Mayor Livingstone's former race advisor quitting Labour, set to join Galloway's Respect Party

04 May 2007

Kumar Murshid - ready to quit Labour

By Mike Brooke

ONE of London's most controversial Bengali political figures and former race advisor to Mayor Ken Livingstone is quitting Labour in favour of MP George Galloway's Respect Party.

Kumar Murshid - smiling after his acquittal at Southwark crown court last year

Kumar Murshid, 50, is announcing his resignation at a news conference in the East End's 'Banglatown' on Tuesday (May 8).

He claims he has been isolated by former Labour Party colleagues conspiring to destroy his political standing in the Bangladeshi community.

The impromptu press briefing outside the Town Hall

This follows his arrest on charges of stealing public funds, despite being found not guilty.

Kumar has told the East London Advertiser: "After more than two decades in the Labour Party, I have decided to resign and will do so publicly on Tuesday.

"This is not a decision I make lightly.

"But I no longer recognize Labour as the party of social justice, equality and progressive international solidarity.

"The people of East London and particularly the Bangladeshi community have been treated very badly by Labour over the years."

There is much personal animosity for the ex-Tower Hamlets councillor over his arrest on eight theft charges two years ago involving a children's social programme he chaired.

Kumar, who represented the Limehouse ward where he lives with his family, was suspended from Tower Hamlets Labour Party along with a former councillor charged with him.

But he was acquitted on all charges at his trial at Southwark in March last year and completely exonerated.

Immediately after, Kumar gave an impromptu press conference on the very steps of the Town Hall run by his former colleagues, accusing them of a 'conspiracy' to destroy his political standing.

He says in this week's statement announcing his resignation from Labour: "I have faced persistent marginalisation and victimisation by elements within the party and have recently seen off a conspiratorial attack aimed at destroying me politically.

"I gave Labour the opportunity to formally apologise to me after my complete exoneration by the courts and the Standards Board of England, for the trauma they put me and my family through for three years.

"But alas there was no-one honest enough or big enough in the party to say 'sorry'."

His isolation kept him off Labour's shortlist for a Parliamentary candidate for the next General Election to win back Galloway's constituency.

He revealed in a letter to the Advertiser in March: "I am one of a multitude of people who have applied to be considered by the Labour Party.

"But I will only take part if the process is genuinely democratic and allows ordinary members to make key decisions at every stage of the selection process."

In the letter he tries to distance himself from Respect: "My affinity with Respect is on a mutual recognition of issues import to the people of the East End. It has nothing to do with the Parliamentary race for Bethnal Green and Bow."

But two months is a long time in politics. He is now almost certainly switching to Galloway's party and will be joined at his press conference in Brick Lane by the outspoken Bethnal Green and Bow MP.

His timing is crucial, as Respect begins selecting a candidate to replace Galloway who steps down at the next General Election.

Respect, with its large Bangladeshi power base, is almost certain to pick a Bengali candidate. Kumar fits the bill.

He would go head-to-head for the East End's huge ethnic vote with Labour's Bangladesh-born candidate just selected, Roshana Ali, former political assistant to Labour MP Oona King who was ousted by Galloway in 2005.

Kumar is still a Labour Party member. He resigns publicly at Tuesday's news conference, watched by Galloway and a handful of well-wishers.

He is offering "a lively conversation and cup of cha.