale deserve the truth – and that is we need radical action on climate right now to stand any chance of a safe and stable future. Government policies have put us well on the way to climate hell, and the Labour Party is willing to let that happen.

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

A former Rochdale MP is standing in the by-election for Reform UK, the party founded by ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage.

Simon Danczuk was elected as the Labour MP in 2010, but was suspended from the party in 2015 over allegations of what he called “inappropriate behaviour”. He left the Labour Party in 2017 and stood as an independent in that year’s general election, receiving 1.8% of the vote.

He stated: “The cause I’m standing is as a result of Rochdale’s being let down by the principle political events. You’ve received the Conservatives nationally who’re failing to develop the financial system, and that impacts adversely on our city. And then secondly they’re failing when it comes to unlawful immigration. It’s simply uncontrolled and that once more impacts on our city. Then domestically you have received a lazy Labour Party operating the council who usually are not delivering.”

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

He stated: “The folks of Rochdale have been hammered by the double whammy of a value-of-residing disaster and an NHS on its knees. This disastrous Conservative authorities has completely failed our space they usually should be held to account.

“Locally, Labour have also taken people for granted because they just don’t listen. It is vital that the people of Rochdale are represented with a voice that will take our community’s issues right to the heart of Parliament and force ministers to address their concerns.”

Paul Ellison, the Conservative candidate within the by-election, was voted Rochdale Man of the Year 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, stated: “In places like Rochdale, people’s aspiration can often be stifled by the impacts brought about by negative perceptions. If elected, I am determined to be a champion to the borough.

“I imagine there’s a nice alternative to indicate the distinction a neighborhood candidate with Conservative values of working collectively, taking satisfaction in your neighborhood, and facilitating development can do, bucking the expectation of a so-referred to as Labour secure seat.

“Labour can’t say what they’d do, because they don’t have a plan, which means nothing will get better – taking us back to square one.”

Former Labour and Respect Party MP George Galloway stated he was operating to “teach Labour a lesson”.

His Workers Party of Britain says it has a ten-level programme geared toward “building a new working class politics in Britain”.

It “defends the achievements of the USSR, China, Cuba etc, not least the debt owed by humanity to the Soviet Union and Red Army in their war of liberation against German fascism”.

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

He stated the principle focus of his marketing campaign might be calling for a decision to the battle in Gaza, including: “The number of people in Rochdale vitally concerned with the issues that preoccupy me… there’s probably not a constituency in the whole country where there are more people concerned about Gaza than there are in Rochdale.

“[No] extra folks 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 instances, it is apparent that I’d be a candidate right here.”

Updated 10 February 2024 to expand upon the party’s priorities

Michael Howarth is a “Rochdale born and bred” businessman who owns a number of bars in the borough and works and lives in the town.

He said he believed previous Rochdale MPs put their party before the town, and said “smartening up the city centre” can be considered one of his priorities.

He stated: “Get the empty outlets stuffed and the outlying areas, Millstone Road and the like. We’ve received to get companies into city so my agenda can be to make a neater path to open a brand new enterprise. Whether or not it’s a store, whether or not or not it’s a printers, no matter it might be. Let’s get companies open shortly. The extra companies on the town, the extra jobs. The extra jobs, the extra prosperity. We could make Rochdale an excellent place to be.”

Independent candidate Billy Howarth is a local campaigner who co-founded the support group Parents Against Grooming UK. He has recently campaigned for better housing for people affected by damp and mould.

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

On the GoFundMe web page, he stated: “After 30 years of kid abuse cowl-ups, two drained leaderships accompanied by failures to guard the city’s constituents, I’ve determined that this city must be independently represented.

“I am Rochdale born and bred and have the needs of Rochdale close to my heart. I truly believe I can make the changes that this town wants and deserves.”

Guy Otten’s title will seem on the poll paper, however quickly after the marketing campaign started the Green Party stated he can be stepping down over beforehand criticising Palestinians and the Islamic faith.

A Green Party spokesperson stated: “The Rochdale Green Party candidate has said that he has ‘decided to leave the stage’ following social media posts made some years ago. As nominations have now closed, his name will still appear on the ballot. However, he will not take part in any campaigning between now and polling day.

“We don’t touch upon disciplinary issues concerning Green Party members. These are inside issues. However, we’re clear, we condemn all types of racism and discrimination and don’t settle for it from any Green Party consultant or spokesperson.”

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

He said he would call for all roundabouts to have fairground carousels in the middle to tell cars where to go and prevent road rage.

Among his other policies is a plan for all new-build housing to have hedgehog homes included to help eradicate homelessness for hedgehogs, and making sure hedgehogs had lollipop signs to help them cross the road.

Ravin says he’s aiming to win “zero votes” because “that might be truthful to offer all people else an opportunity”.

Local businessman Dave Tully said he was standing in the election to “be a voice for the folks of Rochdale throughout each neighborhood that desires to do good”.

He said he was calling for the reinstatement of Rochdale’s maternity ward, wanted more financial support for local businesses and would champion the community benefits of local amateur sports clubs including the rugby league club Rochdale Mayfield, where he is a committee member.

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

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