Results for Baildon and the other wards in Bradford are now online on the council web site:

http://www.bradford.gov.uk/asp/elections/resultsDetailL.asp?id=63&eid=7

Thank you to everyone who voted for me.

Notable results from UKIP candidates in Bradford include Jason Smith in the Queensbury ward who was only 200 votes away from winning with 24.6% of the vote. Jamie Illingworth came second in Wibsey with 23.5%. These are excellent results and UKIP’s 700 candidates across the country are averaging 13% of the vote in the wards where they stood.

On Wednesday the TaxPayers’ Alliance released their sixth Town Hall Rich List – the most comprehensive survey of all council employees who receive more than £100,000 in a financial year. This year’s list covers the 2010-11 financial year but also lists 2009-10 figures for comparison. This year they documented a record number of employees receiving packages worth more than £100,000, topping 3,000 for the first time.

To find information on your local council’s fat cats, simply click the link below and enter your postcode:

http://www.taxpayersalliance.com/town-hall-rich-list-2012

A new e-petition has been launched on the Bradford Council web site after previously being disallowed.

The petition has been organised by Baildon Residents Against Inappropriate Development (BRAID) who have been holding protests against the plans to build a £25 million business park on the Buck Lane site. The group believes brown field sites should be considered for the scheme instead.

As a resident of Baildon, I am very concerned about the proposed development which seems to be a waste of taxpayers’ money. Thousands of existing business premises are currently empty across Bradford. There has also been a report raising concerns that the site, which is next to the former Baildon Chemical Works, is contaminated. Congestion on Otley Road would also be increased. Anyone who has to travel to and from work on that road knows how bad it already is.

The new petition calls upon Bradford Metropolitan District Council to declare the Buck Lane Site as a green space and develop it as a place for community recreation. It also calls on the Director of Regeneration and Culture to publicly demonstrate the financial viability of the Council’s decision to develop Buck Lane as an industrial estate.

The petition can be viewed and signed by clicking the link below:

http://epetition.bradford.public-i.tv/epetition_core/view/bucklane

Original article is here

The Liberal Democrats have fallen into fourth place behind Ukip in a shock poll result which will cement a sense of crisis in the party.

Just a day after a poll found the Liberal Democrats would be all but wiped out if a general election were held now, a YouGov survey for the Sun put the party on eight per cent – one point behind Ukip.

The result comes as it emerged Liberal Democrat councillors in North Tyneside have wiped all mention of their party from election leaflets in a bid to cling onto their seats.

It will also boost expectations for Ukip’s success in the upcoming local elections.

Supporters of the party complained that many London mayoral events – including those of the BBC and the Evening Standard – failed to include the Ukip candidate but made room for Green contender Jenny Jones, despite the party outpolling the Greens on projected seats on the London Assembly.

George Galloway’s shock victory in Bradford West also showed how easy it is for fringe groups to outmanoeuvre mainstream parties on their far left or right flank during mid-term votes.

In its wake, pollsters will be expecting a strong performance from Ukip at the start of next month, when local elections are held.

The YouGov survey put Labour on 43% and the Tories on 32%.

A separate Populus poll for the Times put Labour up four per cent on last month and nine points ahead of the Tories.

The result comes as George Osborne’s Budget continues to unravel, with rows over the 50p tax rate decision and taxes on pasties, grannies and philanthropy dominating the headlines.

As we approach the 2012 local elections being held on 3rd May, UKIP has launched our latest manifesto on local politics.

Why vote for UKIP in your local elections? Because UKIP stands for bringing government back to where it belongs – with the people. We believe in power for local people over the councils, and for local councils over central government.

Elected councillors should put their communities, not party politics, first. Important local issues should be put to binding local referenda; and above all, councils should be there to serve their communities, not just spend their money.

Today, local government is under attack.

Central government insists that councils cut spending. Greedy council executives pay themselves huge salaries while slashing front-line services, libraries, public transport and road repairs. The politically correct brigade go on creating non-jobs while cutting care for the elderly and vulnerable.

Increasingly, UKIP is recognised as the party with an honest, fresh approach to government at all levels: that’s why a steady stream of local councillors have come over to us this year.

Almost a million people voted UKIP in the last general election and we now have councillors all over the country, demonstrating what UKIP stands for in local government: taking responsibility, saving money, getting our sleeves rolled up and serving the people.

The full manifesto can be downloaded as a PDF using the link below:

http://www.jamesfell.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/ukip-local-manifesto-2012.pdf

UKIP is pleased to announce that Sonja McNally will be its candidate in the forthcoming Bradford West by-election.

The married mum-of-two has always lived in the Bradford West area and has previously been a candidate and member of the Green Party. Sonja has a solid track record in community involvement.

She is chairperson of community group Upper Heaton Working Together and is membership secretary of the Heaton Township Association.

The UKIP candidate was also a volunteer with Bradford Nightstop – an organisation that provides assistance and accommodation for 16 to 25 year olds who find themselves homeless.

Sonja has also been a Bradford Street Angel which saw her walking the streets of the city on a Friday and Saturday night providing assistance where needed.

She is a governor of Frizinghall Primary School and also of Feversham College – a voluntary aided specialist science school for Muslim girls aged 11 to 18 years.

Sonja is also on a Hate Panel – an initiative that sees local residents meeting up regularly to discuss how police deal with reported cases of a hate crime

Politically, Sonja was a member of the Green Party and stood as a candidate for the Toller Ward (Bradford West area) in 2009.

In 2010 and 2011 she stood as a Green candidate in Heaton Ward.

Sonja joined UKIP at the beginning of this year and said: “I am proud to be the UKIP candidate for this forthcoming by-election and represent a party that is offering a fresh choice in British politics.

“My track record in volunteering and community work means I know what matters to local people.

“Bradford West deserves a MP that cares about the area – not a career politician only selected by a party to increase their numbers.

“In the case of George Galloway, he is little more than a political opportunist desperate to remain in the limelight to keep his Z-list celebrity credentials intact.”

UKIP Leader Nigel Farage said: “Sonja is a first class candidate who knows that patch like the back of her hand.

“Voters have become fed up with the empty promises of the so-called big three parties and are increasingly looking elsewhere.

“UKIP is slowly and surely building up a credible reputation in local politics and giving the others a run for their money.

“Remember it was only last year that we came second in the Barnsley by-election to Labour, polling more votes that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats combined.”

UKIP Candidate for Bradford West Sonja McNally has spoken out about the ongoing saga of the Odeon demolition.

Speaking to the Bradford Telegraph and Argus, she called for a Bradford-wide vote on the future of the building:

“As someone who has been in the past an usherette at the Odeon, for me the Odeon is part of Bradford and it belongs to the people of Bradford and it’s up to them to make the decision.”

We want to put the future of the city in the hands of the Bradford people. The best way to get regeneration moving in Bradford would be to have a district wide vote on the Odeon. This would get people involved with the rebuilding of our city and give the Council a popular mandate to act…and act quickly!

The Council and previous “regeneration” organisations have systematically left the iconic Odeon to rot, with the express desire to demolish.

UKIP activists also attended the “Hug the Odeon” event, in which many local people came to protest about the demolition of the building.

We would like to retain the Odeon or at least the facade – we don’t want our city to look like any other generic city in the UK – and with the Alhambra, it shows Bradford as a distinct place with our own history and culture. But ultimately the future of the city should be decided by the people of Bradford themselves.

We have been campaigning for a referendum on the future of the Odeon for years. Back in 2007 UKIP was the only party to call for a referendum and attacked the failed regeneration policies of the Council:

T&A (UKIP call for referendum 2007):
http://bit.ly/xeuzAi

Yorkshire Post (UKIP demand resignation and referendum 2008):
http://bit.ly/yeHyDs

T&A Letter (UKIP – how a referendum could work 2009):
http://bit.ly/yc0tlh

“Hug the Odeon” event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0CzbN1PX7o

Original article: here

Former MP George Galloway was back on the campaign trail and kissing babies today as he announced he was “almost certain” to stand in the forthcoming Bradford West by-election.

The former Respect MP, who was expelled from the Labour Party in 2003, stood on the steps of Bradford’s City Hall to explain he had come to test the water but “the chances are” he will stand in the poll.

He said: “I’m here to take the temperature in the city. I’m finding it warm and sunny so far.

“By the end of the day I’ll have a better picture but the chances are that if and when the House of Commons declares the by-election on and the nominations open then I will be candidate for Respect in the Bradford West constituency.”

After he was told the by-election would probably be in about three-and-a-half weeks time, he said he was “almost certain” he would stand.

Mr Galloway was expelled from the Labour Party in 2003 over comments he made about the war in Iraq.

But his profile continued to grow as he appeared regularly on TV, famously making an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in 2006.

The former Glasgow Labour MP returned to the Commons in 2005 when he won the Bethnal Green seat for his Respect party.

But he failed to get elected when he stood in Poplar and Limehouse in the 2010 general election.

No date has yet been fixed for the Bradford West poll.

The by-election has been triggered because last week Labour backbencher Marsha Singh announced he is to step down as an MP. He said his resignation was on medical advice owing to “serious health problems”.

Mr Singh has represented Bradford West, a Labour stronghold, since 1997.

Mr Galloway said; “Bradford needs a strong voice to speak up for the people and the city with the many problems which it has.”

He said: “What do I offer? Well, I offer a well known face, a well known voice and a well known set of capabilities.”

He told the small crowd which had gathered he was a “freedom fighter” who was “not here to cause any trouble”.

Mr Galloway spoke for about 15 minutes before touring a sun-drenched Centenary Square in the city centre.

He embraced supporters, endured some chanting by a handful of detractors and managed to kiss one baby: a slightly cautious-looking Salina Suleman, 19 months.

But Mr Galloway was pipped to the post as the first candidate to declare they are definitely standing in the poll by UKIP’s Sonja McNally.

Mother-of-two Ms McNally wasted no time in declaring Mr Galloway “little more than a political opportunist desperate to remain in the limelight”.

The ex-Green Party council candidate, who joined UKIP at the beginning of this year, said: “Bradford West deserves an MP that cares about the area, not a career politician only selected by a party to increase their numbers.

“In the case of George Galloway, he is little more than a political opportunist desperate to remain in the limelight to keep his Z-list celebrity credentials intact.”

UKIP Leader Nigel Farage said: “Sonja is a first-class candidate who knows that patch like the back of her hand.

“Voters have become fed up with the empty promises of the so-called big three parties and are increasingly looking elsewhere.

“UKIP is slowly and surely building up a credible reputation in local politics and giving the others a run for their money.”

Original article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2109532/Tory-MEP-Roger-Helmer-defects-UKIP-row-Baroness-Warsi.html

A Conservative MEP will today announce his defection to the UK Independence Party following a furious row with Tory party Chairman Baroness Warsi.

In a ferocious attack, Roger Helmer blamed Lady Warsi’s ‘obstinancy’ for his decision to quit the Tories after 40 years.

Mr Helmer, who has been an MEP since 1999, added that he had grown increasingly disillusioned with David Cameron’s policies.

The outspoken eurosceptic MEP will announce his defection at UKIP’s spring conference in Skegness today.

Mr Helmer, 68, revealed that he wanted to stand down as an East Midlands Tory MEP last year after growing ‘disillusioned’ with his party.

But he has grown increasingly angry over Lady Warsi’s refusal to confirm that Rupert Matthews, who is the ‘next in line’ candidate, would succeed him.

Mr Helmer said he had been left with ‘no choice’ but to defect. Instead of stepping down, he will now carry on as an MEP for UKIP until the next European elections.

Tory MPs have accused Lady Warsi of wanting to block Mr Matthew’s appointment so she could parachute an approved A list candidate – preferably a woman – into the seat.

A former businessman, Mr Helmer has been a Conservative MEP since 1999 and is regarded as a popular figure among grass root Tories.

Mr Helmer said: ‘After decades with the Conservative Party, this has been a tough decision to take. I well understand that many of my friends and colleagues in the Party will greet the news with dismay, and I greatly regret that.’

‘I sought in good faith to do the honourable thing, and to resign in favour of the next-in-line Conservative, Rupert Matthews. Indeed in October I announced my intention to resign at the end of 2011. But that plan was frustrated by the deliberate obstinacy and recalcitrance of the Party Chairman.’

He added: ‘She has brought this on herself. I couldn’t make her do the right thing, but I can make her regret doing the wrong thing.’

Mr Helmer added: “The fact is that UKIP represents the values and interests of East Midlands Conservatives much better than Cameron’s Tory Party does.

‘I believe I can do a better job representing those views and interests as a member of UKIP than I could in the Tory Party.

‘The European project is collapsing before our eyes, yet the three main parties remain wedded to the Brussels dream.’

UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: ‘Roger Helmer is going to be a very popular addition to our party. He is hard working, driven and commands respect among the Tory grassroots.’

The proposed development of a 50 bed nursing home in a quiet residential area, promoted by Baildon Liberal Democrats, is threatening to cause a range of problems for local residents.

The planning application to construct the £3 million facility on the current site of Laverley House on West Lane was submitted in November 2011 and is still under review. The case in favour of the new nursing home is mainly based on a perceived need for such a care facility in the area. However, a quick search on CareHomesYorkshire.com found that 4 nursing homes and 1 residential care home already exist within 1 mile of the proposed site! There are also domiciliary care services available in the area from several care providers.

There would of course be a benefit in the creation of some new jobs. However, there are several problems that would unfortunately outweigh that one benefit.

James Fell, the UKIP candidate for Baildon, commented: “I myself live very close to the proposed site, and it is all too obvious to me that the traffic problems we already experience here will be made vastly worse if the development goes ahead. The plans for the nursing home do not show sufficient parking spaces for the number of staff and visitors that a home of that size would expect. This would lead to even more cars being parked on the streets in the surrounding areas. There would also obviously be a big increase in traffic on what is already a dangerous road due to speeding. Increased noise and road safety issues would have a very negative impact on local residents.”

“Given that planning permission has already been refused for building 10 houses on the site, I do not see how it could be viewed as acceptable to build a large nursing home there instead” he added.

To see all current objections to the planning application, and to add your own comments, please visit the following web page run by Bradford Council:

http://www.planning4bradford.com/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=LUI5WZDHC1000