Backlash in new ward

A police investigation into accusations of dirty tricks has been the hallmark of the campaign in the new Rumworth ward.

Then last Friday night, a brick was thrown by an unknown attacker through the window of the home of Bolton's Labour Party chairman, John Hartshorne.

But while local issues such as crime and vandalism are dominating the political agenda across the borough, the minds of many voters in the Rumworth ward are focused on matters further afield.

Opposition groups view the election as the perfect opportunity to make inroads into the Asian and Muslim communities. These have previously backed Labour, but are unhappy with the Government's involvement in the Iraq conflict. This has raised even the hopes of minority party candidates -- such as the anti-war RESPECT coalition -- that they could claim a seat in the Bolton Council chamber.

For Labour's Mr Hartshorne, it is the battle for the Asian vote, combined with high-running tensions over Iraq, that has led to such a hostile campaign.

"There is no doubt that this is the most bitter election campaign I have ever known," he said. "I just pray this kind of behaviour will go away because there is no room for it in British politics".

Police have been forced to intervene in the Rumworth ward twice in recent weeks.

They dropped an investigation last week into one candidate who had been accused by a rival of electoral fraud.

Supt Alan Greene, of Bolton police, also took the unusual step of branding as "distasteful" an anonymous election leaflet which attacked Labour for allowing gays in the council Cabinet.

Mr Hartshorne, who was offered police protection after his home was attacked, said he was still confident Labour could take all three seats in the ward.

For many, the party's fear of losing support over Iraq was summed up in a controversial leaflet, issued by all three of its candidates, blaming the Conservatives for Britain's involvement in the war.

The party has also targeted the Muslim community with another leaflet warning that Liberal Democrat or Conservative control would see resources diverted to other parts of the borough, such as Horwich and Westhoughton.

The party best-placed to take advantage of Labour's difficulties is the Liberal Democrats.

Lib Dem candidate Rashid Jangharia said: "A lot of people who used to vote for Labour have turned their backs on them because of Britain's involvement in the Iraq war."

But he believes that local policies could also play a role in Labour's downfall.

"People are also angry at the level of crime and the fact the area has been allowed to decline," he said. "We have youngsters hanging around street corners because there is nowhere for them to go and nobody seems to want to do anything about it."

Local milkman Jack Heyes is confident the Conservatives can take at least one Rumworth seat in the election.

"I see vandalism and cars being broken into on a daily basis but it just seems to be accepted," he said. "This has been a safe Labour area for 20 years, but now Labour are scared." The new Rumworth ward is made up of the old wards of Derby, Daubhill and Deane-cum-Heaton.

In a last-minute twist, council bosses will re-introduce polling stations to the ward after 3,000 homes did not receive their postal ballots.

Even Labour voters say the party could struggle.

Julamnabi Ahmed, aged 46, from View Street, admitted that the Iraqi conflict was making it increasingly difficult for him to stand by Labour.

"I think many people will turn away from our Labour councillors," he said. "I'm a Labour man, but I'm seriously considering giving my vote to a different party."

Toqueer Ali, aged 38, who works in St Helens Road, was also concerned about Labour's support for the war.

"I just want peace in the world. I don't want to support a party that is backing a war that has killed thousands of people," he said.

Derby Street resident Salim Bhorat, aged 40, said he would split his vote between the Liberal Democrats and RESPECT.

"There has been a real backlash against Tony Blair because of his backing for the war and I believe it will really hurt Labour," he said. Cllr Ebrahim Adia, who is to contest the ward as well as the North-west euro constituency for Labour, agreed the war had damaged the party's popularity.

"It was a Labour Government that took us to war, but it needed to be put on record that the Tories gave the decision overwhelming support," he said.

"We have made a commitment to dealing with anti-social behaviour, road improvements and improving the environment."

But Neil McAlister, who will contest the ward for RESPECT, said: "The feeling among all communities seems to be that Labour did not do enough to prevent the war."

A full list of candidates standing in the ward is: Ebrahim Adia (Lab), Albert Brandwood (Con), Dorothy Entwistle (Socialist Labour); John Heyes (Con); Ismail Ibrahim (Lab); Rashid Jangharia (Lib Dem); Gulamali Jiva (Lib Dem); Rosa Kay (Lab); Neil McAlister (RESPECT); Sydney Palmer (Con); James Woodrow (Lib Dem).