Reform UK unveils ex-Labour MP Simon Danczuk for Rochdale by-election | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Reform UK has pulled off a shock coup after saying their candidate for the upcoming Rochdale by-election shall be none aside from the constituency’s former Labour MP.

Simon Danczuk will stand for Richard Tice’s celebration, after a by-election was referred to as following the passing of incumbent MP Sir Tony Lloyd a fortnight in the past.

Mr Danczuk represented the seat as a Labour MP from 2010 to 2017, serving to to reveal the grooming gang scandal.

Speaking following this afternoon’s revelation in The Sun, Mr Danczuk stated the city had been uncared for by the principle political events.

He stated: “Locally, Labour is failing to protect our people and support local businesses. Nationally, the Conservatives are failing to grow our economy and are leaving our borders open to illegal immigration.

“Labour refuse to say what they will do if they get into Government. The Tories refuse to do in Government what the public want. One has broken Britain, the other will bankrupt it.

“Rochdale and our country are crying out for change.

“We are all proud of Rochdale, its people and its fantastic history. But Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak don’t care about our town, they continue to take us for granted.”

Mr Tice heaped reward on his shock candidate’s “knowledge, guts and experience”, including he’s “best placed to challenge and change Rochdale for the better”.

“Rochdale needs an MP who will challenge the lazy Labour local council. We need an MP prepared to challenge Labour’s vested interests.

“We need an MP who will challenge, not cover up, Labour wrongdoing.”

The information shall be a significant increase for Reform, who’re comfortably beating the LibDems and Green Party to develop into the nation’s third hottest celebration.

A latest ballot confirmed the previous Brexit Party is now simply seven factors behind the Tories, although at the moment’s defection exhibits they’ll additionally decide up Labour assist.

Mr Danczuk was an outspoken critic of Jeremy Corbyn whereas nonetheless within the Labour Party, however stop in 2017 after he was banned from standing for the celebration within the snap normal election.

He branded Corbyn loyalists as “voting fodder”, and way back to 2017 threatened to face as an impartial candidate within the constituency.

Mr Danczuk was pressured to apologise in 2015 over allegations he despatched sexually specific texts to a 17-year-old woman.

The MP stated his behaviour had been inappropriate and silly, and apologised for letting anybody down.

At the time he obtained assist from Tory MPs, with the now-enabled Stewart Jackson saying he’d been “stitched up like a kipper by the Corbyn cronies”.

The Rochdale by-election will happen on February 29.

Former Labour MP George Galloway has stated he will even stand, after attaining 22 p.c of the vote within the Batley and Spen by-election in 2021.