A councillor is standing as the Bolton North East candidate for Rochdale MP George Galloway's party. Syeda Kazmi who represents Queensgate ward on Burnley Council is standing in the General Election for the Workers Party of Britain. She was one of 11 Labour councillors to quit Labour in November over Sir Keir Starmer’s decision not to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Cllr Kazmi is still on the authority’s website as a member of the Burnley Independent group of councillors which is running the council in partnership with the Liberal Democrats and Greens as the Co-operative Alliance. Now she has said if she will represent the Workers Party of Britain not the Burnley Independent Group on her return to Burnley Council chamber. Cllr Kazmi said: “ If I win the seat I will remain on Burnley Council as well so I can serve my community.
“But I will sit on Burnley Council for the Workers Party of Britain after the General Election. “It is party that allows you to speak out. “George Galloway is a great leader and a great man.
“The workers party is a socialist party. “It is about fairness, equality and justice for all not just about Gaza. “I resigned from the Labour Party over the leadership’s attitude to the conflict but this is not about religion it is about humanity.
children are dying there. “I would hope to work closely with the Burnley Independent Group councillors.” Burnley Council Labour group leader Cllr Mark Townsend said: “Cllr Kazmi can do what she want.
