Double vote could shake up City Hall (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Thousands of voters set to have their say on Bradford’s political future on polling day
7:00am Thursday 3rd May 2012 in News
By Jo Winrow, City Hall Reporter
BIG DAY: Sajad Hussain sets up at the polling station at Grange Interlink Community Centre, Manningham
Tens of thousands of votes will be cast across Bradford today as the district goes to the polls in what could be a landmark shake-up of power at Bradford Council.
Not only will voters be selecting who will represent them in a third of the Council’s 90 seats, people will also have their say on whether an elected mayor should take control of the authority.
As polling stations close at 10pm today and votes start being counted at Richard Dunn sports centre in Odsal and the Leisure Centre in Keighley, the political make-up of the Council will be determined.
It stands at the ruling Labour group on 43, the Conservatives with 27, LIberal Democrats on 11, three Green Party councillors, two councillors forming The Independents group, and three independents. One seat is vacant, given the resignation of Robert Payne in Keighley West following his jailing for animal cruelty.
Labour is defending ten seats, the Conservatives 11, the Liberal Democrats six, the Green Party one and The Independents one.
Whatever happens, Labour will maintain a minimum of 33 seats and are therefore likely to remain the largest party. But who holds the balance of power, and enables Labour to create a working majority, is up for grabs.
The Respect Party is hoping to make inroads into the Council after George Galloway’s shock win in the Bradford West by-election five weeks ago. They are concentrating mainly on inner city wards with their 12 candidates.
Labour is fighting all 30 seats, as are the Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives have 28 candidates and are not contesting Great Horton and Tong. There are 13 Green candidates, eight for the UK Independence Party, three Democratic Nationalists, one independent, one for the British National Party and one Socialist Labour candidate.
A number of key figures are hoping for re-election, including leader of the Council and Little Horton councillor Ian Greenwood.
Comments(60)
birday
says...
8:12am Thu 3 May 12
Wow, there's posters everywhere, an open top buses travelling all round the streets of Badford, they've set up an office in the centre of Bradford full equipt with the latest technology etc.
.
There's a world recessions, no legitimate money in Badford ... someone's bank rolling them! Who is it?
mohammedamjid34
says...
8:19am Thu 3 May 12
straightup
says...
8:23am Thu 3 May 12
birday wrote:Try looking at who is on the bus with him?
Where's George Galloway and the Respect Party getting all the money for their campaign?.
Wow, there's posters everywhere, an open top buses travelling all round the streets of Badford, they've set up an office in the centre of Bradford full equipt with the latest technology etc.
.
There's a world recessions, no legitimate money in Badford ... someone's bank rolling them! Who is it?
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
8:26am Thu 3 May 12
I really hope Greenwood gets a shoeing today and I hope Ann Cryer who actually speaks up about certain practices in this city removes Hawksworth in Ilkley who during her time as the tory leader in the council was a disaster.
Joedavid
says...
8:37am Thu 3 May 12
Vote for change in Bradford use your right to have a say.
old pecker
says...
8:37am Thu 3 May 12
all they want is a Big expense account and to fill their pockets ! with our money !
A old saying " they all p*ss in the same pot !
BigFigure
says...
8:52am Thu 3 May 12
windymiller
says...
8:59am Thu 3 May 12
mohammedamjid34
says...
9:03am Thu 3 May 12
The issue with Respect is they belive they have won , its interesting to see the have fielded candidates in mainly asian areas , might be they know if they field candidates in more conservative areas , they have no chance of getting in
Respect is and always will be a fringe party , they will be a distant memory in three years when George fails to get relected
Wakeywakey
says...
9:10am Thu 3 May 12
who gets in.
BigFigure
says...
9:11am Thu 3 May 12
mohammedamjid34 wrote:And interesting that the Respect candidate in my ward (Clayton) was the Green Party candidate at the by election....(?)
BigFigure -
The issue with Respect is they belive they have won , its interesting to see the have fielded candidates in mainly asian areas , might be they know if they field candidates in more conservative areas , they have no chance of getting in
Respect is and always will be a fringe party , they will be a distant memory in three years when George fails to get relected
mohammedamjid34
says...
9:30am Thu 3 May 12
9:11am Thu 3 May 12
mohammedamjid34 wrote:
BigFigure -
The issue with Respect is they belive they have won , its interesting to see the have fielded candidates in mainly asian areas , might be they know if they field candidates in more conservative areas , they have no chance of getting in
Respect is and always will be a fringe party , they will be a distant memory in three years when George fails to get relected
And interesting that the Respect candidate in my ward (Clayton) was the Green Party candidate at the by election....(?)
- My point exactly Respect , all a bunch of Jokers
Saltaire Bantam
says...
9:31am Thu 3 May 12
I won't be voting for any of the main 3 parties as they are all the same and it is like a revolving dictatorship. They take it in turns to rule over us and it is virtually impossible to get rid of them.
I noticed there is no Respect (Jihad) candidate in Shipley as they only concentrate on the areas with a high islamic population. Not that I would vote for them.
hope_for_bradford
says...
9:36am Thu 3 May 12
ertnec
says...
9:42am Thu 3 May 12
mad matt
says...
9:44am Thu 3 May 12
Mr Chairman
says...
9:54am Thu 3 May 12
hope_for_bradford wrote:Sadly due to the four year pattern for Council Elections - you will not be abler to vote them out next year. You will be stuck with them for four years.
I can fully understand the cynicism on these posts. Well I hope the respect party gets all their seats in because the council has been run for far too long by criminals and incompetant buffoons. Go on kids...just do it for a laugh. If they don't deliver then you can vote them out next year. What have you got to lose?
The only thing you will have to lose is the future of Bradford!
Joedavid
says...
9:54am Thu 3 May 12
count_cillla
says...
10:11am Thu 3 May 12
Joedavid wrote:Why ? Don't asians have a right to vote.
To the negative posters above are you going to let the Asian vote give you the next Council.
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
10:16am Thu 3 May 12
Joedavid wrote:Bit of a pointless comment.
To the negative posters above are you going to let the Asian vote give you the next Council.
In my area, the only people to vote for are the 3 mainstream parties. Respect wouldn't touch my ward as it wouldn't get a vote so my vote choices are between 3 main parties who tow the party line.
I may go spoil my vote but vote in the mayoral referendum later today but Labour, Lib Dems and Tories they are all the same. If an independant had stood for the area I may have been inclinded to vote.
There is nothing I can do what so ever to stop Respect getting in from their target wards which all appear to have a high population of certain cultures.
Wakeywakey
says...
10:37am Thu 3 May 12
and deny the 3 main partys
your vote! Vote independence.
Send a message to London etc.
I know it wont happen, lemmings
syndrom, Torys out Liebour in/
Liebour in/ Torys out di dah di dah
mark04
says...
10:39am Thu 3 May 12
Joedavid wrote:What a disgusting comment.If people wish to vote for Respect that is their choice.
To the negative posters above are you going to let the Asian vote give you the next Council.
I personally hope Respect do hold the balance of power in this city,and will have some access to look into what has been going on in the last 10/15 years.Everything they have said in the last weeks is pro Bradford,and having a small say in the future will be no bad thing.
Joedavid
says...
10:53am Thu 3 May 12
count_cillla wrote:Of course they like all the rest of us but people are saying all candidates no good so I'm not voting. If that happens only postal votes will happen and it has been widely reported the postal votes for G. Gallaway got him elected.
Joedavid wrote:Why ? Don't asians have a right to vote.
To the negative posters above are you going to let the Asian vote give you the next Council.
Joedavid
says...
10:57am Thu 3 May 12
mark04 wrote:Sorry I did miss one word out of my commemt.
Joedavid wrote:What a disgusting comment.If people wish to vote for Respect that is their choice.
To the negative posters above are you going to let the Asian vote give you the next Council.
I personally hope Respect do hold the balance of power in this city,and will have some access to look into what has been going on in the last 10/15 years.Everything they have said in the last weeks is pro Bradford,and having a small say in the future will be no bad thing.
"Postal"
"To the negative posters above are you going to let the Asian postal vote give you the next Council."
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
11:30am Thu 3 May 12
Joedavid wrote:He had a majority of over 10,000.
mark04 wrote:Sorry I did miss one word out of my commemt. "Postal" "To the negative posters above are you going to let the Asian postal vote give you the next Council."Joedavid wrote: To the negative posters above are you going to let the Asian vote give you the next Council.What a disgusting comment.If people wish to vote for Respect that is their choice. I personally hope Respect do hold the balance of power in this city,and will have some access to look into what has been going on in the last 10/15 years.Everything they have said in the last weeks is pro Bradford,and having a small say in the future will be no bad thing.
Are you seriously suggesting postal votes were the sole reason he got elected?
Maybe if it was a tight contest but he blew everyone else out of the water.
webess
says...
11:55am Thu 3 May 12
hope_for_bradford wrote:"What have we got to lose"?
I can fully understand the cynicism on these posts. Well I hope the respect party gets all their seats in because the council has been run for far too long by criminals and incompetant buffoons. Go on kids...just do it for a laugh. If they don't deliver then you can vote them out next year. What have you got to lose?
You'll find out if any of people are dumb enough to vote respect or they manage to fiddle the results again.
Joedavid
says...
12:03pm Thu 3 May 12
Thee Voice of Reason wrote:Was reported at the time the 10K majority you say, also untill postal votes added Labour thought they had won, but it was again also reported 10K postal votes were added.
Joedavid wrote:He had a majority of over 10,000.
mark04 wrote:Sorry I did miss one word out of my commemt. "Postal" "To the negative posters above are you going to let the Asian postal vote give you the next Council."Joedavid wrote: To the negative posters above are you going to let the Asian vote give you the next Council.What a disgusting comment.If people wish to vote for Respect that is their choice. I personally hope Respect do hold the balance of power in this city,and will have some access to look into what has been going on in the last 10/15 years.Everything they have said in the last weeks is pro Bradford,and having a small say in the future will be no bad thing.
Are you seriously suggesting postal votes were the sole reason he got elected?
Maybe if it was a tight contest but he blew everyone else out of the water.
webess
says...
12:18pm Thu 3 May 12
Joedavid wrote:Wasn't just Labour thought Labour had won - so did everyone else.
Thee Voice of Reason wrote:Was reported at the time the 10K majority you say, also untill postal votes added Labour thought they had won, but it was again also reported 10K postal votes were added.
Joedavid wrote:He had a majority of over 10,000.
mark04 wrote:Sorry I did miss one word out of my commemt. "Postal" "To the negative posters above are you going to let the Asian postal vote give you the next Council."Joedavid wrote: To the negative posters above are you going to let the Asian vote give you the next Council.What a disgusting comment.If people wish to vote for Respect that is their choice. I personally hope Respect do hold the balance of power in this city,and will have some access to look into what has been going on in the last 10/15 years.Everything they have said in the last weeks is pro Bradford,and having a small say in the future will be no bad thing.
Are you seriously suggesting postal votes were the sole reason he got elected?
Maybe if it was a tight contest but he blew everyone else out of the water.
There was a clue in that the pile of Labour votes from the ballot boxes was largest. Then came the postal ballots, majority of which for respect - but I'm sure nothing dodgy went on ;-)
Albion.
says...
12:28pm Thu 3 May 12
webess wrote:"There was nothing dodgy! but it took me ages to fill them all in" ;-)
Joedavid wrote:Wasn't just Labour thought Labour had won - so did everyone else.
Thee Voice of Reason wrote:Was reported at the time the 10K majority you say, also untill postal votes added Labour thought they had won, but it was again also reported 10K postal votes were added.
Joedavid wrote:He had a majority of over 10,000.
mark04 wrote:Sorry I did miss one word out of my commemt. "Postal" "To the negative posters above are you going to let the Asian postal vote give you the next Council."Joedavid wrote: To the negative posters above are you going to let the Asian vote give you the next Council.What a disgusting comment.If people wish to vote for Respect that is their choice. I personally hope Respect do hold the balance of power in this city,and will have some access to look into what has been going on in the last 10/15 years.Everything they have said in the last weeks is pro Bradford,and having a small say in the future will be no bad thing.
Are you seriously suggesting postal votes were the sole reason he got elected?
Maybe if it was a tight contest but he blew everyone else out of the water.
There was a clue in that the pile of Labour votes from the ballot boxes was largest. Then came the postal ballots, majority of which for respect - but I'm sure nothing dodgy went on ;-)
nohidingplace
says...
12:43pm Thu 3 May 12
webess
says...
12:51pm Thu 3 May 12
nohidingplace wrote:I wonder if the "gay squatter" in GG's house was a registered voter?
Rumour has it that one small terraced house has 4,500 registered voters living there :)
Tim Love
says...
12:52pm Thu 3 May 12
mohammedamjid34 wrote:As opposed to Labour and ConDemns, you inbred tw@t ?
BigFigure says...
9:11am Thu 3 May 12
mohammedamjid34 wrote:
BigFigure -
The issue with Respect is they belive they have won , its interesting to see the have fielded candidates in mainly asian areas , might be they know if they field candidates in more conservative areas , they have no chance of getting in
Respect is and always will be a fringe party , they will be a distant memory in three years when George fails to get relected
And interesting that the Respect candidate in my ward (Clayton) was the Green Party candidate at the by election....(?)
- My point exactly Respect , all a bunch of Jokers
.
Vote Respect.
.
Vote common sense.
.
Vote for anti-corruption in the Council.
Tim Love
says...
12:52pm Thu 3 May 12
webess wrote:Be quiet, ****-ess.
nohidingplace wrote:I wonder if the "gay squatter" in GG's house was a registered voter?
Rumour has it that one small terraced house has 4,500 registered voters living there :)
Tim Love
says...
12:53pm Thu 3 May 12
SouthEastAsianBradfordian
says...
1:45pm Thu 3 May 12
Think logically, give the party a chance and let them try and deliver betterment for the City before you unload all your hateful criticisms.
Clowny
says...
1:57pm Thu 3 May 12
hope_for_bradford wrote:Amen to that.
I can fully understand the cynicism on these posts. Well I hope the respect party gets all their seats in because the council has been run for far too long by criminals and incompetant buffoons. Go on kids...just do it for a laugh. If they don't deliver then you can vote them out next year. What have you got to lose?
Albion.
says...
2:08pm Thu 3 May 12
SouthEastAsianBradfoIt is simply an example of George's opportunism (find enough of the gullible and con them) it's worked elsewhere in the past, but never for long.
rdian wrote:
You come on here and sour the taste of the conversation with vile comments about the main stream parties being better that Respect....Labour councillors are useless as are the others. I have had dealing with many of them from various parties in the past, and there is only one thing they care about essentially, and that is to line their pockets with as much money as they can. Whether or not the Respect councillors are the same as some of you are suggesting, that will be determined (but I am hopeful this is not the case, as these guys seem to genuinely want change and a better Bradford) regardless, it is definitely time for a change. And it would be senseless, stupid, irrational and bordering insanity to do carry on doing something and choosing the same people to govern over you, if you wanted to make a change for the better. For those of you that say 'i will not vote because it won't make a difference', then why come on public forums and start moaning and grumbling....
Think logically, give the party a chance and let them try and deliver betterment for the City before you unload all your hateful criticisms.
Tim Love
says...
2:27pm Thu 3 May 12
SouthEastAsianBradfoWell said.
rdian wrote:
You come on here and sour the taste of the conversation with vile comments about the main stream parties being better that Respect....Labour councillors are useless as are the others. I have had dealing with many of them from various parties in the past, and there is only one thing they care about essentially, and that is to line their pockets with as much money as they can. Whether or not the Respect councillors are the same as some of you are suggesting, that will be determined (but I am hopeful this is not the case, as these guys seem to genuinely want change and a better Bradford) regardless, it is definitely time for a change. And it would be senseless, stupid, irrational and bordering insanity to do carry on doing something and choosing the same people to govern over you, if you wanted to make a change for the better. For those of you that say 'i will not vote because it won't make a difference', then why come on public forums and start moaning and grumbling....
Think logically, give the party a chance and let them try and deliver betterment for the City before you unload all your hateful criticisms.
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
2:49pm Thu 3 May 12
Pity it is a necessary evil with no outstanding candidates nationwide nevermind locally.
a reasonable sort of chap
says...
3:14pm Thu 3 May 12
Yorkshire Lass
says...
3:17pm Thu 3 May 12
Albion.
says...
3:26pm Thu 3 May 12
Yorkshire Lass wrote:You also have a choice to not vote for change, so if there is a change and it's not particularly beneficial are you not then allowed to complain?
Everyone carping on here about the Council what is and the council what may be after local voting today. However, I note that there is nothing said about the change what could happen in Bradford and as well as your local vote everyone has had a chance to vote on the referendum of replacing the Council Leader with a new system of Mayor. Not the civic mayor that we have now voted in by the Council but a Mayor that will be voted in by the people of Bradford in November should they agree to the new system. In view of the comments and in view of very little publicity in Bradford for this radical change, I am wondering if anyone is aware of this City changing referendum that is taking place also today. And if you have not voted for radical changes, don't go moaning on this site in future. You have got a choice today to change the way this City is run, so please use it.
An elected Mayor by the way doesn't replace the Lord Mayor, that still stays along with the council, so an elected Mayor might be a good move or a bad one, the only certainty is that it will be expensive.
Albion.
says...
3:35pm Thu 3 May 12
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:Suddenly, topping oneself sounds attractive.
The Green Party are the only ones left to vote for.
a reasonable sort of chap
says...
3:45pm Thu 3 May 12
Albion. wrote:Or perhaps I'll form my own Party. Here is my manifesto:
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:Suddenly, topping oneself sounds attractive.
The Green Party are the only ones left to vote for.
1. Legalize cannabis.
2. Ban the eating of meat.
3. Increase Benefits.
4. Stop all mandatory back-to-work (scams) schemes.
5. Public flogging of litterers and fly-tippers.
6. Death sentence for animal cruelty.
7. Nationalize all power companies and all essential services.
Do I get your vote?
Albion.
says...
3:53pm Thu 3 May 12
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:Hahaha! Sorry! I voted last week (137 times) ;-)
Albion. wrote:Or perhaps I'll form my own Party. Here is my manifesto:
a reasonable sort of chap wrote:Suddenly, topping oneself sounds attractive.
The Green Party are the only ones left to vote for.
1. Legalize cannabis.
2. Ban the eating of meat.
3. Increase Benefits.
4. Stop all mandatory back-to-work (scams) schemes.
5. Public flogging of litterers and fly-tippers.
6. Death sentence for animal cruelty.
7. Nationalize all power companies and all essential services.
Do I get your vote?
BigFigure
says...
4:18pm Thu 3 May 12
Yorkshire Lass wrote:One problem voting for the mayoral system is that we have not yet been told what precise power the elected mayor would have. Each mayor would have different powers,depending on the city.Details will be finalised after a "yes" vote in the referendum.I think there will be plenty of moaning then, including from the "yes" voters.
Everyone carping on here about the Council what is and the council what may be after local voting today. However, I note that there is nothing said about the change what could happen in Bradford and as well as your local vote everyone has had a chance to vote on the referendum of replacing the Council Leader with a new system of Mayor. Not the civic mayor that we have now voted in by the Council but a Mayor that will be voted in by the people of Bradford in November should they agree to the new system. In view of the comments and in view of very little publicity in Bradford for this radical change, I am wondering if anyone is aware of this City changing referendum that is taking place also today. And if you have not voted for radical changes, don't go moaning on this site in future. You have got a choice today to change the way this City is run, so please use it.
mad matt
says...
4:20pm Thu 3 May 12
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:Cicero wasn't daft! :)
I shall be voting but with this 2000 year old quote from Cicero in mind "politicians are not born, they are excreted"
Pity it is a necessary evil with no outstanding candidates nationwide nevermind locally.
Colin Allcars
says...
6:23pm Thu 3 May 12
mark04
says...
7:21pm Thu 3 May 12
SouthEastAsianBradfoAbsolutely agree, give Respect a chance.I do not believe they can be any worse than Labour and Conservatives.They will not control the council,only hopefully
rdian wrote:
You come on here and sour the taste of the conversation with vile comments about the main stream parties being better that Respect....Labour councillors are useless as are the others. I have had dealing with many of them from various parties in the past, and there is only one thing they care about essentially, and that is to line their pockets with as much money as they can. Whether or not the Respect councillors are the same as some of you are suggesting, that will be determined (but I am hopeful this is not the case, as these guys seem to genuinely want change and a better Bradford) regardless, it is definitely time for a change. And it would be senseless, stupid, irrational and bordering insanity to do carry on doing something and choosing the same people to govern over you, if you wanted to make a change for the better. For those of you that say 'i will not vote because it won't make a difference', then why come on public forums and start moaning and grumbling....
Think logically, give the party a chance and let them try and deliver betterment for the City before you unload all your hateful criticisms.
hold the balance of power,and make Labour more aware of what the ordinary voter wants to happen in the city,which they are ignoring at present.ie Odeon.
mark04
says...
7:30pm Thu 3 May 12
he knew for a fact Galloway was so worried about todays result he was staying in London for the count,as he was been interviewed,big green bus passed them, with GG in front with megaphone.Greenwood totally ignored this fact,just said to interviewer that people dont like this type of electioneering.
He really cant say or do anything right at the moment.
ANY WHERE BUT HERE
says...
7:47pm Thu 3 May 12
zippiehippie
says...
9:01pm Thu 3 May 12
URBAN WARRIOR
says...
9:34pm Thu 3 May 12
URBAN WARRIOR
says...
9:42pm Thu 3 May 12
Albion.
says...
9:50pm Thu 3 May 12
URBAN WARRIOR wrote:Apart from it being a little late in the day.
this is a local election and people should think hard about who they vote , if a candidate is worth voting for then for him especial if he/she actuly lives in the ward that is going to represent other wise his never going to understand your problems , make senses does,nt it .
a reasonable sort of chap
says...
10:32pm Thu 3 May 12
mohammedamjid34 wrote:But Labour were the ones who introduced the dreadful New Deal scheme, and they don't want to legalize cannabis either, so I won't be voting for them again.
aint got time for Respect - Will be voting Labour
ANY WHERE BUT HERE
says...
11:43pm Thu 3 May 12
Mummys little Sunbeam
says...
9:06am Fri 4 May 12
Yesterday I passed a number of polling stations, predominantly in wards which had a respect candidate standing. Outside each polling station were a groups of respect party supporters who were obviously strongly "encouraging" people to vote for their candidate.
Secondly I am sure we all saw the TV reports from Odsal today showing the dismay of Ian Greenwood and the jubilation of Alyas Karmani and his supporters - interestingly not one female or one white British face among them.
Here's a prediction for george galloway - if the respect party continues to gain power, he will find himself surplus to requirements in the islamic respect party.
harvey111
says...
2:08pm Fri 4 May 12
SouthEastAsianBradfo+100, haters n racists, do1, karma is a nice dish, believer or not, u've been warned,.. i send me my love n blessings
rdian wrote:
You come on here and sour the taste of the conversation with vile comments about the main stream parties being better that Respect....Labour councillors are useless as are the others. I have had dealing with many of them from various parties in the past, and there is only one thing they care about essentially, and that is to line their pockets with as much money as they can. Whether or not the Respect councillors are the same as some of you are suggesting, that will be determined (but I am hopeful this is not the case, as these guys seem to genuinely want change and a better Bradford) regardless, it is definitely time for a change. And it would be senseless, stupid, irrational and bordering insanity to do carry on doing something and choosing the same people to govern over you, if you wanted to make a change for the better. For those of you that say 'i will not vote because it won't make a difference', then why come on public forums and start moaning and grumbling....
Think logically, give the party a chance and let them try and deliver betterment for the City before you unload all your hateful criticisms.
mohammedamjid34 says...
8:10am Thu 3 May 12