Sonja calls for Odeon Referendum

UKIP Candidate for Bradford West Sonja McNally has spoken out about the ongoing saga of the Odeon demolition.

Speaking to the Bradford Telegraph and Argus, she called for a Bradford-wide vote on the future of the building:

"As someone who has been in the past an usherette at the Odeon, for me the Odeon is part of Bradford and it belongs to the people of Bradford and it’s up to them to make the decision."

We want to put the future of the city in the hands of the Bradford people. The best way to get regeneration moving in Bradford would be to have a district wide vote on the Odeon. This would get people involved with the rebuilding of our city and give the Council a popular mandate to act...and act quickly!

The Council and previous "regeneration" organisations have systematically left the iconic Odeon to rot, with the express desire to demolish.

UKIP activists also attended the "Hug the Odeon" event, in which many local people came to protest about the demolition of the building.

We would like to retain the Odeon or at least the facade - we don't want our city to look like any other generic city in the UK - and with the Alhambra, it shows Bradford as a distinct place with our own history and culture. But ultimately the future of the city should be decided by the people of Bradford themselves.

We have been campaigning for a referendum on the future of the Odeon for years. Back in 2007 UKIP was the only party to call for a referendum and attacked the failed regeneration policies of the Council:

T&A (UKIP call for referendum 2007):
http://bit.ly/xeuzAi

Yorkshire Post (UKIP demand resignation and referendum 2008):
http://bit.ly/yeHyDs

T&A Letter (UKIP - how a referendum could work 2009):
http://bit.ly/yc0tlh

"Hug the Odeon" event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0CzbN1PX7o

Vote Sonja McNally - UKIP Bradford West

Meet Sonja - UKIP Candidate for Bradford West

UKIP is pleased to announce that Sonja McNally will be its candidate in the forthcoming Bradford West by-election.


The married mum-of-two has always lived in the Bradford West area and has previously been a candidate and member of the Green Party.
Sonja has a solid track record in community involvement.

She is chairperson of community group Upper Heaton Working Together and is membership secretary of the Heaton Township Association.

The UKIP candidate was also a volunteer with Bradford Nightstop - an organisation that provides assistance and accommodation for 16 to 25 year olds who find themselves homeless.

Sonja has also been a Bradford Street Angel which saw her walking the streets of the city on a Friday and Saturday night providing assistance where needed.

She is a governor of Frizinghall Primary School and also of Feversham College - a voluntary aided specialist science school for Muslim girls aged 11 to 18 years.

Sonja is also on a Hate Panel - an initiative that sees local residents meeting up regularly to discuss how police deal with reported cases of a hate crime

Politically, Sonja was a member of the Green Party and stood as a candidate for the Toller Ward (Bradford West area) in 2009.

In 2010 and 2011 she stood as a Green candidate in Heaton Ward.

Sonja joined UKIP at the beginning of this year and said: "I am proud to be the UKIP candidate for this forthcoming by-election and represent a party that is offering a fresh choice in British politics.

"My track record in volunteering and community work means I know what matters to local people.

"Bradford West deserves a MP that cares about the area - not a career politician only selected by a party to increase their numbers.

"In the case of George Galloway, he is little more than a political opportunist desperate to remain in the limelight to keep his Z-list celebrity credentials intact."

UKIP Leader Nigel Farage said: "Sonja is a first class candidate who knows that patch like the back of her hand.

"Voters have become fed up with the empty promises of the so-called big three parties and are increasingly looking elsewhere.

"UKIP is slowly and surely building up a credible reputation in local politics and giving the others a run for their money.

"Remember it was only last year that we came second in the Barnsley by-election to Labour, polling more votes that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats combined."

http://www.ukip.org/content/latest-news/2626-sonja-fights-bradford-west-for-ukip

Sonja McNally UKIP Candidate for Bradford West by-election

Sonja McNally has been selected to fight the Bradford West by-election for UKIP.

She is a local in the Bradford West constituency, is a mother of two and is involved in local schools, volunteer and charity work.

She has stood for several years for the Heaton ward, in the constituency.

UKIP Leader Nigel Farage MEP said:

“Sonja is a first-class candidate who knows that patch like the back of her hand.

Voters have become fed up with the empty promises of the so-called big three parties and are increasingly looking elsewhere."

Upon hearing George Galloway may stand, Sonja hit back:


“Bradford West deserves an MP that cares about the area, not a career politician only selected by a party to increase their numbers.

In the case of George Galloway, he is little more than a political opportunist desperate to remain in the limelight to keep his Z-list celebrity credentials intact.”

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a-glance/main-section/big-brother-george-galloway-in-bid-to-be-bradford-mp-1-4315091

Bradford Labour MP Marsha Singh to resign

"Bradford West MP Marsha Singh is to retire from Parliament on medical grounds after he became critically ill and needed internal surgery."

"Mr Singh’s retirement as Labour MP comes after an eight-month absence after he became seriously ill last July. "

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/9561895.Bradford_MP_Marsha_Singh_to_quit/?ref=mr

We at UKIP Bradford hope that Marsha gets well soon and wish him good luck for the future.

Geat Horton by-election Result

We had a good night on Thursday 24th November, as people went to the polls in Great Horton after a Labour councillor resigned.

UKIP came a very credible 4th place with 8.6% of the vote, just behind the Lib Dems.

Having never stood here before this was a really good start in the ward, especially as we have identified some very strong pockets of support for UKIP.

The full results are:

Lab 1993 58.3% (-17.1%)
Tory 707 20.6% (+5.2%)
Lib 337 9.8% (+0.6%)
UKIP 294 8.6% (+8.6%) - Candidate Jason Smith
Green 73 2.1% (+2.1%)

Rejected 15

Turnout 3417 (27.19%)

A by-election has been called in Great Horton Ward, Bradford.

Anybody who can come and lend a hand leafleting etc. is most welcome!

Bradford MBC, Great Horton

Election Date: Thursday 24th November 2011

Reason: Labour seat - Resignation

UKIP Candidate: Jason Smith (UKIP Bradford Branch Chairman)

Contact: Jason - jasonsmithukip@virginmedia.com