On Sunday 24th October people in Leicester looked in awe as they saw the Conservative Party preparing to open its new office bang in the middle of ‘little India’. The intent is clear. The determination is clear. The objective to win parliamentary seats in Leicester is now more real than it has ever been for the Tory Party.
Keith Vaz won the seat in 1987 for Labour by defeating Peter Bruinvels who was the last Tory to hold the seat. Keith held it till he decided not to stand for 2019 elections amidst some negative publicity about his personal life. Labour ignored local candidates and flew in a pro-Corbyn puppet called Claudia Webbe. Yes, the same Claudia who with her Labour colleagues was responsible for the anti-India Kashmir motion in 2019. She won the seat, but the Tory candidate Bhupendra Dave became the first Conservative in decades to dramatically reduce the Labour majority from 22,428 to only 6,019.
Claudia has brought nothing but shame to Leicester. Indeed, recently she was found guilty of harassment at Westminster Magistrates' Court and is now awaiting her sentence. This seat could therefore face a by-election. One thing is for sure, the grassroots don’t want an outside candidate, a sentiment all parties might wish to respect.
Given this background, I am not surprised the Conservative Party wants to make sure they are seen as the only viable alternative for the people of Leicester. The positioning of the new party office is very much in your face by being on Belgrave Road. It’s a direct challenge to Labour in their own backyard making it clear, Tories want to win.
Of course, having an office is helpful. But you also need to make sure you have the right candidate. Bhupendra Dave is the only Tory candidate over the past three decades to close the gap on Labour. I am also hearing that Manoj Keshavji, a local businessman instrumental in setting up this new office might also put his name in the hat. If so, then it seems the Tories may well have two potentially good local candidates.
I am also hearing Keith wants to come back. I can’t see the Labour Party giving him the ticket, which means his only other option is to stand as an independent. To be honest, I am not sure it is in his interest to get back into politics now. If he does, which is his right, I fear it will not end well. I am also hearing that his daughter might contest instead of him. Again, I am not sure that’s a good idea, lest the baggage of the father bears heavily. Other rumours suggest that Labour may fly in candidates or that they might go for an all women shortlist. If so, which woman from Leicester will Labour select?
Whoever it is who wins, one thing is crystal clear, unless it is a Hindu then for the people of Leicester their voices will never be heard. To the people of Leicester, elect a Hindu who can sit on the back benches and is fearless in taking on the Pakistani lobby. The anti-Semites and the anti-Hindu forces in Parliament must be challenged. There is no point sending someone to Parliament who does not care about Britain, or the Jewish community or the Indic community.
You didn’t listen last time and you ended up with Claudia! The ball is always in your court, and you reap what you sow, so don’t complain afterwards. Start your discussions now.
