Council leader touted as by-election candidate
SUPPORTERS SAY SHABIR PANDOR IS ‘LOCAL CHOICE’ TO RUN FOR BATLEY CONSTITUENCY VACATED BY NEW MAYOR TRACY BRABIN
KIRKLEES Council leader Shabir Pandor is being touted as a candidate in this summer’s looming Parliamentary by-election in Batley.
And his supporters say he could head off a Conservative challenge and win the seat decisively for Labour.
Clr Pandor, who represents Batley West, has been named as a potential runner by Judith Hughes, a former Labour councillor in Kirklees and the ex-chair of West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority.
Writing on social media she said: “Next stop Westminster Shabir, the local choice, representing your area for almost 20 years & led Kirklees labour into these elections successfully bucking the trend across the country.”
When asked if he was considering putting his name forward, Clr Pandor said: “Let’s wait and see.”
The key question of who Labour selects in Batley and Spen following the resignation of Tracy Brabin - now West Yorkshire Mayor - will determine whether the party suffers another defeat like Hartlepool.
And with the knives out for Sir Keir Starmer, the big question is whether his leadership can survive another brick being pulled from the so-called “red wall.
Ms Hughes said Clr Pandor represented “the best choice ever.”
She added: “Shabir has been a councillor for 20 years. The party needs to recognise that he could get the vote and he would win.
“If they parachute somebody in like they did in Hartlepool, I think we could lose it.
“Also, it’s time to have an Asian MP in Kirklees.
“Shabir has done his time. He should be given a shot.”
Uncertainty remains over whether the Labour Party will impose an allfemale shortlist in Batley and Spen.
Should that happen other names have been floated including Leeds councillor Salma Arif, the former MP for Redcar Anna Turley, and Habiban Zaman, another Kirklees councillor representing Batley East.
The Conservatives are eagerly eyeing Batley and Spen as another potential triumph that will further damage Sir Keir.
A source said that potential candidates could include Matt Robinson, who was beaten into second place by Ms Brabin in the West Yorkshire mayoral race, and Itrat Ali, a candidate in last week’s council elections and who formerly contested the Huddersfield seat in the 2015 general election.
Mrs Ali’s solid performance last week, narrowly losing to Labour man Steve Hall in Heckmondwike by just 148 votes, is said to have given her a highly visible platform in the constituency.
Another name in the mix is that of George Galloway, who announced on Twitter that he will stand in Batley and Spen under the banner of the Workers Party of Britain.
Mr Galloway could hoover up the pro-Leave votes as well as those of disaffected Labour members unhappy with Sir Keir.
One Labour insider said: “Galloway is standing to make Labour lose. He hopes to get support from the Asian community, which will break the Labour vote.
“He wants the seat to go Tory so that Starmer resigns. It’s a worry.”