Monty Panesar to stand for George Galloway’s party at general election

Former England cricketer Monty Panesar has confirmed he will stand for George Galloway’s party at the next general election.

The 42-year-old is set to run against the Labour incumbent in Ealing Southall, London as a candidate for the Workers Party of Great Britain, which aims to scupper Labour’s chances in dozens of seats in protest of its stance on the Middle East.

Mr Galloway made a shock return to the House of Commons at the start of March after he stormed to victory in the Rochdale by-election.

He secured a majority of more than 5,500 after running a campaign relentlessly focused on the war in Gaza and openly sought to appeal to the substantial Muslim vote in the Lancashire constituency.

News of Mr Panesar’s candidacy was confirmed on Tuesday morning by Mr Galloway, who told LBC: “Monty, of course, was a great left arm spinner and so we could do with him”.

Panesar hoping ‘to one day become Prime Minister’

Mr Panesar went on to confirm he will be on the ballot for the Workers Party in Ealing Southall, which has been represented by Vivendra Sharma, a Labour MP, since 2007.

In an article for The Telegraph, Mr Panesar said his aspiration in politics is “to one day become Prime Minister” and said he was passionate about investing in the NHS, introducing a wealth tax and curbing illegal migration.

He said: “I believe neither the Labour party or the Tories are really helping the working class, and I think I can bridge that gap and make a difference as an MP.

“I have only known George Galloway briefly, but what I do know is that his focus is on reducing the massive gulf between the rich and the poor in Britain. No one else is doing anything else about it. Where are the voices for the trade unions in parliament, for example?

“The Workers Party of Britain is that voice for the workers and we will do our utmost to help them.”

It came as Tahir Ali, the Labour MP for Birmingham Hall Green, categorically denied an LBC report that he was in talks with Mr Galloway about the possibility of defecting to the Workers Party.

“No such talks have ever taken place with any person or organisation, and I am proud to serve my constituency as a Labour MP,” he said.

The 2021 Census showed the borough of Ealing had a Muslim population of almost 19 per cent. Almost one-third (30 per cent) of its population is Asian, while a further 26.5 per cent is made up of non-white ethnic groups.

During the Rochdale campaign, Mr Galloway’s leaflets rebranded him as “Gaza George” and he aggressively attacked Sir Keir Starmer’s party over its stance.

Labour had initially refused to call for an immediate ceasefire in the region, something it has since gone on to demand alongside the release of Israeli hostages. Mr Galloway has come under fire over his claims that Israel is committing “genocide” and an “apartheid state”.

Mr Panesar represented England between 2006 and 2013, taking 167 Test wickets during his career and playing a major part in the success of the 2009 Ashes campaign.

Following his retirement he has become a freelance journalist, writer and broadcaster having studied sports journalism at St Mary’s University, London. He also signed a deal with Great Witchingham, a village club in Norfolk, to compete during their 2024 campaign.

‘Migration makes Britain stronger’

Earlier this month, Mr Panesar filmed a video in support of the Show Racism the Red Card campaign in which he talked up the benefits of immigration.

“I think with migration, Britain is a stronger country, especially with some of the jobs that maybe the people who’ve been living in this country for generations, it’s difficult for them to do,” he said.

“But we have people coming from other parts of the world who are willing to work hard, willing to make a success [of] their lives. They see Great Britain as a place of opportunity. So I think the more we promote migration, the better our country will be.”

In 2021, he defended Michael Vaughan, his former teammate, amid a row which eventually saw Mr Vaughan cleared of using racist language towards fellow cricketer Azeem Rafiq at a Yorkshire game in 2009.

Mr Panesar told GB News he had been a “brilliant captain”, adding: “All he wanted to do was get the best 11 out on the pitch and it doesn’t matter where you’re from.”