Adnan Hussain was the shock general election victor in the Labour stronghold of Blackburn on July 4 after a bruising campaign with Gaza front and centre.

Local Democracy Reporter Bill Jacobs interviewed the 34-year-old Burnley-born lawyer who was educated at Brierfield's Mansfield High School, Blackburn College and the University of Central Lancashire.

He spoke about why he stood as an Independent against sitting MP Kate Hollern, why he did not back Workers' Party of Britain candidate Craig Murray and what he hopes to achieve in his new role.

Mr Hussain wants to bring back the "brilliance of Blackburn".

It all changed for him after getting engaged, qualifying as a barrister in July and trying to sort out an office while negotiating the weird and wonderful world of Westminster.

Mr Hussain said he never expected to be an MP and revealed that as a teenager he ran a car wash in Darwen.

He began the interview with his reasons for standing: "Frankly I wasn't happy with the way things were going and how during this election outside candidates were coming in to take advantage of the sentiments of a certain part of Blackburn's community.

"It was an anti-patriotic type of politics.

"I felt that I should get in and try to avoid an ugly politics playing out on the streets of Blackburn.

"I didn't feel that Craig Murray represented the sentiments of the people of Blackburn.

"Gaza absolutely was a big reason for me standing.

"The starting point is that my education as a Brit, as someone who was born and bred in this country, shaped me as a person.

"My education on genocide of the Jews as a child is what's shaped me as an adult.

"Today I am passionately opposed to genocide.

"As children we learnt about the horrors of the Holocaust.

"I passionately believe in 'never again' for anyone, no matter what race or creed that person may come from.

"Blackburn should be proud that it's stood up.

"So yes Gaza was a key issue for me."

Mr Hussain then turned to the issues facing his constituency: "As a child I remember Blackburn was a thriving town.

"The town centre used to be really busy.

"There weren't many empty shops at all.

"King George's Hall used to have coaches arriving pretty much every weekend.

"Blackburn was a busy, busy place.

"The majority of people in Blackburn seemed to be happy.

"I had seen potential as a child in Blackburn that I want to see again.

"The town has stagnated for a number of years.

"The economy of Blackburn is struggling at a time when we all know the people of Blackburn have got the skills, have got the talent.

"They have got the creativity, the ability to do something amazing with the town.

"I just want to be a means to bring that brilliance back out.

"Blackburn is an extremely segregated town at the moment.

"A segregated town does not bring the best of its people.

"What we need to do is build bridges because that in essence will also help the economy.

"This isn't something that has just come along because I won the election.

"I've been working on this for the past five years if not longer

"I'm now going to try to do what it takes to build those bridges.

"I'm desperate to see a united Blackburn.

"I'm desperate to break down barriers.

"The people in Mill Hill have the same issues that the people of Bastwell have.

"In both areas poverty is a massive issue as is jobs.

"Both areas have a housing crisis.

"In both areas you can't get a GP appointment.

"I saw the playground in Mill Hill.

"There were so many kids out there on a hot summer day during the election campaign.

"But when I saw the state of disrepair, it made me sad because back when I was young there were good facilities, playgrounds were well kept.

"The young children there playing on swings that were broken. The asphalt on the ground was missing.

"I came to youth centres here in Blackburn.

"When I started college I was part of youth programmes here in Blackburn.

"And I like to believe that it's those facilities that were on offer that have helped create who I am today.

"I've attained this success through those facilities that were in place when I was a child."

Mr Hussain then explained why he stood and an Independent and how he would work with the Labour-controlled Blackburn with Darwen Council.

He said: "I left the Labour Party in April 2020.

"And prior to that I'd campaigned for many years for the Labour Party..

"I left because I disagreed with Keir Starmer and the direction he was heading with the party.

"But that said I'm now the MP of Blackburn.

"I'm ready to do what it takes to bring about the best of Blackburn.

"I and Phil Riley - the current leader of the borough Labour Party - have been friends for a long time.

"Politically we may have a slight disagreement.

"Both myself and Phil are mature enough to drop any disagreements to get on with what's best for the town.

"We're getting on with the job. We're rolling our sleeves up and doing what it takes.

"I will absolutely be using every opportunity to promote Blackburn and the interest of the people in Blackburn in Parliament.

"I've been in Blackburn either through study, work or living here for the past 18 years.

"I've been living here just over five years.

"My first business venture was a car wash in Darwen.

"I took a gap year out and I thought opening a car wash in Darwen is going to make me millions.

"I think I was about 17 or 18.

"I soon realised it wasn't going to make me millions and so I went back into education.

"After that I really focussed upon becoming a good lawyer.

"I get what needs to be done."

On talks with former Labour leader, now fellow Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn, he said: "There are discussions ongoing about having a group with the five independents.

"A group would help us in organising in Parliament, perhaps in speaking, perhaps in getting into select committees and helping us become more present and active."

In terms of his interests and hobbies, Mr Hussain said: "I'm quite boring.

"I love to spend time with my family because I'm so busy.

"I have several friends that I enjoy seeing.

"I like socialising whenever I get the opportunity.

"I'm not a sportsman though I have been watching Blackburn Rovers recently.

"Since a kid I've loved to go to the theatre. I'm a veteran of the pantomime at King George's Hall."

Then he returns to the vexed question of the future of the current Middle East conflict: "Both the existence of Israel and Palestine is defined under international law.

"As a man who practises in the law I firmly believe that if laws and norms were followed and abided by, the world would just get along fine and that's all I'm asking for.

"That's my position when it comes to Israel and Palestine and that is my position when it comes to any other conflict anywhere within the world.

"Whether that's the riots that we saw a few weeks ago in the country or whether that's conflict that we see abroad."