Outsiders aim for by-election upset

The candidates from outside of the three main political parties – George Galloway of Respect, Sonja McNally of Ukip and the Green Party’s Dawud Islam – all claim the mood is for change in Bradford.

While the statement may have a familiar ring to it, a look at by-elections since the Coalition came to power suggests this time there may be substance behind the sound bites.

The main beneficiary in past years would have been the third party of British politics – the Liberal Democrats – but since 2010 they have suffered the most, with huge bites taken out of their vote share in Barnsley Central, Inverclyde, Feltham and Heston and Leicester South. Only the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election resulted in an increase – of 0.3 per cent.

Which leaves the protest voters – traditionally much more prevalent in by-elections – wondering where to put their cross, and into the vacuum hope to step the Greens, Ukip and Respect.

Mr Galloway has denied that not being local to the city is a problem, and pledged to utilise his “contacts in the Gulf” to win investment for the crumbling former Odeon cinema.

“The three main parties have failed Bradford – as anyone with eyes can see,” he said. “This city needs a new start, a bit of national profile, and I can bring that.

“Bradford is mired in localism – localism has been part of the problem, the local council has been part of the problem.

“Everyone here has that sinking feeling about the city’s prospects – not helped by that big black hole in the city centre and the crumbling Odeon.

“I have not seen the detailed reports on the Odeon – but if it can be saved I will strive to save it and I will approach the contacts I have in the Gulf to seek the investment needed.”

Ukip’s Sonja McNally believes local credentials are important to voters, and she pledged to resolve the long running problem of the Westfield development.

“I think its time Bradford had a local person who knows what we need, rather than a professional politician,” she said. “I’ve been heavily involved with the local community in Bradford West for over 20 years and am Bradford born and bred. What I hear on the doorsteps, everyone is talking about jobs, immigration and local issues.

“I will make sure Bradford council gets a grip of the Westfield development, which will bring in 2,500 jobs. But we need investment in Bradford cutting red tape and reducing business rates will allow small businesses to grow and bring in new opportunities.

“Controlling immigration means we can protect local jobs, stop the drain on public services and regain control of our borders.”

Dawud Islam said his party’s “Green New Deal” would resolve chronic youth unemployment.

“The coalition are attempting to create a new underclass of 18-25 year olds, a real definition of a ‘lost generation’ if ever there was one,” he said. “The Green New Deal represents the only fully costed alternative plan to get us out of the recession without the need for public sector cuts, job losses or pay freezes.

“It will create a raft of new jobs in badly needed areas such as Green Energy and Renewables and make the UK a centre of excellence in the development of new technologies in the pursuit of a replacement of oil.

“We want the UK to be the country that the world turns to when the oil runs out, because we are the ones that already has the alternative infrastructure in place and can now export it to others.”