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Asian to challenge Labour vet’ Kaufman
27/ 2/2004
AN Asian parliamentary candidate is predicting he will be the
"final nail" in the political coffin and one of Manchester's most
prominent MPs.
Cheetham Councillor Qasim Afzal has been controversially selected
to fight in the Gorton constituency where his Labour opponent will
be veteran MP Gerald Kaufman, who was Alistair Campbell to Prime
Minister Harold Wilson in the 1960s.
After beating three other Manchester Liberal Democrat councillors
in a party ballot for the nomination, Councillor Afzal said he:
"Fancied his chances".
"Mr Kaufman is past his sell-by date. He has declared he will only
be carried out of his constituency in his coffin, well Qasim might
be the final nail in that coffin," he said.
The Gorton constituency contains the highest number of Asian
electors in Manchester concentrated in the Rusholme and Longsight
areas.
The Kaufman camp know how crucial winning the Asian vote is, not
least of all because the turnout among Asians is usually higher
than among white electors.
Said Councillor Afzal: "I think I am a good bet. I grew up in the
area, we had a businesses in the area and my uncle still lives in
the old family home which is on the borders of the constituency and
three-quaters of the councillors in the area are Liberal
Democrats.
"Mr Kaufman courts the Asian vote but he was in favour of the Gulf
war and tuition fees which I do not think is a popular stance in
the constituency. I think people, particularly the young, are ready
for a change."
Councillor Afzal's selection has been ratified by party bosses
despite accusations from his rivals that the election procedures
were flawed. Councillors Jackie Pearce, John Bridges and John
Commons who lost against him have sent strongly-worded letter to
party returning officer David Crowther.
It is understood the allegations centre round a massive increase in
the Liberal Democrat poll compared with other years.
Mr Crowther said: "I have investigated the claims fully and I have
found nothing unfair."
Councillor Afzal has himself twice complained of being the victim
of supposed irregularities in local elections which he lost.
In 2000 police were called to investigate allegations of vote
rigging in experimental supermarket polls after he claimed bogus
voters had impersonated genuine constituents. And in 2002 there was
another probe after a ballot box was taken to an official's home
for around an hour on its way to the counting hall.
Simon Ashley, leader of the party's city council group, said: "A
complaint has been received about that selection. That complaint
will now be fully investigated.
"The Liberal Democrats are a fast growing party in Gorton and
across Manchester and we are determined to be a strong and unified
force."
No-one was available for comment on Councillor Afzal victory claims
at Mr Kaufman office at the House of Commons.
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