Galloway returns to Parliament in sensational win in Bradford West - Labour/Coalition smashed

[two sheds]

I see that as being over-sensitive. Everyone's toes seem to have grown so much longer in the years since I was young.

No, it's just that you can't go round stamping on them without being called out for it. And I know you see it as us sensitive flowers not being able to 'take a joke' or that we should 'man up' or that we're restricting your freedoms.

It's actually you who's being the sensitive flower, though - you go round bullying people and referring to rag heads or Bradistan or whatever it is and we'll call you a bully and a racist. Get over it.

 

[articul8]

How many seats do we think they will get in the Council elections?

Not sure. What's been going on at council level? I've seen a Labour member praise the council's 'inclusive' approach to working on a cross-party consensus with LDs and Tories...?

 

[SpineyNorman]

You said that nobody claimed that disaproval of Islamism was racist, yet JHE, who disapproves of Islamism, has repeatedly been called racist.

Not for his disapproval of Islamism. I disapprove of Islamism too you dopey twat. He was called racist for coming up with "funny" nicknames for cities based on, and this is the important part, the ethnic origins of some of the people who live there. That's racist and you're an idiot.

 

[trevhagl]

How many seats do we think they will get in the Council elections?

all down to funding , no left wing party can do well across the country because politics is money and the rich are always gonna want Tory type set ups whether thats UKIP , the nazis or the Tories themselves.

 

[Fisher_Gate]

I'd suspect a lot of the lib dem vote would have gone directly to Galloway.

Remember when they last voted lib dem they were portraying themselves as the anti-war party on a relatively left of centre ticket, and an alternative to the 2 main parties. Not at all surprising to find that a significant proportion of those voters would move directly to supporting Galloway now the lib dems have shown their colors in government.

Even if they did, the LibDem vote went down by only 7 percentage points, Respect's vote went up by 53; I find it hard to believe that even half of those consciously switching from the LibDems would go to Galloway, in which case it would make up about 5 or 10% at most, of the explanation for the where Galloway's vote came from.

I think there are two overwhelming explanations - massive switch from traditional Labour voters, massive number of first time young voters. Labour will have picked up significant numbers of disgruntled former Tory voters. The rest is what the psephologists call 'churn'.

The electorate went up by over 2,000 between June 2010 and the by-election by the way - that's primarily about 'new' young voters coming on to the register. The demographics of Bradford's urban core is in completely the opposite direction to most inner city areas by the way, rapidly rising population due to the higher birthrate among the families of second and third generation migrants and the increasing tendency to stay in the family home of young people and not move away.

 

[trevhagl]

Even if they did, the LibDem vote went down by only 7 percentage points, Respect's vote went up by 53; I find it hard to believe that even half of those consciously switching from the LibDems would go to Galloway, in which case it would make up about 5 or 10% at most, of the explanation for the where Galloway's vote came from.

I think there are two overwhelming explanations - massive switch from traditional Labour voters, massive number of first time young voters. Labour will have picked up significant numbers of disgruntled former Tory voters. The rest is what the psephologists call 'churn'.

The electorate went up by over 2,000 between June 2010 and the by-election by the way - that's primarily about 'new' young voters coming on to the register. The demographics of Bradford's urban core is in completely the opposite direction to most inner city areas by the way, rapidly rising population due to the higher birthrate among the families of second and third generation migrants and the increasing tendency to stay in the family home of young people and not move away.

if Respect or anyone similar ie a party who's main aims were better than the big 3 even if i disagree with em on some points , i would vote for em no problem, cos round here its the 3 Tory parties and the nazis

 

[Lock&Light]

Not for his disapproval of Islamism. I disapprove of Islamism too you dopey twat. He was called racist for coming up with "funny" nicknames for cities based on, and this is the important part, the ethnic origins of some of the people who live there. That's racist and you're an idiot.

When I was 17 I left home in a tiny West Highland village and went to London. As you might be able to imagine that was rather a daunting thing to do and I was not helped by the dozens of Londoners who thought it was funny to call me "Jock" and make jokes about Donald's trousers. These people were doing exactly the same thing as offensive and racist people who call immigrants from the sub-continent "Pakis" but I found it quite possible to shrug it off and get on with my life. All those thin-skinned people with over-extended toes should do the same.

The fact is that I don't use expressions like Islamabrad or Bradfordstan, but everyone knows that when JHE uses them he is referring to the Islamicness of those names, and not the ethnic background of immigrants.

By the way, your incessant use of abuse when replying to me will eventually result in my ignoring you which may or may not be your intention.

 

[Fisher_Gate]

How many seats do we think they will get in the Council elections?

Very difficult to call. It's near enough in time terms (four weeks) for there to be a bounce effect on Galloway's result translating in council seats for Respect. Incredible that there were 2,000 people at the victory rally yesterday, called at about 36 hours notice!

But there will be experienced councillors defending their seats and more local issues to focus on.

There are six wards in the constituency and a couple of neighbouring wards that might go the same way. I'd predict Respect to gain at least two (Manningham and City). More are possible but it would be something incredible for them to win about 8, but not beyond the bounds of possibility at all. I also think they might win one or two wards in Halifax (Calderdale), Wakefield, Dewsbury (Kirklees) or Rochdale. They might also hold their ward in Birmingham which they had been predicted to lose.

This is exactly what Respect should have been doing after the general election, rather than pissing about in Glasgow and playing footsie with the SP and SWP.

 

[Citizen66]

When I was 17 I left home in a tiny West Highland village and went to London. As you might be able to imagine that was rather a daunting thing to do and I was not helped by the dozens of Londoners who thought it was funny to call me "Jock" and make jokes about Donald's trousers. These people were doing exactly the same thing as offensive and racist people who call immigrants from the sub-continent "Pakis" but I found it quite possible to shrug it off and get on with my life. All those thin-skinned people with over-extended toes should do the same.

As you think your situation to be on an equal footing, can you tell us how many times you had dogshit posted through your letterbox?

 

[stethoscope]

When I was 17 I left home in a tiny West Highland village and went to London. As you might be able to imagine that was rather a daunting thing to do and I was not helped by the dozens of Londoners who thought it was funny to call me "Jock" and make jokes about Donald's trousers. These people were doing exactly the same thing as offensive and racist people who call immigrants from the sub-continent "Pakis" but I found it quite possible to shrug it off and get on with my life. All those thin-skinned people with over-extended toes should do the same.

Completely lacking in any understanding and analysis of history of racism and its power relations - the comparison doesn't work.

 

[butchersapron]

Some interesting observations on the proposed boundary changes for Bradford West - basically helps the tories and will potentially damage both RESPECT and labour. (Interesting comment as well on how they'll effect northern lib-dems)

 

[Lock&Light]

As you think your situation to be on an equal footing, can you tell us how many times you had dogshit posted through your letterbox?

Not every immigrant has had dog-shit posted through their letter-box, and those who have have been criminally assaulted and should seek help from the police and other authorities. Being called a "Paki" or a "Jock" is not a criminal assault, however reprehensible it is.

 

[butchersapron]

Not every immigrant has had dog-shit posted through their letter-box, and those who have have been criminally assaulted and should seek help from the police and other authorities. Being called a "Paki" or a "Jock" is not a criminal assault, however reprehensible it is.

That's right, racial abuse isn't a criminal offence. Buffoon.

 

[Fisher_Gate]

Galloway's interview with the local rag:

--------
Galloway sets sights on Council

7:00am Saturday 31st March 2012
By Dolores Cowburn
Trying to save the Odeon is top of the agenda for new Bradford West MP George Galloway.
Mr Galloway said that he would be writing to Bradford Council to get hold of the engineering report to see what could be done to save the building. He is also going to field Respect candidates in every seat up for grabs in the local May elections in Bradford with a rally tomorrow to garner support.
Also finding out why there have been no penalties inflicted on Westfield for not yet building on Broadway is also on the new Respect MP’s agenda.
Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus yesterday, Mr Galloway said he would be spending his weekends at his Manningham home and his weeks in Westminster.
He was scathing about the current Council, describing them as “incompetent”. “I think the Council is disastrous and we need a broom to sweep it clean,” he said.
“I am already suing at least one councillor for a very serious libel for £100,000.”
Mr Galloway, when asked why he emerged victorious, said: “I think there is a large well of discontent with local councillors here in Bradford.
“There has been a neglect of people and it is manifest for everyone to see.
“Voters can’t believe that this kind of political leadership is as good as it gets.
“Someone offered a different perspective and different ideas and people related to it in extraordinary numbers.
“Nobody predicted this result and I was the only person in Britain who thought I would win it.
“We got 85 per cent of the vote in the University Ward and are moving our national Respect HQ here from Manchester.
“We have one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the city of those aged 24 which has increased by 40 per cent since January, so if we put a fraction of that cash into youth services in Bradford that would help.”
Asked about his priorities, he said the Odeon was the most urgent.
“It is literally falling down,” he said.
“I am demanding access to the site and need to know whether it can be saved. I have some plans and think we should do everything we can to save it.
“The Westfield site is a much bigger scandal. I want to know who drew up the contract and why no effective penalty clause is in it. How is it possible for a foreign multinational company to take a premium piece of land and public money and not deliver and not be punished for it?”
Mr Galloway said he would make a difference in Parliament, despite being an independent MP. “I will be raising issues in the House of Commons and demanding that things are done,” he said. “Bradford needs a strong voice to speak up for the people and my voice is heard.
“I don’t want to scuffle with the Council, but I want to vote in better people in the local elections. Bradford is a beautiful place with wonderful people and a multicultural population.”
Does he think he can make a difference? “I hope so, certainly 56 per cent of people think so.”
-------------
In the video interview he also says that Respect will move its national HQ to Bradford (it's in Manchester currently). He also defends his attendance record in parliament - and explains he attended but did not vote because it was a choice between wrong policies. He also says Salma Yaqoob will win a seat in parliament (presumably she is over her illness).

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/9624517.Galloway_sets_sights_on_Council/?ref=mr

 

[trevhagl]

we can all rest easy now and join the BNP because SOME Asians haven't had dogshit thru their letterbox!!

 

[Lock&Light]

Completely lacking in any understanding and analysis of history of racism and its power relations - the comparison doesn't work.

I am well aware of the histroy of racism, and in any book about racism there should be a chapter on black-on-brown and brown-on-black racism which so many people seem so lightly to overlook. All abuse of other human beings just because they aren't the same colour, creed or nationality as the abuser is equally contemptable and no one version of such bigotry is less reprehensible than another.

 

[stethoscope]

Try again.

 

[Lock&Light]

we can all rest easy now and join the BNP because SOME Asians haven't had dogshit thru their letterbox!!

Stupid boy!

 

[Lock&Light]

That's right, racial abuse isn't a criminal offence. Buffoon.

Can't you read? I said criminal assault.

 

[frogwoman]

"muslim isn't a race".

 

[butchersapron]

Can't you read? I said criminal assault.

Yes, and implied in that ridiculous statement of yours was the idea that criminal racial abuse - calling someone a 'paki' - is just something 'they' should swallow in the same way that you swallowed the dread word 'jock'. Why are you even here?

 

[Citizen66]

Not every immigrant has had dog-shit posted through their letter-box, and those who have have been criminally assaulted and should seek help from the police and other authorities. Being called a "Paki" or a "Jock" is not a criminal assault, however reprehensible it is.

Which mod agreed to let this prick back on again?

 

[trevhagl]

Stupid boy!

I am well aware of the histroy of racism, and in any book about racism there should be a chapter on black-on-brown and brown-on-black racism which so many people seem so lightly to overlook. All abuse of other human beings just because they aren't the same colour, creed or nationality as the abuser is equally contemptable and no one version of such bigotry is less reprehensible than another.

if you're gonna call someone stupid at least learn to spell , there endeth my histroy lesson

 

[Wolveryeti]

I liked the betting angle I read about this somewhere. Apparently the bookies lost hundreds of grand because they thought the initial flow of bets coming in were Galloway's backers trying to convince voters that he was winning already.

I hadn't thought of using betting to influence the vote before - cunning.

 

[frogwoman]

so when someone calls attention to say jewish sounding surnames of people in an attempt to imply some sort of jewish control of high powered industries, we should all just accept that?

what about that guy who filmed a racist attack by police where they said "no matter what you'll always be a nigger"? should everyone just accept that?

 

[Kaka Tim]

RESPECT might do ok in the local elections. Bradford's a fucking disaster area these days in terms of town planning.

 

[Lock&Light]

Which mod agreed to let this prick back on again?

You are so bigoted that you can't stand having an alternative point of view represented.

 

[Lock&Light]

what about that guy who filmed a racist attack by police where they said "no matter what you'll always be a nigger"? should everyone just accept that?

Nothing I've said suggests that I would think that, so why do you ask?

 

[Citizen66]

Dont buy into his attempted derail.

 

[frogwoman]

Nothing I've said suggests that I would think that, so why do you ask?

you seem to think it's all right for people to go around saying paki.