Members of the public are fed-up of sitting Labour MP for Harrow East, saying they would vote for other parties to keep Labour out.
A public debate staged four candidates competing for the succeeding MP in the constituency and provided them with the opportunity to address issues affecting the borough.
Graaham Hall, a retired civil servant from the Ministry of Defence, who lives in Stanmore, said: “Definitely I won't vote for Labour, because Labour is so corrupt. Bob [is the one I'm going to vote], because I have found Lib Dem is even more extreme on the left.”
Labour MP Tony McNaulty came under fire because of his expenses scandal, which revealed his parents have been living in his second Harrow home.
“Tony McNulty is saying he hasn't done anything criminal, but isn't it extraordinary that it isn't criminal?” UKIP candidate Abhijit Pandya said, “It is a disgrace.”
Mr McNulty defended himself by saying he had followed advice from the Parliamentary fees office (though the body declared it was wrong later), and he had also apologised to his constituents and Parliament last October.
Issue on community cohesion was fired up when Mr Pandya said that, "multiculturalism is a bad thing".
British born Mr Abhijit Pandya, whose parents are from India, said he found it quite offensive when people say British Indian, and he argued that, as we were all born in this country and love this country, we should find something in common as British people.
His argument was hit back by the rest of the candidates, Tory hopeful Bob Blackman supported the idea of multiculturalism, “We are a diverse borough, people live and work side by side.”
Lib Dem candidate Nahid Boethe also opposed Mr Pandya by saying people live in this country all have their roots and background.
Other issues debated last night included the fail to tackle the Jubilee line's closure during weekends and construction of a new facility for disabled people at Stanmore station.
The debate was held at the University of Westminster's Harrow Campus.
One quote of UKIP candidate Abhijit Pandya is from the Harrow Times
1 comment:
Mr Pandya was not 'originally from India'. He was born, bred and educated in Britain.
I can see why he finds it so offensive that the mainstream parties still wish to pigeonhole him as a category apart based on his skin colour.
Good for him - Mr Pandya has certainly won my support for having decent principles.
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