Power ebbs away?

Mahroof, Akhtar and Shaukat built their power and influence on the backs of the Mirpuri voters, providing Labour with what appeared a granite like block vote.

For obvious reasons all are now below the radar, keeping quiet, but it would be foolish to assume they have given up on power.

N0, they are behind the emergence of a young birideristas group, that is family and friends (not all Asian) presenting themselves as the fresh faces, almost the youth wing of the Biraderi.

BUT, this “youf” wing is not a force for modernity within the community, they are the new apologists and CSE deniers; more a recognition that in the short term at least the old guard are discredited. This lot are off the subs bench, not a new team.

There remains the old problem of finding new young faces who aren’t tied to a small set of families, partly down to hose family’s antagonism towards new blood from outside of the biraderi leadership caste.

However there is evidence that the Mirpuri vote is no longer granite like and that there are divisions. That they are losing their grip..

In Rotherham “the largest BME community is Pakistani & Kashmiri who numbered 7,912 in 2011 or 3.1% of the population.”

A few calculations (population, demographics & turnout) reduces the 7,912 into an “active voter” number of about 2600.

Interestingly……

at the 2012 By Election Yvonne Ridley got 1,778 votes, at least 1300 of whom will be of Pakistani/Kashmiri cethnic origin. Meaning that the so called granite block vote was split 50:50.

Rothpol has previously observed the sense of panic, and nasty animosity that Akhtar and Mahroof show towards Respect, now we know why. It doesn’t threaten Labour, it’s their power base within Labour.

Other factors are also turning against them.

In Bradford West Respect voters came from among the younger Pakistani; It is they who are rebelling against the misogynistic, patriarchal and caste ridden biraderi we have in Rotherham. With another three years since the election of Sarah Champion the proportion of Pakistani/Kashmiri voters in the “young” category will have grown significantly.

There is also their failure as leaders in one of their primary tasks…..maintaining the community’s reputation. There can be little doubt that the failures of the Pakistani Councillors have undermined their support within their own community.

Lastly there is electoral reform and the change from single household registration, to individual registration. Comment has recently centred on many students not registering to Vote.

Less commented upon is the power it can take away from the head of household in traditional Pakistani households…or even landlords who register their tenants. The postal vote may not be the friend it has traditionally been to the Labour Party.

Wuff Justice