Names in the frame for Oldham East and Saddleworth
Labour is due to select its candidate for the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election this Sunday.
The favourite seems to be Afsal Khan, a former Lord Mayor of Manchester. His daughter fought Bury North in May (and might also have been a contender in Oldham, but the Khan family seem more disciplined than the Milibands).
Some will argue that an Asian candidate will help Labour counter charges that Phil Woolas's campaign in May was racist by deliberately raising fears amongst white voters.
Another contender, I'm told, is an Anglican vicar, Gwenda Manco, from Rochdale, who is 56. Her supporters say she's untainted because she's never fought an election before.
Comment number 1.
At 10th Dec 2010, jauntycyclist wrote:good to know the selection isn't based on trivialities but vision strategy and detailed plan to get the uk working again.
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Comment number 2.
At 10th Dec 2010, barriesingleton wrote:MOAT AND BEAM POLITICS IN WESTMINSTER? YOU ARE AVIN A LARF.
"Yea though I walk through the valley, of the shadow of Westminster . . ." No place for a Christian lady methinks. But if she is an independent - bring it on!
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Comment number 3.
At 10th Dec 2010, jauntycyclist wrote:2 does anglican vicar sound much better than islamic mullah? given jesus spoke aramaic she could start inviting people to worship Elah?
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Comment number 4.
At 10th Dec 2010, Remantled wrote:Sorry to intrude but this is a post to Nick Robinson鈥檚 blog that is now closed. I think it still may be relevant even in the 鈥榥oorf鈥
264. At 2:11pm on 10 Dec 2010, excellentcatblogger wrote:
鈥淚f marches are going to degenerate into violence sooner or later innocent bystanders are going to get seriously hurt.鈥
Or killed, and for one do not want that.
鈥淧olitical leadership is needed to either quash marches altogether or ensure the police have the manpower and means to contain the violence.鈥
It is political 鈥榣eadership鈥 that has lead us to where we are today. There were 2800 police units out yesterday, how much did that cost? With cuts to the police force on their way how is this volume of deployment sustainable? I see it as given that yesterday was the matin茅e, perhaps even the early morning showing of cartoons for the kids.
When austerity begins in April the unions will swell the protesting numbers. 6-8 months later when austerity bites the numbers will swell further. We will have peaceful protesters (legal and encouraged by the Government) and those who realise that change is necessary (quasi-legal) and the anarchists (wrong use of the term but illegal) all marching at the same events in many cities. I hope the out-of-touch Chancellor has budgeted for the cost of wave after wave of protests. If he hasn鈥檛 then he鈥檚 a Muppet (sorry Muppets).
Policing these marches will cost a fortune and have surely been budgeted for, after all the tsunami of future protests is inevitable and completely predicable.
To the Government 鈥 鈥業s that what you want? Coz that鈥檚 what鈥檒l 鈥榓ppen.
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Comment number 5.
At 10th Dec 2010, Remantled wrote:Michael said
"Another contender, I'm told, is an Anglican vicar, Gwenda Manco, from Rochdale, who is 56. Her supporters say she's untainted because she's never fought an election before."
Michael - What has her age got to do with it?
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Comment number 6.
At 10th Dec 2010, Dicko 1966 wrote:It would be nice to hear something of the candidates on the basis of their skills and ability to do the job. Have things got so bad that the major political parties are now seeking to select candidates and win elections on a platform of simply being an antidote to prejudice, and similarly this is all the senior 成人论坛 political reporters can find to say? No wonder the students are so fed up and rioting in Parliament square. It makes me want to join them. Puerile nonsense.
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Comment number 7.
At 11th Dec 2010, barriesingleton wrote:DOES WESTMINSTER PASS THE GROUCHO TEST? (#6)
Westminster is a club for those of a very unsavoury mind-set. That they feel the need to prefix themselves HONOURABLE tells all.
Groucho said he would never join a club that would have him as a member.
Nuff sed.
Signed (under Clegg Protocol): The decent and reliable Barrie Singleton.
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Comment number 8.
At 11th Dec 2010, telecasterdave wrote:This a blatant racist action by labour.
Come on Michael press little Ed on this matter.
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Comment number 9.
At 11th Dec 2010, TheGingerF wrote:Sorry telecasterdave @ 8 - choosing between an Asian candidate and an Anglican vicar is racist? Is that because there is no Chinese candidate or some atheist bloke or what?
I think I'll give you the benefit of the doubt - you were being ironic. Cos otherwise you were just being a wee bity daft.
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Comment number 10.
At 11th Dec 2010, telecasterdave wrote:9. Now are you not being sexist - why only "bloke"?
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Comment number 11.
At 11th Dec 2010, TheGingerF wrote:Well the vicar is a burd so its only fair the atheist would be a bloke.
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Comment number 12.
At 11th Dec 2010, telecasterdave wrote:11. burd?
I do get your point though. Have a good weekend.
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Comment number 13.
At 11th Dec 2010, TheGingerF wrote:Thank you telecasterdave, you too and forgive my use of a not overly sophisticated Scottish venacular.
Anyway, back to the by-election - Labour could put up a cardboard cut-out and as long as they are not naughty with election leaflets they will cuff the LibDems. Latest opinion polls would suggest that the ex party of principle will soon be included in 'others' along with BNP, UKIP, Greens etc.
Yup, we'll soon see how people stack up some crass literature that nobody reads against on-air public pledge signing plus acting as cover for Tory ideological cuts.
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Comment number 14.
At 12th Dec 2010, telecasterdave wrote:13. If one of the Burma generals stood against the lib dem candidate he would win easily.
On the beach.
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Comment number 15.
At 12th Dec 2010, brossen99 wrote:They chose some woman with a health-fascist pedigree, hope she loses.
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Comment number 16.
At 13th Dec 2010, barriesingleton wrote:IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH - ASK A POLICEMAN.
In the 70s and 80s, the Special Patrol Group drew its members from the ranks of regular police. It fell under a violent shadow in 1979 and no longer exists - at least, under that name.
I think most of us accept that in any crowd of demonstrators, there will be a violent element. I suggest (citing my first paragraph) that is reasonable to expect that in any assemblage of police, there will ALSO be a violent element. Might Newsnight ask a policeman?
If we set up gladiatorial battles, at suitable venues, for the violent to take on the violent, the TV rights alone could fund a lot of good works - and surgery.
If we organise it - WILL THEY COME?
We can then have a Grand Day Out on protest days, with bobble hats and bobbies in harmony. Sorted.
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Comment number 17.
At 20th Dec 2010, worcesterjim wrote:Baroness Uddin or Lord Paul could be available soon....and they have the advantage of knowing the parliamentary ropes?
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