Street scraps, accusations and independents liven up race in Blackburn

As polling day draws ever closer, the Lancashire Telegraph's local democracy reporter Bill Jacobs looks at the crowded field of candidates seeking to be Blackburn's new MP at the July 4 General Election.

With scuffles in the street, candidates accusing each other of telling fibs, and rows over misinformation already, the general election battle for Blackburn is looking much livelier than usual.

With a majority of 18,304 gained when the Boris Brexit blue tide swept all around her, and a history of Labour representation since the creation of the seat in 1955, defending MP Kate Hollern should be feeling pretty safe about July 4's big vote.

But the fall-out of the Israel/Hamas conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which saw seven of the party's councillors quit the party last year, and then their new 4BwD group make big gains in May's local polls, has changed everything.

The seat has attracted a total of nine candidates, including the return of Craig Murray - who tried and failed to unseat Mrs Hollern's predecessor Jack Straw in 2005 after the Iraq War - this time standing for George Galloway's Workers Party of Britain.

He has already fallen out with 4BwD's preferred Independent candidate Adnan Hussain, accusing him of stabbing him in the back, whose supporters hit back by accusing him in turn of spreading 'misinformation'.

And on Friday Mr Murray was accused of not telling the truth over his claim the two had agreed to toss a coin over who should step to avoid splitting the Gaza peace vote.

Two other non-party candidates - taxi driver and Tory-turned-independent councillor Altaf 'Tiger' Patel and Natasha Shah - have also made strong criticism of the government and Labour's positions on the situation in Gaza.

And the bitterness has spread out onto the streets of Blackburn with scuffling between Mr Hussain's supporters and clearly rattled Labour supporters.

Labour's Kate Hollern is vying to be re-elected

In Mrs Hollern's favour is that the seat is largely unchanged and that the Parliamentary Boundary Commission dropped its proposal to include the largely Tory voting Lower Darwen into it.

She is clearly keen to switch the debate from international issues to local issues and Labour's oft-repeated mantra of 'Change'.

Mrs Hollern said: "Our economy is in ruins, our public services are at breaking point, and our communities are suffering.

"After 14 years of Conservative chaos, the time for change is now.

"I have dedicated the last 30 years to serving the town that I love. I am wholeheartedly committed to being Blackburn's voice in Westminster and in a Labour Government.

"I am the only candidate with a proven record for delivering on all of the issues that matter to our community.

"An Independent candidate will promise everything and deliver nothing. How will an Independent single-handedly solve the NHS crisis?"

Her Conservative rival Jamie McGowan, a rising star for the party on Burnley Council, is keen to keep the focus local as well.

Tory Jamie McGowan has accused Kate Hollern of 'delivering nothing' as Blackburn MP

He said: "My offer is one of competency. For far too long we’ve had a Labour MP who has delivered nothing but divisive politics, run-down areas and a hopelessness that nothing will ever change.

"Most of the candidates are speaking on international issues. But that’s not what residents across Blackburn tell me matters to them. Our focus is on issues much closer to home.

"Access to a GP, job opportunities, safer streets, and the right investment to get Blackburn moving again."

Cllr Patel, presumably confident that his position on Gaza is well known after his dramatic resignation from the Conservative Party at a pro-Palestine demonstration outside Blackburn Town Hall in October, has also turned his focus onto local issues.

Tiger Patel wants to swap the taxi rank for the House of Commons

He said: "I am dedicated to addressing the key issues that matter most to our community.

"With a focus on improving local healthcare, enhancing educational opportunities, and fostering economic growth, I aim to ensure Blackburn prospers.

"I am committed to tackling the housing crisis by advocating for affordable housing and improving public services to meet the diverse needs of all residents.

"My independent stance allows me to prioritise the interests of Blackburn over party politics."

But Mr Murray and Mr Hussain have no such reticence in playing the Gaza card.

Solicitor Adnan Hussain is running as an independent

Mr Hussain said: "The electorate is disillusioned with the mainstream parties.

"The Labour Party’s recent local election losses in Blackburn highlight this sentiment. The primary issue driving voters away from Labour is the genocide in Gaza.

"I stand to represent the community's discontent with Labour's stance on this issue.

"I offer common-sense, community-based politics, contrasting with hardline, right-wing alternatives.

"Advocating for a unified Blackburn, I promise to address concerns across different segments in the town."

Workers Party of Britain candidate Craig Murray

Mr Murray said: "The genocide in Gaza has revealed the extent to which the political and media class answers not to the people, but to lobbyists and big money.

"The people cannot under Labour or Tories even stop the supply of arms to a genocide, and nor can they stop the ever-widening gap between rich and poor, and the ever-dwindling rights, opportunity and social status of ordinary people.

"The Workers Party will close the wealth gap through wealth and windfall taxes and public investment.

"We will abolish tuition fees, renationalise water, gas, electricity and the railways and bring free social care for the elderly."

Adam Waller-Slack is the Lib Dem hopeful

Liberal Democrat Adam Waller-Slack is homing in on health care, saying: "As an NHS Consultant I’ve seen the pressure our public services are under.

"We would invest in 8,000 new GPs and in social care to free up desperately needed hospital beds.

"We would grow our economy by investing in infrastructure and green energy, whilst seeking a closer trading relationship with Europe to boost exports.

"We would protect our environment by banning the dumping of sewage and meeting our net-zero targets.

"We will fund services through fair taxes."

Singer Denise Morgan is hoping the Green Party's plans hit all the right notes with voters

Green Party candidate and former The Voice contestant Denise Morgan said: "I’m determined to reinstate your faith in politicians (well, the Greens at least) simply by being honest.

"I don't live in Blackburn, I live in Darwen. But, I work in Blackburn, and my son attends school in Blackburn.

"I know Blackburn deserves better prospects for the young, better care for the old, and a better standard of living for all."

Natasha Shah is another independent candidate

Independent Natasha Shah said: "I am standing as I feel that I bring the combination of compassion and resourcefulness necessary to do Blackburn justice.

"I will stand as a voice for the whole community, and strive to unite the community to create cohesion, peace, and fight for the brightest tomorrows for Blackburn and its people. Since 2008, I have dedicated my life to being a voice for the often unheard.

"I am a proud ally and advocate for the homeless, our LGBTQ+ community, disabled people, domestic abuse survivors, and the elderly."

Reform has seen growing popularity, and Tommy Temperley is their candidate in Blackburn

Tommy Temperley, of Reform UK, said: "The key issues are: council spending (unnecessary project when the money should be used to repair the town roads, housing, parks); the town centre has no nightlife (nightclubs); doctors appointment waiting times; parking charges; parking on pavements; takeaway litter; and weekly bin collections."

Mrs Hollern must be hoping that the number of candidates talking about Gaza will split the vote for whom this is the key issue, and that local people will choose the familiar and return her to Westminster - albeit with potentially a smaller majority.

Polling aggregator Electoral Calculus currently gives Ms Hollern a 100 per cent chance of winning in Blackburn - though the impact of the independents is not likely to be reflected in its calculations.

The full list of candidates is: Kate Hollern – Labour Party; Adnan Hussain - Independent; Jamie McGowan - Conservative Party; Denise Morgan - Green Party; Craig Murray – Workers Party of Britain; Altaf 'Tiger' Patel – Independent; Natasha Shah - Independent; Tommy Temperley – Reform UK; Adam Waller-Slack – Liberal Democrats.