Red or Blue? It's up to you

[Nirvana]

When it comes to who will win, choices here are pretty simple for Birmingham Ladywood, and it comes down to one of 2 Muslim women!




In the Blue Corner:

Nusrat Ghani for the Conservatives. A local girl who went to the local university and was second choice. She only got the Conservative nomination because the guy they originally picked dropped out for some unknown reason.


In the Red Corner:

Shabana Mahmood for Labour. No-one is quite sure how she got nominated when there were so many strong local politicians stacked against her. How could a twenty-something failed lawyer from London come from nowhere to defeat popular local politicians to the nomination? Oh right, she's the daughter of the Labour Association's Chairman.

Other candidates:

Cllr Ayoub Khan for the LibDems - no hope
Lynette Nazemi-Afshar for UKIP - no hope
Peter Beck for the Greens - no hope
I'm not sure if Respect are putting forward a candidate.

I don't get a vote here, but if I did I would vote Conservative just because the Labour selection was basically corruption and blatant nepotism.

[Illuminate]

is this the best the two political parties could do..... lool

[NotAPrayer]

I don't get a vote here, but if I did I would vote Conservative just because the Labour selection was basically corruption and blatant nepotism.

Phew, I'm glad you're not involved then.

The main right wing criticism of mahmood has been not that the selection process was unfair (ie it wasn't 'corruption' or nepotism) but rather that it is evidence that Labour is favouring muslims. Why do you repeat and regurgitate islamophobic rubbish then say you would vote with the islamophobes?!?!

Seeing as how the Lib Dems have three times the votes of the Tories in Ladywood I can only conclude that you're suggesting voting Tory as some sort of trolling mechanism.

[Nirvana]

sounds a lot like you are one of the Mahmood braderi pushing the agenda of a corrupt and nepotistic clan so you can put all your relatives in power even if they are incompetent individuals who failed in their chosen professions. i've met the Labour candidate. she's an ignorant child, an intellectual light-weight and it doesn't surprise me that she failed in her bid to become a successful lawyer. luckily for her, Daddy was able to arrange a new job for her in London so she can go and be a failure in Westminster as well.

i'm not trolling at all. Ladywood constituency is a different animal from the Claire Short years. the influx of new middle-class and professional housing inside the constituency over the last few years has changed things dramatically in terms of voter types.

so now, in 2010, the Tories are in a significantly better position than the last election from this (redrawn) constituency would suggest. make no mistake. this IS a Marginal. the large Labour majority was down to the popularity of Claire Short. and her abandonment and public criticism of the Labour party means that this is by no means a safe Labour seat.

[NotAPrayer]

i'm not trolling at all. Ladywood constituency is a different animal from the Claire Short years. the influx of new middle-class and professional housing inside the constituency over the last few years has changed things dramatically in terms of voter types.

so now, in 2010, the Tories are in a significantly better position than the last election from this (redrawn) constituency would suggest. make no mistake. this IS a Marginal.

The Tories may or may not be in a slightly better position but they are still a massive third, look at the unemployment rates, hardly changed since the boundary was redrawn and still the worst in the entire country!

Even if you want to talk marginals, the lib dems are the second runner, why just spout the same islamophobic message as the Tories?

[Nirvana]

firstly, as someone who has chosen to be a Muslim i could hardly be accused of being Islamophobic.

secondly, if someone achieves a position through corruption and nepotism it is the duty of all of us, Muslim and non-Muslim, to condemn that. however if condemning corruption and nepotism by Muslims is 'Islamophobic' then i'll wear that badge proudly.

you need to distinguish between "right wingers" and "Tories" - you are disingenously using these two terms interchangably when they are not.

the "right wingers" may well hate Muslims. but we knew that already.

however, the "Tories" are the people who chose a Muslim woman as their candidate. you cannot seriously be levelling the "Islamophobe" accusation at the Blue team.

also, i think you have underestimated the demographic change in Ladywood. the constituency includes the city centre, which has seen the creation of thousands of expensive (i.e middle class professionals) flats since the last election. these thousands of new residents will not be traditional Labour voters. they are much more likely to be Tory. this race is wide open now. it wouldn't surprise me if Ladywood returns Nusrat Ghani as MP on 7th May 2010.

[NotAPrayer]

firstly, as someone who has chosen to be a Muslim i could hardly be accused of being Islamophobic.

a) you may well support policies that could be described as islamophobic, with or without realising it.

b) I said you were re-gurgitating right wing objections. I did not say you were islamophobic.

secondly, if someone achieves a position through corruption and nepotism it is the duty of all of us, Muslim and non-Muslim, to condemn that. however if condemning corruption and nepotism by Muslims is 'Islamophobic' then i'll wear that badge proudly.

Where is there any evidence of corruption or nepotism? Spreading rumours of criminal activity without evidence doesn't sound very islamic.

i think you have underestimated the demographic change in Ladywood. the constituency includes the city centre, which has seen the creation of thousands of expensive (i.e middle class professionals) flats since the last election. these thousands of new residents will not be traditional Labour voters. they are much more likely to be Tory. this race is wide open now.

Why do the unemployment figures still show ladywood as the worst in the country then? How many thousands do you think you need? (BTW it's a lot!)

the Blue team.

oh dear.

[Nirvana]

a) you may well support policies that could be described as islamophobic, with or without realising it.

b) I said you were re-gurgitating right wing objections. I did not say you were islamophobic.

if corruption exists, it doesnt matter whether it is a right-winger or a left-winger saying it. they are right to say it. the argument is NOT Islamophobic. it is the truth. Mahmood's selection was down to nepotism and corruption,

Where is there any evidence of corruption or nepotism? Spreading rumours of criminal activity without evidence doesn't sound very islamic.

i never said that anything illegal transpired. but that doesnt mean there is no corruption. all those MPs claiming expenses and dodging taxes all did so within the rules - perfectly legally. they were still corrupt though. similarly, i'm sure that intellectual lightweight Shabana Mahmood was nominated in a manner that was within the rules. however, the selection was corrupt. if her Daddy wasnt Chairman of the Labour association then this failed lawyer who has no relationship with the community would never have been chosen as their candidate. and you know it, so don't play games.

Why do the unemployment figures still show ladywood as the worst in the country then? How many thousands do you think you need? (BTW it's a lot!)

how many do i need? well i need zero as I am neither a candidate nor a member of the Brummie Tories. and you are generalising (and doing it incorrectly) that the unemployed working class will always vote Labour. they won't. they are as sick of the state of the economy as anyone else - maybe more so. and they will see the Tories as their best bet for improving the economy and getting them out of unemployment.

oh dear.

wow... you're really reaching for things to distract from the fact that you have disingenuously tried to make out that "right wingers" in Bham and "tories" are the same group and that they are both Islamophobes. your argument has no credibility as you are basically trying to decieve people by doing that. and you have been caught out.

suggesting that the Tories are Islamophobes, when they actually selected a Muslim woman as their candidate, makes your argument a joke. and everyone can see that. give up now and come back when you are able to decieve people more convincingly.

[NotAPrayer]

it is the truth. Mahmood's selection was down to nepotism and corruption,

i never said that anything illegal transpired. but that doesnt mean there is no corruption.

mmm, corruption is pretty illegal actually, you're just throwing around words.

you are generalising (and doing it incorrectly) that the unemployed working class will always vote Labour. they won't. they are as sick of the state of the economy as anyone else - maybe more so. and they will see the Tories as their best bet for improving the economy and getting them out of unemployment.

well you brought up the gentrification of the area!

suggesting that the Tories are Islamophobes, when they actually selected a Muslim woman as their candidate, makes your argument a joke. and everyone can see that. give up now and come back when you are able to decieve people more convincingly.

you really think a couple of muslim candidates changes a whole party?

So now you are accusing Mahmood of nepotism and corruption and criminal offences and accusing me of deceiving people. you're free and easy with your accusations aren't you?

[Nirvana]

mmm, corruption is pretty illegal actually, you're just throwing around words.

i already answered this one, but as you seem incapable of understanding the point (probably deliberately) let me try and explain it as simply as possible:

many MPs in parliament "flipped" their second homes in order to avoid paying capital gains tax when they sold their properties. they also charged the taxpayer for legal advice about how they could avoid paying taxes. all of this was legal. however, we all know that this behaviour is exceptionally corrupt. therefore, being corrupt does not necessarily mean you are a criminal as you can be corrupt whilst following the rules. Mahmood's selection was within the rules. which rules? the rules her Daddy manipulated to ensure his failed lawyer daughter was chosen ahead of many respected, competent and experienced politicians and activists. that was corrupt. and it was blatant nepotism.

the fact you are trying to stop all criticism of this corruption by playing the "Islamophobia" card makes you an immoral conman. a deceiver. you clearly are a supporter of the Mahmood's and their corrupt braderi.

well you brought up the gentrification of the area!

yes the constituency has become more middle class and we both know it. you haven't denied that. but you have claimed that because there is also high unemployment the constituency will always vote Labour. that's a false generalisation. the unemployed care as much about the state of the economy (probably more) than the employed.

you really think a couple of muslim candidates changes a whole party?

we weren't talking about the party. we are talking about the Birmingham Tories. you accused them of being right-wing Islamophobes. i pointed out that they selected a Muslim woman as a candidate. you ended up looking silly.

So now you are accusing Mahmood of nepotism and corruption and criminal offences and accusing me of deceiving people. you're free and easy with your accusations aren't you?

you are a liar. i never accused the Mahmood of criminal offences. and everyone who reads this thread can see that you lie when you accuse me of saying that. i accuse them of corruption and nepotism, yes.

and the fact you accuse me of saying something i didnt makes my accusation against you of deception very accurate.

[faith28]

I don't how corrupt the mps are ..as they're more or less the same - I'd still vote labour personally. The thought of conservatives in power gives me the shivers.

[Nirvana]

sister, i think 90% of the politicians are self-serving liars. so unless i have the option of a genuine and uncorrupt candidate (like Respect) i have no choice but to look for the lesser of two evils.

personally i'm very disappointed with the Labour party. they are the party who repeatedly lied to us about everything. they are the party who ruined our economy, sold our assets (like the Gold reserve) at bargain basement prices. and unforgivably, they are the party who caused the deaths of millions of innocent Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan. the Labour party has the blood of innocent Muslims on their hands. so on a purely party-level basis i would never vote for them. and kicking out these war criminals is a high priority for me and if that means getting the Conservatives or someone else in then i'm all for that.

so when it comes to this election, and in this constituency, i think Conservative or LibDems are better choices, just to stop the murderous and corrupt Labour party from getting power here.

keep in mind that right now Ladywood is NOT a Labour constituency. it is represented by an Independent MP - Claire Short. if there was a decent independent candidate or Respect candidate who had a chance then i would throw my support behind them. sadly, neither of those options exists here.

[faith28]

sister, i think 90% of the politicians are self-serving liars. so unless i have the option of a genuine and uncorrupt candidate (like Respect) i have no choice but to look for the lesser of two evils.

personally i'm very disappointed with the Labour party. they are the party who repeatedly lied to us about everything. they are the party who caused the deaths of millions of innocent Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan. the Labour party has the blood of innocent Muslims on their hands. so on a purely party-level basis i would never vote for them. and kicking out these war criminals is a high priority for me and if that means getting the Conservatives or someone else in then i'm all for that.

so when it comes to this election, and in this constituency, i think Conservative or LibDems are better choices, just to stop the murderous and corrupt Labour party from getting power here.

keep in mind that right now Ladywood is NOT a Labour constituency. it is represented by an Independent MP - Claire Short. if there was a decent independent candidate or Respect candidate who had a chance then i would throw my support behind them. sadly, neither of those options exists here.

I believe it would be worse with conservative...don't forget conservatives supported the war against iraq and afghanistan.

We already have the lesser of two evils elected...I'd like to Gordon Brown

[Nirvana]

I believe it would be worse with conservative...don't forget conservatives supported the war against iraq and afghanistan.

We already have the lesser of two evils elected...I'd like to Gordon Brown

i can appreciate your point of view. and i can understand why you would prefer Brown to Cameron. many people would and that's because Cameron is an unknown quantity and a bit too slick.

it's correct that the conservatives did support the war in Iraq, but that was based on the lies they were told by the cabinet (Blair, Brown, Straw et al) about the situation in Iraq. so i am prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt on that one.

and i think that if we support the Muslim candidates of the Tories then, as a community, we will have a stronger voice in the corridors of power. if there were twenty independent minded, young(ish) Muslim MPs in Parliament then the chances of war crimes like the illegal wars would be much lower.

the current crop of (disgracefully self-serving) four Muslim MPs are a poor representation of the UK Muslim community. and i'm passionate that we don't keep sending corrupt Muslims to Parliament - which is exactly what would happen if Labour won the Ladywood ward... another corrupt Muslim name in the house of commons disgracing our community.

but i do want a Muslim to be elected for Ladywood. so i think we should all support Nusrat Ghani. she is a lifelong local, involved in the community. she was selected on merit. and she has a clean slate. you couldnt say that about the Labour candidate!

[Seperatist]

i can appreciate your point of view. and i can understand why you would prefer Brown to Cameron. many people would and that's because Cameron is an unknown quantity and a bit too slick.

it's correct that the conservatives did support the war in Iraq, but that was based on the lies they were told by the cabinet (Blair, Brown, Straw et al) about the situation in Iraq. so i am prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt on that one.

and i think that if we support the Muslim candidates of the Tories then, as a community, we will have a stronger voice in the corridors of power. if there were twenty independent minded, young(ish) Muslim MPs in Parliament then the chances of war crimes like the illegal wars would be much lower.

the current crop of (disgracefully self-serving) four Muslim MPs are a poor representation of the UK Muslim community. and i'm passionate that we don't keep sending corrupt Muslims to Parliament - which is exactly what would happen if Labour won the Ladywood ward... another corrupt Muslim name in the house of commons disgracing our community.

but i do want a Muslim to be elected for Ladywood. so i think we should all support Nusrat Ghani. she is a lifelong local, involved in the community. she was selected on merit. and she has a clean slate. you couldnt say that about the Labour candidate!

The trouble with Muslim MP's is when they do get in they go coco....and I can't see it being any different whether it's four or twenty (blackbirds baked in a pie).....politics is a corrupting business, there's no hope and really we all know it.

[Seperatist]

When it comes to who will win, choices here are pretty simple for Birmingham Ladywood, and it comes down to one of 2 Muslim women!




In the Blue Corner:

Nusrat Ghani for the Conservatives. A local girl who went to the local university and was second choice. She only got the Conservative nomination because the guy they originally picked dropped out for some unknown reason.


In the Red Corner:

Shabana Mahmood for Labour. No-one is quite sure how she got nominated when there were so many strong local politicians stacked against her. How could a twenty-something failed lawyer from London come from nowhere to defeat popular local politicians to the nomination? Oh right, she's the daughter of the Labour Association's Chairman.


I don't get a vote here, but if I did I would vote Conservative just because the Labour selection was basically corruption and blatant nepotism.

Lol...and the tory selection wasn't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????

'Unknown reason'...hehe.

[Nirvana]

Lol...and the tory selection wasn't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????

'Unknown reason'...hehe.

no, there's no suggestion from anyone about that. i probably worded it badly.

the Tories originally elected some guy (can't remember his name) as their candidates. then about 6 months before the election he said he no longer wanted to be a candidate, but didn't give a reason. so the Tories had a brand new election for who their candidate would be and Nusrat Ghani won.

i've been following this saga on the Birmingham politics forums for a while now. it's a really interesting background story to all this palaver.

[NotAPrayer]

it's correct that the conservatives did support the war in Iraq, but that was based on the lies they were told by the cabinet (Blair, Brown, Straw et al) about the situation in Iraq. so i am prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt on that one.

Is it comedy hour already?