Burnley to get its first Workers Party of Britain councillor

Councillor Syeda Kazmi, who represents Queensgate ward on Burnley Council, is standing in the General Election for the Bolton North East constituency for George Galloway's party.

She was one of 11 Labour councillors to quit Labour in November over the stance of the party's national leadership on the Israel/Hamas conflict.

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 told the Lancashire Telegraph she will represent the Workers Party of Britain, not the Burnley Independent Group, on her return to the Burnley Council chamber.

Cllr Afrasiab Anwar said he would welcome Cllr Kazmi into the council's ruling group

She has also vowed to stay on as a councillor even if she wins at the General Election, planning to serve the two towns which are 17 miles apart.

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 a 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's Labour group leader Cllr Mark Townsend said: "Cllr Kazmi can do what she wants.

"She is welcome to join George Galloway's mob and good luck to her. But she should not be sitting as a Burnley Independent Group member.

Labour's Mark Townsend wished Cllr Kazmi the best of luck in "George Galloway's mob"

"I cannot understand why Cllr Afrasiab Anwar - its leader and leader of the council - has not kicked her out if she hasn't already resigned."

Council leader Cllr Anwar said: "Cllr Townsend profoundly misunderstands the Burnley Independent group.

"We are a group, not a party and do not have a whip. We will work with Cllr Kazmi as we do with the Liberal Democrats and Greens."