Will Abdal be “the people’s choice”?

Support builds for Abdal Ullah as Labour members
warm to “a safe pair of hands”

Labour Party members across East London will begin voting on Monday to choose a Labour candidate for the Greater London Assembly elections next May. And as they weigh up the necessary qualities of competence and electability, it looks as if Abdal Ullah may be edging ahead.

Abdal’s record of involvement with London-wide bodies seems to be finding favour with those who are looking for a trustworthy candidate.

Abdal’s campaign received a strong boost recently when Alan Johnson MP stepped in to back him. Johnson seems to have been particularly taken by Abdal’s enthusiastic pledge to work “from Brick Lane to Barking; from Docklands to Dagenham” and sees him as someone who will gather support from all the communities and across all generations.

Abdal’s biggest rival, former Tower Hamlets Labour councillor Motin Uz-Zaman, had good support at the Bethnal Green & Bow shortlisting meeting, but it is not clear that this will turn into votes when the ballots come out. Uz-Zaman has been campaigning on his record as a Labour Councillor, but party members point out that his career ended when his ward constituents did not re-elect him last May – not a good start for a winning GLA campaign. Uz-zaman has been very clear about his opposition to Lutfur Rahman and his strong support for John Biggs – which has not gone down well with those party members who are looking for a more conciliatory and election-winning approach.

Newham councillor Unmesh Desai is receiving strong support from some Newham Councillors, but he is thought to be losing support from ordinary and younger members who see Cllr Desai as closely associated with Mayor Sir Robin Wales, whose redevelopment vision for Newham is causing concern among many communities in the borough.

Cllr Rocky Gill from Barking & Dagenham is pushing his traditional Labour approach, but is finding it hard to gain support outside his area. Murad Qureshi has done much for East Londoners as a “top up” Labour GLA member for several years, but his links with party members in the area may be too weak for him to make much headway in the members’ ballot.

If the choice were to be made on the basis of the nominees’ use of new technology, Abdal Ullah would win hands down. Murad Qureshi has sent few emails to local members, with Unmesh not having sent any blanket emails at all. Motin uz-Zaman has no campaign website, and Rocky Gill’s site is often down due to technical problems. Abdal, however, has both kept members up to date with targeted emails and is running a comprehensive campaign website.

Ballots go out to Labour Party members in the area from next Monday.

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