AN Asian politician has pulled out of contention to become Ilkley's next MP through fears that people would vote against him because of his race.

Mohammed Riaz revealed his decision to withdraw exclusively to the Gazette yesterday after reconsidering his prospects.

He said he wanted to put his party's interests above his own personal ambition: "I believe the Conservative Party can win this seat at the next election. My heart says one thing but my mind says that I, as an Asian, cannot win this seat."

He said that he believed that there were people in the constituency who would vote against him simply because of his racial origin and there were not enough Asian voters in Keighley and Ilkley to neutralise that vote.

Asked if he believed that some people would vote simply because of his race, Mr Riaz said: "I wish the world was perfect but it isn't. I think there are some electors who would not vote for me."

He said he thought that the battle would be a close-run affair and he thought it was more important for the Conservative Party to have a chance of winning, than to continue his own bid to become an MP. He had earlier put his name forward to the local Conservative association for consideration.

Mohammed Riaz, who now lives in Bradford, came to this country from Pakistan aged seven. He progressed through school to gain a degree in Economics at London University and a post-graduate diploma from Bradford University.

He began work as an economics research assistant then as a trainee cost accountant. But he finally settled on becoming a self-employed businessman.

When he entered the political limelight it was as a Labour district councillor in 1985, quickly moving on to the front bench, as environment spokesman. However, in 1990 Mr Riaz controversially switched his allegiance to the Tory Party which was then led by Eric Pickles. He explained his defection as a process of growing disillusion with his Socialist colleagues.

In 1997 Mr Riaz attempted to become the city's first Asian MP when he stood for the Bradford West Parliamentary seat but he was defeated by Marsha Singh. He lost the same contest in the 2001 General Election.

Mr Riaz was later appointed as a special adviser on ethnic minority affairs to former Tory Party leader Iain Duncan Smith. This year Mr Riaz stood as a candidate in the Euro elections but lost out again as the UK Independence Party creamed off many of the Tory votes.

Gerry Yates, chairman of the Keighley and Ilkley Conservative Association said that the process of replacing former Parliamentary candidate Robert Collinson, who withdrew last month, was still taking place.

He said that there had been many applications and a short list would soon be drawn up. He said that Conservative Party members should choose their favoured candidate at a meeting on October 2.

Ilkley's sitting MP has criticised the 'silent majority' in her constituency after residents followed up the British National Party's Bradford Council gains by voting a member on to Keighley Town Council.

Ann Cryer has attacked not only the far-right party and the 180 constituents who last week voted BNP councillor Angela Clarke on to Keighley Town Council - but also 'segregationists' within the Asian community and residents who chose not to vote.

The Guard House by-election for the town council last Thursday saw Coun Clarke, who won a seat on Bradford Council earlier this year, beat Independent candidate Brian Morris by 22 votes. The Town Council has traditionally been politically independent, and there were only two candidates.

Mrs Cryer said: "I do not know what is more annoying - those people who voted for the BNP, who must be either thick or racist - or those people who decided that it was simply not worth bothering to vote at all and let just 180 people try to dictate the future of this town by electing an extremist fascist organisation."

In her outspoken attack, Mrs Cryer also encouraged the Asian community to challenge the racist perceptions of some of the white community.