“I take my responsibilities seriously. I did not lie” - UK politics June 23 on

Why is this guy apologizing to the Jewish community, shouldn't he be apologizing to Israel?

somehow he's found a way to be grossly offensive to the Jewish community and also be derided by his Muslim constituents as a toothless Starmer MP. He's obviously very clever.

Louise Ellman has reacted to Azhar Ali’s remarks by saying that they were out of character for him, and saying that over a long period of time he had been an ally of her when she had been subjected to antisemitic attacks.

She said:

"I have known Azhar for over twenty years and he consistently supported me when I was subjected to antisemitic attacks. He should now have the opportunity to work with the Jewish community to restore the loss of trust his actions have caused."

I know this is naïve, but I'm genuinely surprised at the number of high-profile Corbyn denouncers are coming out to back this guy, even if it's proceeded with some perfunctory hand-wringing. It's like they're trying to prove correct the most cynical interpretations of the Corbyn years.

(it seems bad that this is emboldening people who claim that there's no anti-semitism on the left and the whole thing was invented out of thin air)

One rule for their friends, another rule for everybody else.

Almost as if that was the point all along

In his press conference around half an hour after Corbyn's statement, Starmer said that anyone who thought the problems were "exaggerated" or were a "factional attack" were "part of the problem and... should be nowhere near the Labour Party". Corbyn defended his comments in a TV interview later that day; shortly after it aired, the Labour Party announced that it had suspended Corbyn pending an investigation.

I realize he's shameless, but I would like to see Starmer attempt to reconcile the above with the events of the last couple of days.

These ‘investigations’ never take place. Funny that!

Breaking: Labour has withdrawn its support for Rochdale candidate Azhar Ali

— Eleni Courea (@elenicourea) February 12, 2024

I would be extremely pissed off right now if I was one of the labour people obliged to awkwardly defend this guy over the past two days lol

Very funny

the grown-ups are at the wheel

How are they so bad at this?

* not very bright
* extremely venal
* limited people skills
* all trying to get one over on each other at all times

Truly the Banter Byelection we deserve

So if I have this right the choices now for the good folk of Rochdale are:

- conspiracy theorist clown who won't even retain the Labour whip if he wins
- ex-Labour sex offender standing for a far-right party
- George Galloway
- some Tory or other

Popcorn time!

Isn’t there a Monster Raving Loony Party candidate at least?

There is! The BBC have thoughtfully put up profiles of all the candidates, even the no-hopers

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-68250468

Monster Raving Loonies need to either fuck off or at the very least get some new jokes

*even the no-hopers"......

By gum there's some vanity cases on that list. Isn't it 10 grand down the drain now just to get your race in the local paper?

Face in the local paper, fucking phone

Altho this is Rochdale so

Even in the company of other no-hopers, this man is notable in his hopelessness - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0hbfg19

Coleman! Coleman! Coleman! He might be a clown but he’s not a ghoul or a cunt (according to the one second I spent reading his profile).

Galloway 8/15 and Labour out to 6/4

So, technically the other guy is still down as Labour because too late to change? Interesting its not made that much difference to the odds

Galloway was 5/2 when I checked earlier this evening, things done changed !

A change in odds but not a massive change, Labour still potentially in this, even if they don't want to be (or maybe they do who knows, do they really want Galloway in Parliament again)

5/2 to 8/15 is a massive swing!

I'd thought Labour might get pushed out much further than 6/4. I guess it still might change, difficult to know how much of an impact "withdrawing support" actually has if it still says LAB next to the guys name, all the leaflets already sent out, posters up

Though that might show up over the next week or so if odds change further

get Kieth out there so the good people of the Dale can at least have no regrets for their bad voting choices!

oh no they don't send Kieth out to SOS disaster byelections any more, he's a big guy these days.

I would be extremely pissed off right now if I was one of the labour people obliged to awkwardly defend this guy over the past two days lol

Good. Pat McFadden especially can get tae fuck.

Just reading his Wiki page that he's from Paisley and his family were originally from Falcarragh, he's not the only person I know of from Paisley whose family were originally from Falcarragh!

had first election leaflet through door this morning. rishi has halved inflation - it was 10% last january but was only 4.6% in november. so that's good.

also
VICTORY WITH NEW PCSO FOR LANCASTER GATE
Our part of Westminster has secured a new extra Police COmmunity Support Officer (PCSO)

one (1) extra PCSO. and that's second in the list of acheivements.

also blames sadiq khan for closing the structurally unsound hammersmith bridge

based on the bbc article my vote is for the just stop oil vicar (disclaimer this is based on quickly skimming this rogues gallery alone)

I'd vote for grifter george then disinfect my hands and say a few hail marys, every loss for the labour party is a spark of faint hope.

problem with grifter george is that he's going to be the prime pro-palestine voice in parliament now, which will mean we'll be easily portrayed as george's bag of wingnuts

Galloway‘s a cunt, and he’s a protest vote. Any pretending otherwise on either account is agenda pushing.

yes that doesn't mean that that agenda won't be convincing to people with greater trust in liberal media, largely united in pushing that agenda. If i'm reading CAAL this will be another stick to beat left/Palestine supporting voices, a conflation that enables a set of subsequent smears.

that's what I mean, yeah. he'll be wheeled out as our community leader for the next few months.

then when we complain about this embarrassing cunt being the only left wing voice on QT or whatever "oh the left are always infighting" etc.

Media can invent these things because the left isn't much of a threat.

The moment the left does become one again -- might be a while -- Galloway would be marginal.

Looks like two members of the same family are running?

As if Rochdale has not suffered enough!

Look at this candidate list : two men already junked by their parties, two usual suspects, an ex-MP suspended for sexting, a businessman who 'doesn't know much about politics'... pic.twitter.com/UmuRbcChPE

— Laura Cumming (@LauraCummingArt) February 13, 2024

Only one thing for it. Vote Tory and have Starmer shitting himself.

I have it on good authority he regularly shits himself anyway

so that's why they call him Leaky Kieth

Not sure how common an all-men list is for a by-election but lads come on it's weird.

Oooh, leaky Keith, where did you go what have you seen

lol

most infuriating thing I've read this week, still a handy list once the revolution comes I guess

https://www.politico.eu/article/britain-uk-westminster-power-couple-2024-ranking/

33. Isabel Hardman and John Woodcock

c’mon man