Amina Ali has today been selected as the Labour candidate for Bradford West. Labour lost the seat to Respect candidate George Galloway in a 2012 by-election, following the retirement of Marsha Singh due to poor health. The seat had previously been a Labour stronghold, having had a Labour MP continuously since February 1974 – except for a two year period in the 1980s Edward Lyons’ defection to the Social Democrats.
As a councillor in Tower Hamlets, East London, Amina Ali will be no stranger to battling Respect – although she will have a big task to overturn Galloway’s 10,140 majority. The shock by-election loss prompted an investigation by Labour’s National Executive Committee, which concluded in 2013. Ali was selected on an All-Women Shortlist (AWS).
Congratulations to Amina and commiserations to unsuccessful candidates.
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