Rochdale by-election: Candidates list in full from Azhar Ali to George Galloway

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Rochdale voters will go to the polls as we speak for a by-election unexpectedly besieged by political controversy and media scrutiny.

In the run-up to polling day, each Labour and the Greens have withdrawn help for the candidates they initially put ahead over disputes relating to the Israel-Gaza battle. This leaves Labour with no possible way to win the seat which they’ve held since 2010.

Controversial candidates George Galloway and Simon Danczuk can even seem on the poll.

Here’s your information to all eleven candidates standing in Rochdale:

Azhar Ali, “Labour”

Although Azhar Ali’s identify will nonetheless seem as a Labour candidate on the poll, the occasion has withdrawn its help for him. Following Mr Ali’s high-profile suspension, he can be thought of an impartial MP in parliament ought to he win as we speak’s by-election.

Mr Ali was suspended from the occasion 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 help on 12 February, after being criticised for inaction, however this was too late for them to stand one other candidate.

However, ought to Mr Ali win it’s unlikely he would stay in this place for much longer than 6-10 months. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has indicated his intention to name a basic election in the 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 choose 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, turning into council chief in 2003. In 2013, Mr Ali joined Lancashire County Council, turning 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 in the North West.

Mark Coleman, Independent

Reverend Mark Coleman is a long-time local weather campaigner and Just Stop 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 due to Parkinson’s illness.

Rev Coleman continues to function a Church of England priest and is working 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 occasion after allegation he exchanged sexually specific textual content messages with a teen. He was barred from reselection by the occasion for the 2017 basic election.

Mr Danczuk however stood as an impartial candidate, coming fifth with 1.8 per cent of the vote.

“He had an unwise relationship with a young lady but nothing illegal and he accepted what he did was daft and unwise,” stated Reform UK chief Richard Tice.

“He has an excellent track record of integrity and being brave enough to call out the grooming gangs in Rochdale”.

Iain Donaldson, Liberal Democrats

Iain Donaldson is a retired administrator for the University of Manchester, and has 19 years of expertise as a councillor in the realm. 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 in the realm. His marketing campaign messaging emphasises his native roots, stating that he has been a political campaigner in the realm for over 30 years.

George Galloway, Workers Party

George Galloway is a former Labour and Respect Party MP, who’s now chief and founding father of the Workers Party of Britain. He has stated he’s working to “teach Labour a lesson”.

His occasion, 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 will likely be to acheive a decision to the battle in Gaza.

Mr Galloway has been a mainstay in the UK political panorama because the late 80s, first turning into a Labour MP for Glasgow Hillhead in 1987. He was expelled from the Labour Party in 2003 by Tony Blair for outstanding opposition to the Iraq War.

In 2004 he joined Respect, profitable the seat of Bethnal Green and Bow for the occasion in the 2005 basic election. Mr Galloway remained in 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, Independent

Michael Howarth is a businessman from Rochdale who owns a number of bars in the borough, in addition to residing and dealing in the city. He is working on a platform of native city and enterprise enchancment, vowing to open empty outlets and enhance road security.

William Howarth, Independent

“Billy” Howarth is an area campaigner and co-founder of the help group Parents Against Grooming UK. His marketing campaign is centred on tackling points round grooming in the wake of Rochdale’s grooming gang scandal. He raised his £500 registration price by fundraising.

“After 30 years of child abuse cover-ups, two tired leaderships accompanied by failures to protect the town’s constituents, I have decided that this town needs to be independently represented,” reads Mr Howarth’s GoFundMe marketing campaign.

Guy Otten, “Green”

Like Labour, the Greens have additionally withdrawn help for his or her Rochdale candidate, Guy Otten over feedback made on Twitter.

The retired solicitor known as the posts “regrettable,” confirmed he had “decided to leave the stage” and halted his campaigning efforts from 7 February. His identify will nonetheless seem on the poll as a Green Party candidate.

Ravin Rodent Subortna, Monster Raving Loony

Candidate for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, Ravin Rodent Subortna has made a raft of surprising guarantees on the marketing campaign path, as has develop into custom for the occasion.

His insurance policies embody the introduction of a 99p coin, fairground carousels on roundabouts, and hedgehog properties to “prevent hedgehog homelessness”. Mr Subortna has stated his goal is to get “zero votes”

David Tully, Independent

“Born and raised in Rochdale,” David Tully operates a car restore centre in the realm. He is working on a platform of community-focused pledges, aiming to halt the “decline” of Rochdale city. He is an avid rugby and soccer fan, and the one candidate to meet with the native membership, Rochdale AFC, on the marketing campaign path.