A RUMPUS has blown up over claims that a Labour candidate would be the first Asian woman on Blackburn with Darwen Council if elected.
Liberal Democrats say they already have an Asian female councillor in Darwen - Coun Karimeh Foster.
The Jordanian was elected in 1992 and defended her Whitehall seat successfully in 1997.
She said: "I was born in Jordan and Jordanian people consider themselves to be from Asia. Jordan is in the Middle East but the Middle East is in Asia which makes me the first female Asian councillor in Blackburn and Darwen.
"I wasn't angry when I read that the Labour party was claiming its candidate would be the first Asian woman, but I was surprised.
"I was also surprised to read that the candidate said it was difficult for Asian women to get into politics. My view is that it is up to the individual to prove that they are up to the job."
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