Seismic Shift in Central Rotherham politics: 2016, a Momentous Year?

In June the Labour Party received 92 new membership applications from Rotherham East Ward, all were Muslims.

What is going on? What does it mean, as statistically it cannot be an accident or a coincidence when typical membership application numbers run at 2 or 3 per month?

It’s sufficiently suspicious for local officials to inform the Party’s Regional Office. Not as a  reaction to race or religion, as some will remember UNITE being accused of similar in Falkirk in order to rig a selection process. Then an inquiry was held.

The one thing we can be certain of is that the 92 have not suddenly become converts to Kier Hardy’s principles, nor even those of Tony Blair for that matter. Let’s face it, we’ll be surprised if most even know they’ve joined the Party.

One explanation for the 92 is that it reflects the battle going on between different groups within the Mirpuri community. A struggle for power.

Someone or some group are working on the principle that controlling the Ward means controlling the candidate choice for 2016. Again, knowing the uselessness of Labours central management they may well be right, as the promised selection process clean-up was running out of puff last year, never mind next.

In a previous article I referred to the old guard of Jahangir Akhtar & Shaukat Ali seeking to re-establish their power within the community and the Party. That they form one side that is seeking to re take power from the likes of Sagir Alam and other factions.

Readers will have noticed that the first respondent to that piece, Anonymous, confirmed its content by throwing a political threat in the face of Sagar Alam, simply for placing the wishes of the people before those of the taxi drivers.

Meaning that the purchasing of 92 memberships is like the opening bid in a forthcoming political game, where different biraderi use ward votes like poker chips to win control.

The build-up of such a block may well be a “two fingers up to you” response from those using the taxi drivers as their support. Remember Jahangir Akhtar’s tweeted threat to Councillors who didn’t support the taxi drivers? This may be the opening low.

It will be interesting to see if something similar happens in Boston Castle. If so war will definitely have been declared between biraderi…who knows, maybe now Akhtar and Mahroof are out of the Council they can openly declare the mutual contempt they once held quietly?

Another opinion, not necessarily contradictory is that Shaukat is concerned about being de selected as labour candidate for 2016. By taking such a big stake in Rotherham East Ward he is ensuring that whoever does get nominated has his approval. Or maybe building a legal challenge to de selection on the basis of his popularity

It is beginning to look like the 2016 elections for Rotherham Council will be the most significant since it was formed 40 years ago. And maybe momentous in terms of race relations.

All insights appreciated.

Wil Ewart