TORIES are holding a US-style Primary’ election in London’s East End to select their candidate to try and grab left-wing MP George Galloway’s hot seat at Westminster. They hope to snatch Bethnal Green & Bow at the next General Election—also targeted by Labour who lost it to Galloway last time round

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TORIES are holding a US-style Primary’ election in London’s East End to select their candidate to try and grab left-wing MP George Galloway’s hot seat at Westminster.

They hope to snatch Bethnal Green & Bow at the next General Election—also targeted by Labour who lost it to Galloway last time round.

Galloway is off fighting neighbouring Poplar & Limehouse when the education is called—so that leaves Bethnal Green & Bow up for grabs.

The Conservatives want their glitzy primary’ on March 10 to put a blue’ sparkle into this Labour-Respect heartland.

Their local party deputy-chairman Dinah Glover said: “Turnout last time was only 53 per cent, so we hope this primary’ generates greater interest. We want democracy to be visible and accessible.”

Party officials say they were swamped with wannabe MPs anxious to put the boot into Respect and bar Labour getting back in, but have narrowed the list down to just three hopefuls—two lawyers and a pharmaceutical sales rep.

THE CANDIDATES:

Andrew Charalambous , 41-year-old barrister, Special Constable for 14 years, son of a decorated British soldier, founded the Conservative Climate campaign and fights for the elderly and the homeless, a family man with two dogs.

Claire Palmer, 27-year-old barrister who presented a deputation to Tower Hamlets for council tax to be frozen and business rates to be reduced, a “Londoner at heart” who once lived in Whitechapel and now lives in Bow.

Hasan Imam a 37-year-old in pharmaceutical sales to the NHS who campaigns on healthcare, stood for Parliament in 2005 and worked with an MP to assess human rights in Bangladesh.

The March 10 Primary is at 7pm at Our Lady’s RC community hall, behind Stepney’s Church of St Mary & St Michael in Commercial Road, chaired by the East London Advertiser editor Malcolm Starbrook. Doors open 6.30pm.

Voters on the electoral roll wanting to take part are being asked to register online 48 hours before.