Bradford's Spring - a peaceful, democratic uprising

Bradford's peaceful democratic uprising that elected me comes from the wellspring of discontent that swept Britain last summer, writes George Galloway MP in the Guardian

The Bradford spring. No matter how seemingly powerful, no corrupted, out-of-touch elite can last forever. The people of Bradford West have spoken, and politics in the city and in this country will never be the same again. Anyone who took part in this historic campaign, or who observed it dispassionately, knew by last weekend that something spectacular was going to take place.

A 5,000 Labour majority was transformed into a 10,000 majority for Respect – the same total vote for me as the outgoing MP had in a general election – winning across every ward in the constituency. It was the most spectacular byelection result in British political history.

The word revolution was on many lips in this deprived and hitherto disenfranchised city well before Friday morning's result. And, like the Arab revolutions, this is a movement, above all, of the young. Bradford has a young population. By 2020 half the population will be under 25. They have grown up in the years when Tony Blair and his successors murdered the real Labour tradition, taking for granted the loyalty of working people – nowhere more so than in this city, where the precursor to the Labour party, the Independent Labour party, was founded in 1893.

I knew I'd won by-election when I saw dumbstruck Labour faces

George Galloway writes for the Daily Record

I may have been the only man in Britain to predict a landslide victory but anyone who passed through Bradford in the last few days would have realised something was going on.

Sadly for the bookmakers – and fortunately for a few of my friends – they caught on too late.

Just to recap. When I arrived in Bradford two weeks ago, I was a 200-1 outsider. By the eve of the poll, they had stopped taking bets on me.

Labour had held the seat since 1974 and had a 5000 majority. I took 56per cent of the vote. I won in all wards of Bradford West. In one, I got 85per cent of the vote and I smashed the Labour vote, ending up with a 10,000 majority.

George talks to the Yorkshire Post

The Bradford Spring- a sensational victory for the people of Bradford West

This Thursday, 29th March, the people of Bradford West sent a clear message to the leaders of  Labour, the Liberals and the Tories: "You can no longer take our votes for granted."

George won over 55% of the vote with 18,341 of Bradford's electors choosing Respect - beating Labour by over 10,000 votes.

In a stunning by-election victory, won over less than three short weeks, Respect's George Galloway has shaken up the political 'establishment.'  Labour's is vote down, the Tory is vote down and the Lib-Dems are reduced to the fringe. Surely the austerity agenda of the Con-Dem coalition or the 'austerity-lite' of New Labour fails utterly to address the concerns of everyday people.

The Respect Party intends to take George's victory further in the local elections in May - Bradford deserves Respect in the council as well as at Westminster.

You can help us by joining the Respect Party today.

George Galloway, Respect: 18,341 (55.9%)
Imran Hussain, Labour: 8,201 (25%)
Jackie Whiteley, Conservative: 2,746 (8.4%)
Jeanette Sunderland, Lib Dem: 1,505 (4.6%)
Other: 2,021 (6.2%)
Turnout: 50.8%

Majority: 10,140

Thank you for all your help.

As the Bradford West election draws to a close, Respect and George Galloway would like to thank all the many people who helped, in so many ways, during this short campaign. Together we can make a change.

Today - 29th March - Vote for Change in Bradford

Vote 2: George Galloway - Respect

Join our campaign today by asking all your friends and family to vote. Visit the campaign HQ at Chambers Solicitors, Gratton Road, Bradford to find out how you can help.

Abu-Bakr Rauf - Rest in Peace

Galloway asks the Electoral Commission to intervene in election count after concerns over intimidation.

To the chief executive of the Electoral Commission
Dear Mr Wardle

It is once again apparent in the Bradford West by-election that postal voters are being pressurised into voting for a particular candidate through friends and family and in a way that offends both against the spirit and the law regarding free and fair elections. The postal vote on demand system remains fundamentally and irreparably flawed because it entails the loss of the secret ballot.

To add insult to injury in this election, I've been informed by the returning officer, chief executive of Bradford Metropolitan District Council Tony Reeves, that it is "custom and practice" for all district councillors to attend the election count as "observers", thus swamping the counting agents of which there are seven per candidate and building in an extraordinary political distortion into the counting process. ....

1000 strong rally unites for change in Bradford West

Over one thousand people crammed into the Rio Grande on Woodhead Road to hear George Galloway and other speakers outline to need for change in Bradford.



Please share these videos with your freinds and family. Click on the share button on the video (top right) or the buttons at the bottom of this article.

Meanwhile don't forget to visit the HQ at Chambers Solicitors to collect election material and see what you can do to help George win on Thursday.

Pro-Labour dirty tricks bring legal action

Labour's candidate in Bradford West is so running scared of George Galloway in this Thursday's by election, his supporters have stooped into the gutter of dirty tricks and lies.

Some are circulating a defamatory text message in the closing stage of the election as the tide turns behind the Respect Party candidate following a 1200-strong election rally on Sunday.

"It is libellous to publish a lie," says Arshad Ali, George Galloway's election agent, "And sending a text message to someone is publishing. We have taken legal advice and today are issuing lawyers letters warning of legal action."

George Galloway says, "Labour must be really desperate in resorting to the kind of dirty tricks that got Labour's Phil Woolas kicked out in Oldham. He broke the law and it did him no good. He managed to scrape in but was afterwards disqualified for lying to the voters. Those doing the same in Bradford now should realise that they are doubly ruining Labour's chances - the voters can smell a last minute dirty trick a mile off, and the pro-Labour liars have also opened the possibility of Oldham-style legal action over this election, whatever the outcome."

Right move to back Galloway, says Bradford chess champ

Winston Williams, who has just won Bradford Open Individual Chess Championship for the second time, has made a killer move off the board by throwing his weight behind George Galloway in this Thursday's Bradford West by-election.

Mr Williams, 53, of Manningham and one of the top 100 chess masters in the country, says, "George Galloway is the right move for Bradford.

"I went to meet him to join his campaign team and to tell him why we need a breath of fresh air and a strong voice for the city."

Galloway says, "You're not risking a gambit with me - I have the experience, know how to get the job done and can hit the ground running if the people of Bradford West choose the moment to make a change on Thursday."

Yvonne Ridley and others say 'Vote George Galloway in Bradford West'

Sister Yvonne Ridley at the 1000 strong Respect election rally on Sunday 25th March in Bradford.



Carole Swords from Tower Hamlets Respect brings a message from the East End.



Respect council candidate Abjol Miah explains how Respect made a difference in Tower Hamlets.



Respect National Secretary Clive Searle says Bradford can send a message to the whole country on election day.

George appears on the M Digital TV station

Rashy Rashid Votes George Galloway

George on the campaign trail at Hanover Square

George debates other candidates on Sunday Politics

A BUDGET WHICH DOES NOTHING FOR BRADFORD

"This is a budget for the few at the expense of the many," said George Galloway, in response to Gideon Osborne's budget announcement on Wednesday.

"He's giving hundreds of millions, even billions, back to the richest people 0.5% of the population by cutting the 50% top rate, he's attacking pensioners who are already suffering from rising prices and falling returns on any savings, but worst of all this is a do-nothing, no growth budget.

"Hundreds of thousands are joining the dole queues, many businesses are suffering and in Bradford many shops are facing closure. Yet this Tory/Lib Dem budget is doing nothing to stimulate investment. 

BRADFORD TOP FOR SHOP CLOSURES - SHOCK REPORT

Galloway calls to save our shops as shock report says risk of closures highest in Bradford

Bradford West by-election candidate George Galloway renewed his call for an emergency industrial and regeneration plan for the city today as researchers at the international bank, BNP Paribas, reported that Bradford is the British city now most likely to face further, massive shop closes.

"The city centre is already devastated, " says Galloway, " with holes in the ground where retail centres should be, and even the proliferation of poundshops and pawn-brokers now looking to move out. It's that bad.

"This government in Westminster is now adding to vandalism. They want to pay nurses, teachers, classroom assistants, care workers and other vital public servants less for working in Bradford than in Birmingham. That can only mean less spending power here, more closures, more shop workers unemployed and a vicious cycle of decline from a vicious government of millionaires.

"Incompetence and complacency from Bradford's local council leaders has already meant years of decline. And Labour already started the drive to underpay public sector staff in deprived areas when it was in government.

"This latest shock report should be a wake up call. It's time we woke up Wesminster to the reality of life for working people across this country." 

Election rally on March 25th: A fresh start for Bradford

with George Galloway, Salma Yaqoob, Yvonne Ridley and friends.
All welcome on Sunday 25th March, 7.00pm at The Rio Grande, 144 Woodhead Road, Bradford BD7 1PD

CAMPAIGNERS GATHER TODAY TO MOURN TRAGIC LOSS

George Galloway and many of his campaigners will gather today at 1.30pm at the Mumtaz Car Park, Great Horton Road, Bradford, to remember Abu-bakr Rauf. Abu-bakr, who was just 28, collapsed and died yesterday at the car park whilst out campaigning with George. Flowers will be laid and those attending will then do what Abu-bakr would most have wanted, to pick up the campaign in the area where it left off yesterday following his tragic death.

Venue: Mumtaz Car Park, Great Horton Road, Bradford BD7 3HS
Time: 1.30pm today Wednesday 21st March.

GALLOWAY SUSPENDS ELECTION CAMPAIGN AFTER TRAGIC DEATH

George Galloway halted his election campaign today out of respect for Abu-bakr Rauf, 28, who collapsed and died suddenly while electioneering with the Respect candidate.

Abu-bakr was leafletting with his wife Kauser, 30, when he died of a suspected heart attack in the car park of the Mumtaz restaurant in Great Horton Road at about 2.30 pm today, George Galloway was just yards away when the tragedy occurred. He said, 'I'm deeply shocked and saddened that someone so young and so vibrant should go in this way. My condolences and deepest sympathy go out to his family and friends.

'I knew Abu-bakr for many years, since he was a teenager. We campaigned together against the Iraq war and he was a founder member of Respect in 2004. I just can't believe he has gone. He had so much to give but he gave so much to so many as anyone who knew him can confirm.'

Abu-bakr and his wife have the one child, Arabia, who will be one year old on Thursday.

Galloway will resume his campaign in Bradford West tomorrow (Wednesday). 'It was the furthest thing from my mind,' he said. 'But his wife Kauser insists. She said that he would have been angry if we had considered calling a halt.'

George Galloway: "I am real Labour."

George speaks at one of the numerous house meetings he addressed over the weekend.

 

George sets out his stall in Bradford West

Fears over 'large scale fraud' with postal voting

To the Returning Officer, Bradford West by-election

I am writing to you about my fears that this by-election may be corrupted by large-scale fraud and the illegal acquisition of votes.

As you know, some 10,000 electors have been registered for postal votes in this election. As you will also know the majority of these voters have been signed up for postal votes by activists in the major political parties. This is done to make it easier to ensure their “core” voters cast their votes in elections. It is possible that this encouragement is done legally, but it is a system also wide open to illegal pressure and other fraudulent practices.

I have witnessed this large-scale corruption of the electoral process in Tower Hamlets where I was MP for five years. And we have seen a number of individuals jailed with long sentences over the last few years, including here in Bradford for voting fraud. 

Tuition fees "an abomination"

George Galloway, Respect candidate for Bradford West, today condemned tuition fees as "an abomination", on the day the National Union of Students has called a day of action against fees.

"I didn't have the privilege of going to university", said George Galloway. "I wish I had. But I have never begrudged paying my taxes to allow others to go. Our university students are the future of this country.

"It was a disgrace when the Labour government, most of whose leaders benefitted from a free university education paid for by the taxpayer, introduced tuition fees. And it is an abomination that this ConDem government, filled with old Etonians, has now raised tuition fees to an impossible level for many from poorer and even not so poor backgrounds.

Galloway expresses concern over closure of postal delivery offices

To Ms Moya Greene, Chief Executive, Royal Mail Group plc

Dear Ms Greene,

I am writing to you about three proposed local delivery office closures in West Yorkshire - in Bradford West at Thornton, at Shipley and at Bingley. The closures are being justified on the grounds that there has been a 30% fall in conventional mail as a result of the rise in ecommunications.

However, there are two issues to which I would like to draw your attention.

Firstly and very importantly, many older and poorer people have been unable to take advantage of the revolution in electronic communications and remain heavily dependent on the more conventional form of mail traffic.

GALLOWAY CONDEMNS ODEON VANDALISM

CALLS ON COUNCIL TO STOP DEMOLITION PLAN UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION

“What has happened to the iconic Odeon in the centre of Bradford is nothing short of wanton vandalism. Those responsible should be ashamed of themselves and must be brought to account.” So said George Galloway this morning, after news broke that one of the two companies that had contracted to “develop” the Odeon site through demolishing it has gone bust.

He continued: “I think the Bradford West by-election should be considered, in part, a referendum over the mismanagement which has brought the Odeon to the brink of collapse and left a huge hole in the heart of Bradford close by. Every candidate should declare what they want to see done about the Odeon. I, for one, want the plans to demolish the building abandoned and money immediately sought from government and elsewhere to restore and regenerate this beautiful and historic building. I challenge all the other candidates in the Bradford West by-election to join me in this.

George launches the GallowApp

The GallowApp is the comprehensive way of keeping up with George Galloway and all the things he does. A former Member of Parliament George now has 2 weekly TV Shows and 2 Radio shows whilst running various charities and speaking at numerous events. This App will allow users to keep up with his Diary ,Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and weekly Radio and TV shows. The App contains a unique Video Blog with an AppWall, which will allow interaction with George via the wall as he posts personal videos throughout his week talking about his life and the world around him. Users will be able to post their comments in response and interact directly with George himself.

Check out the App today. It's free for IPhone and Android

Galloway hands in nomination papers for Bradford Wet election

George Galloway will be standing as a candidate for the Respect Party in the forthcoming Bradford West by-election. On Tuesday 13th March he handed in his nomination papers at Bradford City Hall. Voters in Bradford West now have the chance to vote for investment not cuts, and for peace, justice and equality.
 

"Time to go, and end this disaster"

The occupation of Afghanistan stands on the brink of disaster. It's time to get out.

That was the response of George Galloway to the latest grim news from Afghanistan - the shooting dead of 16 civilians, nine of them children, in a nighttime killing spree by a US soldier. That follows the deaths last week of six British soldiers from Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire, and widespread protests and killings last month at news that US forces had burned copies of the Koran at Bagram airbase.

"We now stand at a immensely dangerous tipping point," says Galloway, who opposed the Afghan adventure from the beginning and is taking that message to the voters of Bradford West, where he is a candidate in this month's by-election.

 

Futility beyond words

What a mournful milestone we passed this week with the deaths of six British soldiers in Afghanistan, pushing the total killed in this senseless war above 400 - to 404 at the time of writing.

These young men were from Yorkshire, Cheshire and Lancashire. And young they were - the youngest was Private Christopher Kershaw, 19, from Bradford.

Huddersfield, Bradford and the Lancashire former mill towns are a universe away from the gilded Etonian millionaires who are running our country into the ground - when not taking to horse, on steeds loaned, if you will, from the Metropolitan Police at our expense.

Yet David Cameron, William Hague and the rest are determined to throw more of our young men and women into the maw of war, in Afghanistan and - so leaks from the Ministry of Defence confirm - into catastrophic conflagration in the Persian Gulf should Israel, with the US in tow, launch an attack upon Iran.

Help Respect in Bradford - make a donation today

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George Galloway to stand in Bradford West by-election.

From BBC news

Former MP and Respect Party co-founder George Galloway said he was "almost certain" to stand in the forthcoming Bradford West by-election.

Mr Galloway, 57, said he had come to Bradford to test the water but "the chances are" he will stand in the poll.

The former Bethnal Green and Bow MP was expelled from the Labour Party in 2003 following criticism of the Iraq war.

The by-election has been triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Marsha Singh, citing health problems.

Speaking outside Bradford's City Hall, Mr Galloway said: "I'm here to take the temperature in the city.

"I'm finding it warm and sunny so far.

"By the end of the day I'll have a better picture, but the chances are that if and when the House of Commons declares the by-election on and the nominations open then I will be the candidate for Respect in the Bradford West constituency."

It is understood that the date for the by-election will be formally announced later, but it is expected to take place on 29 March.

Mr Galloway became MP for Bethnal Green and Bow in 2005. Five years later he failed to win the seat of Poplar and Limehouse.