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Political lessons from Bradford's 'second Spring' Political lessons from Bradford's 'second Spring'
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We cannot yet be sure whether Bradford is setting a new political template nationally by breaking the stranglehold of the three-party politics bunched up to the centre-right of the political spectrum, or whether the Respect victories at the by-election and council polls are just a local and temporary phenomenon.We cannot yet be sure whether Bradford is setting a new political template nationally by breaking the stranglehold of the three-party politics bunched up to the centre-right of the political spectrum, or whether the Respect victories at the by-election and council polls are just a local and temporary phenomenon.
What is certain is that Respect's succession of victories has shaken up the political establishment and highlighted the need for local leaders to wake from political stupor and stand up as champions for a city that appears to be in terminal economic decline.   What is certain is that the Respect party's succession of victories has shaken up the political establishment and highlighted the need for local leaders to wake from political stupor and stand up as champions for a city that appears to be in terminal economic decline.  
The austerity measures coming on the back of Bradford's post-industrial decline and the aftershock of the recession have hit the city very hard. Nobody underestimates the Labour administration's unenviable task of having to administer budgetary cuts of £48 million last year and £31 million this year following one of the worst financial settlements from central government.The austerity measures coming on the back of Bradford's post-industrial decline and the aftershock of the recession have hit the city very hard. Nobody underestimates the Labour administration's unenviable task of having to administer budgetary cuts of £48 million last year and £31 million this year following one of the worst financial settlements from central government.
What has angered Bradfordians is the perception of Labour's collusion with the agenda of what many perceive as a predominantly southern Cabinet with several millionaires. While Bradford has lost £129 per head in the financial settlement, residents in David Cameron's Witney constituency have only lost £26. The failure of Bradford MPs and councillors to stand up and publicly denounce such contrasts and the scale of these cuts has added to a widespread the perception locally of a political administration out of touch with its electorate. What has angered Bradfordians is the perception of Labour's collusion with the agenda of what many perceive as a predominantly southern Cabinet with several millionaires. While Bradford has lost £129 per head in the financial settlement, residents in David Cameron's Witney constituency have only lost £26. The failure of Bradford MPs and councillors to stand up and publicly denounce such contrasts and the scale of these cuts has added to a widespread perception locally of a political administration out of touch with its electorate.
The recent sale of the listed Victorian swimming pool in the deprived inner-city ward of Manningham for a paltry £67,000 to a private developer has become emblematic of a party that appears to have long forgotten the social justice agenda. At the same time as 93.3% of the residents of Manningham ward - ranked as being among the most deprived in the country with a quarter of its housing stock deemed unfit for human habitation - were being denied access to their only swimming leisure facility, the Labour-led administration had approved a £200,000 investment to refurbish a lido in the affluent Conservative-controlled district of Ilkley, where the Job Seekers Allowance claimant rate is 1% and residents are ranked as being among the richest in the country.The recent sale of the listed Victorian swimming pool in the deprived inner-city ward of Manningham for a paltry £67,000 to a private developer has become emblematic of a party that appears to have long forgotten the social justice agenda. At the same time as 93.3% of the residents of Manningham ward - ranked as being among the most deprived in the country with a quarter of its housing stock deemed unfit for human habitation - were being denied access to their only swimming leisure facility, the Labour-led administration had approved a £200,000 investment to refurbish a lido in the affluent Conservative-controlled district of Ilkley, where the Job Seekers Allowance claimant rate is 1% and residents are ranked as being among the richest in the country.
It is therefore no surprise that the majority of the candidates that Respect has been able to attract are actively opposed to swingeing local cuts. Four out of the five new Respect councilors have worked in the voluntary and community sector, where they have witnessed firsthand the effects on specialist mental health, domestic violence and youth services following tokenistic community consultation exercises, spurious equality impact assessments and closed-door political wheeling and dealing in setting budgetary priorities.It is therefore no surprise that the majority of the candidates that Respect has been able to attract are actively opposed to swingeing local cuts. Four out of the five new Respect councilors have worked in the voluntary and community sector, where they have witnessed firsthand the effects on specialist mental health, domestic violence and youth services following tokenistic community consultation exercises, spurious equality impact assessments and closed-door political wheeling and dealing in setting budgetary priorities.
Ishtiaq Ahmed, the newly elected Respect councilor for Manningham works for a local mental health charity and his ability to win 57.5% of the popular vote was achieved on the back of a clearly articulated agenda of tackling long-term structural and systemic deprivation in the ward. Likewise in the City ward where over a quarter of the population is made up of young people, the popular vote was won by Respect's Rukayyah Collector, a 28-year old student activist. Her campaign against the rise in student fees, the withdrawal of the Educational Maintenance Allowance, the withdrawal of youth services and rising youth unemployment resonated with young people who have seen employment opportunities in the city evaporate.Ishtiaq Ahmed, the newly elected Respect councilor for Manningham works for a local mental health charity and his ability to win 57.5% of the popular vote was achieved on the back of a clearly articulated agenda of tackling long-term structural and systemic deprivation in the ward. Likewise in the City ward where over a quarter of the population is made up of young people, the popular vote was won by Respect's Rukayyah Collector, a 28-year old student activist. Her campaign against the rise in student fees, the withdrawal of the Educational Maintenance Allowance, the withdrawal of youth services and rising youth unemployment resonated with young people who have seen employment opportunities in the city evaporate.
Youth unemployment has tripled in 12 months and risen by 40 per cent in the 12 weeks since the beginning of 2012. By 2020, half of Bradford's population will be under 25, the majority from Pakistani Muslim background and living in inner-city districts. The failure of local politicians to grasp the nettle of youth unemployment has been a political time bomb for some time. Now it has gone off.Youth unemployment has tripled in 12 months and risen by 40 per cent in the 12 weeks since the beginning of 2012. By 2020, half of Bradford's population will be under 25, the majority from Pakistani Muslim background and living in inner-city districts. The failure of local politicians to grasp the nettle of youth unemployment has been a political time bomb for some time. Now it has gone off.
It is unlikely that with just five out of its twelve candidates winning seats in the local council elections, Respect is going to change the political agenda of the city. But the party is clearly hoping to make local political accountability the platform from which to build its following. The new Respect councilor for Bradford Moor, Faisal Khan, has already expressed his determination to put educational accountability high on his agenda in an attempt to lift Bradford from its current position as 145th worst out of 155 in the national schools league table. Alyas Karmani, who toppled the Labour leader off his political perch in Little Horton, has promised to develop an inclusive vision of politics that bridges the city's deep ethnic and social divide.It is unlikely that with just five out of its twelve candidates winning seats in the local council elections, Respect is going to change the political agenda of the city. But the party is clearly hoping to make local political accountability the platform from which to build its following. The new Respect councilor for Bradford Moor, Faisal Khan, has already expressed his determination to put educational accountability high on his agenda in an attempt to lift Bradford from its current position as 145th worst out of 155 in the national schools league table. Alyas Karmani, who toppled the Labour leader off his political perch in Little Horton, has promised to develop an inclusive vision of politics that bridges the city's deep ethnic and social divide.
The defeated Labour leader Ian Greenwood has said that his party will not be forging an alliance with Respect, in an attempt to retain its majority control over the administration. Rebuffing the newcomers in this way, to the status of political pariahs, may prove counterproductive. The prospect of Respect councilors constantly nipping at the heels of their Labour, Conservative and Lib-Dem counterparts could be highly damaging. It would also be a desperate shame, because Bradford needs its collective political talent to work together to lift inner-city wards out of the economic morass.The defeated Labour leader Ian Greenwood has said that his party will not be forging an alliance with Respect, in an attempt to retain its majority control over the administration. Rebuffing the newcomers in this way, to the status of political pariahs, may prove counterproductive. The prospect of Respect councilors constantly nipping at the heels of their Labour, Conservative and Lib-Dem counterparts could be highly damaging. It would also be a desperate shame, because Bradford needs its collective political talent to work together to lift inner-city wards out of the economic morass.
The shock of the new has opened up a political space, introducing young councillors who have not been churned out of the homogenised party political machinery. They have a chance make their mark on local politics. The zeal with which they conducted their campaign should sound a cautionary note for anyone wanting to write them off too quickly. They are part of the new 'virtual generation', and the dexterity with which they have mobilised alternative approaches to galvanizing voters - the streaming of their messages over the Bradford Respect You Tube platform which circumvented the failure of the local press and media to give them a fair hearing; their proliferation of music, video and celebrity endorsements on the diverse social media platforms; their youthful army of male and female foot-soldiers pounding the streets of inner-city Bradford with their message of a new political 'coming'; the financial support of local Asian businesses – have all proved to be highly effective strategies in delivering them their local victory.The shock of the new has opened up a political space, introducing young councillors who have not been churned out of the homogenised party political machinery. They have a chance make their mark on local politics. The zeal with which they conducted their campaign should sound a cautionary note for anyone wanting to write them off too quickly. They are part of the new 'virtual generation', and the dexterity with which they have mobilised alternative approaches to galvanizing voters - the streaming of their messages over the Bradford Respect You Tube platform which circumvented the failure of the local press and media to give them a fair hearing; their proliferation of music, video and celebrity endorsements on the diverse social media platforms; their youthful army of male and female foot-soldiers pounding the streets of inner-city Bradford with their message of a new political 'coming'; the financial support of local Asian businesses – have all proved to be highly effective strategies in delivering them their local victory.
At a time when the disconnection between career politicians and voters is at a low point, this new ingredient on the council may just be the antidote that Bradford politics needs, to shift it from its current stupor. In the coming months the performance of the five Respect councillors will be subject to unprecedented scrutiny and their every word and action will be dissected to the nth degree.At a time when the disconnection between career politicians and voters is at a low point, this new ingredient on the council may just be the antidote that Bradford politics needs, to shift it from its current stupor. In the coming months the performance of the five Respect councillors will be subject to unprecedented scrutiny and their every word and action will be dissected to the nth degree.
They will of course commit the faux pas of all political novices and they will find the press and media establishment turning on them when they slip up. The political establishment is not likely to forgive userpers who have taken away seats from each of the three mainstream parties; already the voices of political mischief are nodding and winking about Respect being a 'Muslim party for Muslim people'.They will of course commit the faux pas of all political novices and they will find the press and media establishment turning on them when they slip up. The political establishment is not likely to forgive userpers who have taken away seats from each of the three mainstream parties; already the voices of political mischief are nodding and winking about Respect being a 'Muslim party for Muslim people'.
This is supremely cynical after Labour's attempt to build a power base on the clan-based 'birader'i Asian block vote system, while the Conservatives have been playing dubious cards for some time. Secessionist proposals for outer areas of the council's large district, championed by the Conservative MP Kris Hopkins who is the former leader of Bradford council, threaten to divide the district along ethnic and wealth lines. 'Independence' for affluent and largely white towns such as Ilkley, Bingley and Shipley, plus Hopkins' Keighley constituency, would leave Bradford with a deprived, inner-city and predominantly Muslim rump.  This is supremely cynical after Labour's attempt to build a power base on the clan-based 'birader'i Asian block vote system, while the Conservatives have been playing dubious cards for some time. Secessionist proposals for outer areas of the council's large district, championed by the Conservative MP Kris Hopkins who is the former leader of Bradford council, threaten to divide the district along ethnic and wealth lines. 'Independence' for affluent and largely white towns such as Ilkley, Bingley and Shipley, plus Hopkins' Keighley constituency, would leave Bradford with a deprived, inner-city and predominantly Muslim rump.  
There are deep structural, systemic and institutional failures that have resulted in Bradford's Muslim communities suffering poor outcomes across a whole range of quality-of-life indicators which politicians to need to acknowledge. Similarly the failure of local politicians to challenge some of the effects of the Government's Prevent and war on terror policies, and its divisive rhetoric around cohesion and integration, have damaged local community relations. There are deep structural, systemic and institutional failures that have resulted in Bradford's Muslim communities suffering poor outcomes across a whole range of quality-of-life indicators which politicians need to acknowledge. Similarly the failure of local politicians to challenge some of the effects of the Government's Prevent and war on terror policies, and its divisive rhetoric around cohesion and integration, have damaged local community relations.
Making political capital along ethnic lines may yield short-term dividends but its endgame is the anger and frustration which led to disorder in northern cities in 2001. Democracy has a slow-burning fuse but can deliver a devastating blow in the end to political hubris. Politicians ignore this at their peril.Making political capital along ethnic lines may yield short-term dividends but its endgame is the anger and frustration which led to disorder in northern cities in 2001. Democracy has a slow-burning fuse but can deliver a devastating blow in the end to political hubris. Politicians ignore this at their peril.
Ratna Lachman is director of JUST West Yorkshire which promotes racial justice, civil liberties and human rights in the north of England.Ratna Lachman is director of JUST West Yorkshire which promotes racial justice, civil liberties and human rights in the north of England.