Monty Panesar represented England between 2006 and 2013, taking 167 Test wickets. Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
Monty Panesar, the former England cricketer, has confirmed that he will stand for George Galloway's Workers' Party in the general election.
The 42-year-old is set to stand against Virendra Sharma, the incumbent Labor MP for Ealing Southall, west London, as the Workers' Party seeks to damage Labour's chances of winning dozens of seats in protest over its stance on the Gaza Strip.
Mr Galloway made a shock return to the Commons last month after winning a by-election in Rochdale.
He won a majority of more than 5,500 after campaigning on the war in Gaza and sought to appeal to the significant Muslim vote in the Lancashire constituency.
Labor initially refused to call for an immediate ceasefire, which it has since demanded along with the release of Israeli hostages. Mr Galloway said Israel was committing “genocide” and was an “apartheid state”. News of Panesar's candidacy was confirmed on Tuesday morning by Mr Galloway, who told LBC: “Monty, of course, was great player on the left hand, and therefore we could deal with him.”
The former cricketer confirmed he will stand for Ealing Southall, which Mr Sharma has represented since 2007.
The 2021 Census showed the Ealing borough has a Muslim population of almost 19 per cent. Nearly a third (30 percent) of its population is Asian, with a further 26.5 percent from non-white ethnic groups.
Writing in The Telegraph, Mr Panesar said his ambition was to “one day become prime minister” and he was enthusiastic about investing in the NHS, introducing a wealth tax and curbing illegal migration.
He said: “I believe that neither Labor nor the Tories are really about helping the working class and I think I can bridge that gap and make a difference as an MP.
“I've only known George Galloway for a short time, but I know his focus is on closing the huge gap between rich and poor in Britain. No one else is doing anything about it. Where, for example, are the trade union voices in Parliament?
“The Labor Party of Great Britain is the voice of workers and we will do everything we can to help them.”
This happened after Tahir Ali, the Labor MP for Birmingham Hall Green, strongly denied an LBC report that he was in talks with Mr Galloway about the possibility of switching to the Workers' Party.
“There have never been such negotiations. has happened to any person or organization and I am proud to serve my constituency as a Labor MP,” he said.
Mr Panesar represented England between 2006 and 2013, taking 167 Test wickets during his career and playing a major role in the success of the tournament. Ashes 2009 Campaign
After retirement, he became a freelance journalist, author and broadcaster, studying sports journalism at St Mary's University in London. He has also signed a deal with Great Witchingham Country Cricket Club in Norfolk to feature in their 2024 campaign.
Earlier this month, Mr Panesar made a video in support of the Show Racism the Red Card campaign in which he spoke on the benefits of immigration.
“I think with migration the UK becomes a stronger country, especially with some of the jobs that may be available to people who have lived in this country for generations. they find it difficult to do so,” he said.
“But we have people coming from other parts of the world who are willing to work hard, who want to succeed in their lives. They see the UK as a place of opportunity. So I think the more we encourage migration, the better off our country will be.”
In 2021, he defended Michael Vaughan, his former teammate, in a scandal that resulted in Mr. Vaughan was cleared of using racist language against Azeem Rafiq at a Yorkshire game in 2009.
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