09 April 2024 , 08:01
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The Lib Dems, Middleton Independents and by-election runner-up David Tully strongly refuted any suggestion of an alliance with the Workers Party
The Liberal Democrats, the Middleton Independents and one of George Galloway’s by-election rivals have declared they do not want to be associated with him despite a Worker’s party press release stating otherwise.
The Workers Party issued a press release on Sunday, April 7 endorsing four Middleton Independent and two Lib Dem candidates as well as their own for the local elections. The release also stated that “David Tully is backing our outstanding Workers Party candidate in Healey ward, Amr Nazir”, something he has refuted.
Mr Tully, who came second in the Rochdale by-election stated that he has known Amr Nazir, the Workers Party candidate he proposed as a candidate, for a long time. But he said he proposed him because of their personal relationship, rather than as any sort of endorsement.
Mr Tully told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I have no allegiance to them (the Workers Party). I signed as Amr’s proposer because I have known him for many years.
“George Galloway has been in contact and apologised for using my name in the release. I am not involved with them at all.
Rochdale businessman David Tully, who ran as an Independent in the Rochdale By-Elections (Image: Manchester Evening News)
“I feel let down by this. They have manipulated the situation. I am not in any alliance with them.”
Similar rebuttals have come from Lib Dem group leader Coun Andy Kelly. He said: “We have not entered into any sort of alliance with the Workers Party.
“Of course they (the two Lib Dem council candidates endorsed by the Workers Party) have not entered into an alliance. I have never even talked to anyone from Galloway’s camp.”
Liberal Democrat Group Leader and councillor for Milnrow and Newhey Andy Kelly (Image: Sean Hansford)
The Lib Dems’ Smallbridge and Firgrove candidate Zulifiqar Ali and Spotland and Falinge candidate Rabina Asghar were both endorsed by the Workers Party in the release. This comes after Farooq Ahmed defected from the Lib Dems to the Workers Party.
Bernard Wynne, Caitlin O’Mara, Keeley O’Mara and Lee Wolf are all Middleton Independent candidates endorsed by the Workers Party - something the group is wanting to shake off. Coun Paul Beswick, the party’s East Middleton representative, said they did not want the help or support of the Workers Party.
Coun Beswick said: “We don’t want anything to do with George Galloway. We do not need their endorsement.”
The controversial release included a quote from George Galloway, leader of the Workers Party, which read: “We have amassed a top team of candidates who stand ready to take the fight to Labour.
“For too long, they have run roughshod over the town, ignoring residents because they felt they could. On May 2, we wiped the face of the town hall clock clean.
George Galloway trounces the Labour and Tory parties to win the Rochdale By-Election (Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)
“With respect to our candidates in the Grand Alliance, I’m delighted to announce that William Howarth of Parents Against Grooming UK, and one of my former election rivals, has joined the Workers Party and will stand for us in Balderstone and Kirkholt.
“David Tully is backing our outstanding Workers Party candidate in Healey ward, Amr Nazir, and in fact was one of his proposers on the nomination forms submitted to the council.
“In Central Rochdale, Farooq Ahmed has left the Liberal Democrats – even after being validly nominated by them to stand in the ward – and will be standing on our ticket. A former councillor and hardworking campaigner, he is odds on to take the seat.
“My ‘Grand Alliance’ is also backing a number of non-Workers Party candidates in this election, who individually have demonstrated that they are outstanding workers in their wards and have the best chance of ousting Labour councillors in May.
“In Smallbridge and Firgrove, Zulfikar Ali has my personal endorsement, and in Spotland and Falinge I am backing Rabina Asghar who has grown her vote share from 7 per cent to 38 per cent over the last three elections. She is now on the verge of toppling Labour. An erudite campaigner who has the full support of my Grand Alliance.
“Finally in Middleton, we are endorsing the Middleton Independents candidates. In their own words, they are ‘tired of the ‘jam tomorrow’ promises at every election from local Labour.
"They have a track record in Middleton of winning seats from Labour and we wish them well in doing so again this May.
“Together we will sweep away this incompetent and arrogant Council, and put residents back at the heart of decision making.”