Danczuk to stand as an independent
SIMON Danczuk has confirmed that he will stand to be Rochdale’s MP again in the General Election.
He will be an independent candidate on June 8 after quitting the Labour party earlier this week.
The party banned him from standing as a Labour candidate in the General Election.
They suspended him from the party in 2015 after a newspaper investigation found he had sent explicit texts to a 17-yearold girl, but has previously said he would take legal action if he was not reinstated by the party.
Mr Danczuk also launched a scathing attack on Labour’s candidate Tony Lloyd, claiming he ‘sees Parliament as a retirement home rather than a place he can make Rochdale’s voice heard’. He also said a vote for him is a vote against Jeremy Corbyn.
His nomination papers were submitted and accepted by Rochdale Council’s election team on Tuesday.
Mr Lloyd, a former chairman of the party, was the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner from 2012 and Interim Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2015.
Other candidates announced so far for the Rochdale seat include Jane Howard for the Conservatives and Andy Kelly for the Lib Dems.
Mr Danczuk said: “Rochdale deserves a strong local voice in Parliament, I’ve provided that over the last seven years and now stand on my record of speaking up and helping people.
“Rochdale doesn’t need a political stooge who has been imposed on the local Labour Party by Corybn’s cronies in London.
“Corybn’s Labour are taking Rochdale people for granted by assuming they will just vote for any Corbyn extremist that they get to stand.
“I’m not convinced that Tony Lloyd has a strong enough voice or the energy and enthusiasm to represent Rochdale well.
“It’s as though Tony, who is 68, sees Parliament as a retirement home, in which he can potter around, rather than a place where he can make Rochdale’s voice heard.”
Mr Danczuk has appointed local businesswoman Emma King as his political agent.
He said: “I’ve already received lots of encour- agement from Rochdale people, with many saying they were much more comfortable voting for an independent rather than Corybn’s Labour Party.
“There is no doubt that a vote for Danczuk is a vote against Corbyn.
“There is no doubt that Theresa May will win the General Election on the 8th of June.
“So Rochdale people do not want a weak Labour MP who is simply voting fodder for Jeremy Corbyn’s extremism.
“What they want is someone who is a strong voice for Rochdale and I believe, based on my track record, I’m the best person to be that voice.”
However, Mr Lloyd hit back - pointing to his long experience in Westminster and his role as the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner.
He said: “In Rochdale this election is a clear fight between Labour and Conservatives.
“No other can win here.
“We have a clear choice. Five more years of unfair and deeply damaging austerity and Tory cuts to our NHS, our schools and local public services.
“Or we can elect a real Labour MP who has a proven track record of working hard for residents, fighting for better hospitals and schools and to build a better society where everyone can get on in life and share our nation’s prosperity.
“I will be the strong voice Rochdale needs.” candidate