Polls are open today to vote for candidates of the election, but for those interested in voting, here is a summary of their policies.
Eleven candidates are standing, including two disgraced former MPs, and two candidates whose own parties withdrew support for them.
Azhar Ali
Azhar Ali, who received an OBE in 2020 for his work to support the North West, will stand as a labour candidate. If he wins, he will serve as an independent MP.
He was suspended for his groundless claims that Israel allowed the October 7 attacks to take place in order to launch subsequent attacks, comments he later apologised for.
If elected, he will not hold the party whip and will be disciplined by senior MPs.
Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman is an independent prospective MP who has worked as a Just Stop Oil activist and a former vicar who retired due to Parkinson’s disease.
In an interview with North West Bylines, he said: “I’m standing to serve the people. I intend to work for the improvement of the lives of the people of Rochdale.”
Simon Danczuk
Simon Danczuk, a candidate for Reform UK, was suspended in 2015 for alleged sexual messages sent to a teenager, for which he was barred from participating in the 2017 elections.
A motto he used on Twitter/X in an advertisement for his campaign, reads Vote for Rochdale, not Gaza.
Iain Donaldson
Iain Donaldson is a retired University of Manchester administrator, who will sit as a Liberal Democrat if elected.
He is running in the hopes of returning Rochdale to the party it was a part of from 2005 to 2010.
He has 19 years of experience as a councillor, and in an interview with Rochdale Online, he claims his aims to ‘hold this disastrous Conservative government to account’ for their ‘failings on the NHS’, the cost of living crisis, and water companies polluting the rivers with filthy sewage.
Paul Ellison
Paul Ellison, is a Conservative party prospect who has campaigned for 30 years and owns a landscaping company.
Paul promises to tackle real problems facing his residents, including drug crime, grooming gangs, poor housing (especially pertinent given the infamous death of Awaab Ishak), anti-social behaviour and littering.
George Galloway
George Galloway, another former MP, is standing as a Workers Party of Britain candidate, a party he founded in 2019.
In 2003, he was expelled from his seat as a Labour MP for Glasgow Hillhead by Tony Blair for his lack of support for the Iraq war.
He later became a MP for the Respect Party.
He vows to rebuild British Industry and will focus on tranquilising the Israel/Gaza conflict as his main aim.
Michael Howarth
Michael Howarth is sitting as an independent candidate and is a bar owner from Rochdale.
He vows to open empty shops and improve street safety.
William Howarth
Another independent is William Howarth, who co-founded Parents Against Grooming UK, particularly relevant given the grooming scandal on Rochdale.
He intends to hold Rochdale Council and Greater Manchester Police to account for their ‘failures’ in protecting the safety of children.
Guy Otten
Retired solicitor Guy Otten’s name will appear as a Green Party candidate on the ballot.
The Green Party withdrew support for him following controversial Twitter comments which he later said were ‘regrettable’.
He hopes to promote the use of turbines as a means to increase air quality in Greater Manchester, as well as to deal with the issue of flooding.
Ravin Rodent Subortna
Finally, Ravin Rodent Subortna will potentially stand as member of the Monster Raving Loony party, and if so, he will introduce a 99p coin, combat hedgehog homelessness and introduce a carousel for roundabouts.
Polls will be open from 7am today until 10pm to cast votes for which of these politicians will replace Sir Tony Lloyd. You simply need to bring photo ID and be registered to vote.
Featured image credit: Wikimedia Commons
