CONSTITUENCY:

Blackburn

MUSLIM DEMOGRAPHICS:

Muslim Population*	25,890	25.7%
Muslims of Voting Age	16,570

2001 ELECTION RESULT:

Labour	21,808		54%
Tory	12,559		31%
Lib Dem	3,264		8%
Others	2,853		7%

Total Turnout	40,484	55.8%
Majority	9,249

CANDIDATES:

	Independent	Conclusions

 

Jack Straw (Labour)

Summary

Jack Straw LABOUR Blackburn   BAD GOOD

Voting History

War

Voted for Invasion of Iraq ( Iraq - Declaration of War, 18 Mar 2003)

Voted for Air strikes on Afghanistan (Coalition Against International Terrorism, 1 Nov 2001)

Anti-Terror Laws

Absent for vote on Indefinite detention without charge, without trial (Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill - Clauses 22 to 24 - Indefinite Detention - 21 Nov 2001)

Absent for vote on Renewal of above law (Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 - Renewal of Part 4 sections 21-23 - 3 Mar 2004)

Absent for vote on Control orders – house arrests (Prevention of Terrorism Bill - Third Reading - 28 Feb 2005)

Muslim Schools

Absent for vote on Proposed amendment to Education Bill forcing all new state funded religious schools to reserve at least a quarter of places to children from other faiths thereby effectively destroying the religious ethos of the school. This disproportionately targeted the Muslim community as out of around 7000 existing state funded religious schools that would escape this law only 4 were Muslim - all new Muslim schools would be effected.(Education Bill - New Clause 1 6 Feb 2002)

 

Early Day Motions

Islamophobia

Did not sign EDM on Call for BBC to sack Kilroy-Silk for his racist comments. (EDM 383, 08.01.04)

Halal Meat

Did not sign EDM on Call for the government to work actively to end religious slaughter in the UK (EDM 104, 26.11.03)

Hijab

Did not sign EDM on Call for UK & EU partners to protest France's ban on religious symbols in schools. (EDM 461, 21.01.04)

Israel

Did not sign EDM on Call for suspension of EU-Israel Association Agreement which gives Israel preferential trade terms with the EU. (EDM 1288, 26.05.04)

Did not sign EDM on Call for sanctions against Israel for not complying with the International Court of Justice decision on the illegality of the separation wall.(EDM 162, 24.11.04)

US

Did not sign EDM exposing double standards in US foreign policy regarding terrorism and democracy. (EDM 664, 04.02.05)

 

Election Survey:

Questionnaire not returned.

If you live in this constituency we request that you email our sample letter to this candidate asking them to respond - its your right to know what your candidate stands for. Failure to respond may be interpreted as a candidates unwilling to clarify his or her real position and a disregard for the concerns of Muslim constituents.

 

Other Information

As Britain's Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw is rightly held responsible for much of Britains appalling policy towards Muslims around the world - from the invasion of Iraq, invasion of Afghanistan, to supporting Israel in its oppression of the Palestinian people.

Whilst Jack Straw was absent from voting on the anti-terror laws he has always defended them and last December he attacked the decision of the House of Lords that the indefinite detention of foreigners without charge or trial was in breach of human rights laws.[1]

During Labour's first term in power Jack Straw was the Home Secretary. As Home Secretary he introduced the Terrorism Act 2000 which proscribed parts of Hammas and Hizbullah as illegal terrorist organisation's.

When the Guardian newspaper asked one of Jack Straws Muslim constituents what he thought, he replied "He has done nothing good for Muslims, he's siphoned the vote off us for many years. As home secretary he introduced anti-terrorism laws which totally discriminated against Muslims and now as foreign secretary he is going around the world subjugating Muslim countries.All he has done is abuse the power the Muslim community has given him."[2] We couldn't put it any better!

[1] Lords wrong on detainees - Straw, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4103987.stm

[2] "War pitches Straw into survival battle", by Patrick Barkham, 20 April 2005, The Guardian.

 

 

Anthony Melia (Lib-Dem)

Summary

Anthony Melia LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Blackburn   BAD GOOD

Voting History/Early Day Motions

Not Applicable

Election Survey:

Questionnaire not returned.

If you live in this constituency we request that you email our sample letter to this candidate asking them to respond - its your right to know what your candidate stands for. Failure to respond may be interpreted as a candidates unwilling to clarify his or her real position and a disregard for the concerns of Muslim constituents.

Other Information

No information available.

 

Imtiaz Ameen (Tory)

Summary

Imtiaz Ameen CONSERVATIVE Blackburn   BAD GOOD

Voting History/Early Day Motions

Not Applicable

Election Survey:

Questionnaire not returned.

If you live in this constituency we request that you email our sample letter to this candidate asking them to respond - its your right to know what your candidate stands for. Failure to respond may be interpreted as a candidates unwilling to clarify his or her real position and a disregard for the concerns of Muslim constituents.

Other Information

Imtiaz Ameen has been a Tory councilor for Kirklees/Dewsbury area for a couple of years.

In March 2004 Kirklees Conservative Party caused uproar when they opportunistically announced, in a bid to attract BNP voters, that if they win control of the council in the upcoming June election, they would stop asylum seekers coming to the area by tearing up the councils contract to take in a percentage of the asylum seekers. Imtiaz Ameen, at the time a councilor in Kirklees (Thornhill), defended his position accusing asylum seekers of "begging" and insisting that they are given houses "at the drop of a hat" which is causing "unnecessary friction". (In response, Kirklees Council leader, councilor Kath Pinnock, said she was sad and disappointed asylum seekers and refugees were being attacked in this way, and said the Conservatives had never raised these issues with her or in an official council arena. She said refugee access to housing was exactly the same as anyone else and applications were processed in the same way.)

In an article on his candidacy that appeared in a Muslim magazine.[1] he refrained from issuing racist statements against asylum seekers, instead espoused his opposition to the war but at the same time made it clear that he is a party man and that "rebelling [against the party] should be an absolute last resort."

We have our reservations. The Muslim community will no doubt be targeted just as vociferously if not more by a Conservative government as it is by a Labour one. What the Muslim community needs is someone who puts his community first before his party - if in order to protect his community it means regularly rebelling against the party then so be it.

In another article Imtiaz Ameen revealed that he plans to attract a third of the Muslim vote directly from Labour to Conservative.[3]

 

[1] http://www.mcb.org.uk/vote2005/Imtiaz.php

[2] Asylum plans spark storm , Dewsbury Today 19 March 2004. http://www.dewsburytoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=28&ArticleID=759759

[3] Tory hopeful takes on the mighty Jack Straw, http://www.muslimprofessionals.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=963

 

Graham Carter (Green)

Summary

Graham Carter GREEN Blackburn   BAD GOOD

Voting History

Not Applicable

Election Survey:

Questionnaire not returned.

If you live in this constituency we request that you email our sample letter to this candidate asking them to respond - its your right to know what your candidate stands for. Failure to respond may be interpreted as a candidates unwilling to clarify his or her real position and a disregard for the concerns of Muslim constituents.

Other Information

No information available.

Craig Murray (Independent)

Summary

Craig Murray   Independent Blackburn   BAD GOOD

Voting History/Early Day Motions

Not Applicable

Election Survey:

For information on the Election Survey including why certain questions were asked and how certain answers may be interpreted click here.

ANTI-TERROR LAWS 1. Do you feel Muslims have been unfairly targeted by the anti-terrorism laws? YES [] NO [ ] 2. Would you oppose the introduction of more anti-terror legislation? YES [] NO [ ] 3. Do you support the current Stop and Search powers under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 which gives the police power to stop and search without any suspicion or reason? YES [] NO [] 4. Do you oppose the Extradition Act 2003 which allows the extradition of British citizens to the US without the need for the US to provide prima facie evidence to support the extradition request. The US has itself refused to allow its citizens to be extradited to the UK under the same conditions. YES [] NO [] 5. Would you support the repealing of the current anti-terror laws (starting with the Terrorism Act 2000)? YES [] NO [ ] ISLAMOPHOBIA 6. Do you agree that Muslims are being discriminated against due to their religion? YES [] NO [ ] 7. Currently the race-relations law in Britain protects other religious minorities like Jews and Sikhs from discrimination but it excludes Muslims leaving them unprotected. Would you support new legislation that would protect Muslims from discrimination? YES [] NO [ ] 8. Do you support the proposed law on incitement to 'religious hatred'? YES [] NO [] 9. Would you support the recording and monitoring of Islamophobic attacks and incidents? YES [] NO [ ] HIJAB 10. Do you support the right of Muslim girls to wear hijab in schools? YES [] NO [ ] 11. Would you sign a petition against the french ban on hijab in schools? YES [] NO [ ] 12. Do you agree that for a school to ban a Muslim girl from wearing jilbab (as in Shabina Begums case) it is violating her human rights? YES [] NO [ ] MUSLIM SCHOOLS 13. Do you support state-funding for Muslim schools? YES [] NO [] I should explain that I am against state funding for ANY religious schools, including C of E, catholic, jewish or Muslim. 14. If yes, would you support state funding for Muslim schools so that it reflects demographically the level of funding already enjoyed by Catholic, Protestant and Jewish schools? YES [ ] NO [ ] WAR 15. If the government proposed an attack on Iran or Syria would you oppose it? YES [] NO [ ] 16. If your previous answer is yes, what if the attack had UN sanction would you still oppose it? YES [] NO [ ] 17. Do you agree that Bush should face war crimes charges? YES [] NO [ ] PALESTINE 18. Do you support the Palestinian right of return to any part of historic Palestine (including what is now Israel)? YES [] NO [ ] 19. Do you agree that whilst Israel ignores UN resolutions and the verdicts of the International Court, Israeli goods should be boycotted? YES [] NO [ ] 20. Do you agree that an arms embargo should be imposed on Israel whilst it continues killing Palestinian civilians? YES [] NO [ ] 21. Are you a member of a "friends of Israel" group? YES [ ] NO [] 22. Do you agree that Sharon should be indicted for war crimes? YES [] NO [ ] TERRORISM & LIBERATION 23. Do you think that the ANC (African National Congress) was a terrorist organisation? YES [ ] NO [] 24. Do you think that Hizbullah is a terrorist organisation? YES [ ] NO [ ] 25. Do you think that Hamas is a terrorist organisation? YES [ ] NO [ ] 26. Do you think that the MKO (Mujaheddin e Khalq) is a terrorist organisation? YES [ ] NO [ ] 27. How would you describe Russia's actions in Chechnya? Genocide [] Ethnic Cleansing [] State Terrorism [] Fighting Terrorism [] 28. Do Kashmiris have a right to liberate their land from Indian military occupation? YES [] NO [ ] 29. Which country do you consider the greatest threat to world peace? USA MESSAGE 30. Your message to the Muslim community (around 100 words): While British Ambassador to Uzbekistan I worked ceaselessly to try to protect the Muslim community from the dreadful oppression of the Karimov regime. I came face to face with numerous victims of torture and rape. This regime has massive USA financial and military support as part of the so-called "War on Terror". I sacrificed my career for my effort to help defenceless Muslims and to stand up to the USA. Jack Straw has personally agreed that we should continue to receive "intelligence" from the torture chambers of Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and elsewhere. That material can be used to lock away Muslims in this country without trial. Blair has sold out our foreign policy to Bush and the neo-conservative agenda. Jack Straw is simply a lackey to the USA's quest to seize oil. He must be defeated in Blackburn. Craig Murray

 

Other Information

Craig Murray was the British ambassador to Uzbekistan for two years before he was finally sacked last October by Jack Straw for speaking out against human rights abuses - routine torture - in Uzbekistan and against Britain's complicity in it by allowing MI6 to use intelligence obtained under torture and to pass it on to the CIA. In interviews he described how Muslims who did not recant their faith were boiled to death by the Uzbek tyrant Karimov - Bush's strategic partner in his war of terror.

Additional Information:

• Interview with Craig Murray:
  http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=6179

• Craig Murray's Website
  http://www.craigmurray.co.uk

Conclusions

Muslims form 26% of the population in this constituency, most voted for Jack Straw at the last election giving him 54% of the vote - a clear 23% lead over his closest rival - the Tories. Its unlikely that he can keep his seat without Muslim support.

Jack Straws record is that of a war monger directing this country's war of terror against Muslims around the world. On the other hand we have Craig Murray who was sacked by Jack Straw for defending Muslims in Uzbekistan. As Muslims we could do a lot worse than to show our support for Craig Murray and vote for him even as a protest vote against Jack Straw.

 

Election Guide Home

* Our figures are conservative reflecting the minimal strength of the Muslim vote:

1. The Muslim population figures are taken from the 2001 census. The religion question was optional and many Muslims did not feel comfortable giving out this information if wasn't a requirement. (This writer knows of two members of his own family who did not answer this question out of fear that one day this data will be used to discriminate against them).

2. Our statistics assume only 64% of the Muslim population is of voting age (18+). This figure is much lower than the national average because the Muslim population is the youngest in the country with 34% under the age of 16 (the national average is 20% under 16). Please note that our estimates are slightly less than those given on the MCB website.

(source http://www.statistics.gov.uk)

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