Gurcharan Singh: What a Difference a Day Makes

Luke Akehurst has spotted that the Gurch' Lurch to the Right has impacted on his web presence.

Posts welcoming Brown and bigging up Blair have been removed. Even the man's appreciation of Piara Khabra is no more. But through the wonders of modern science LOL can reproduce them all here:

This Link Sadly May Not Work!
USHERING IN CHANGE UNDER GORDON BROWN
Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:40:44

Gordon Brown today stepped in to fill the shoes of Tony Blair as the new Labour Party Leader and Prime Minister of Great Britain. Interestingly enough, there seems to be a prevalent feeling that the metaphorical shoes themselves are a completely new pair!

I am full of hope for the future as this to me signals the beginning of an era where the Labour party can consolidate its leanings over the last few years and move forward with a new outlook based upon positive change. We progress.

On behalf of myself and those who are kind enough to consider me their representative, I would like to wish PM Gordon Brown all the best.

Gurcharan

"I am full of hope for the future" - Indeed young man. The future's bright! The future's all LIT up!!!

Perhaps there are some comments here? Onwards and upwards.

Sadly this link too is a busted flush
FAREWELL TO TONY BLAIR
Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:52:38

Earlier today, Tony Blair took part in what was to be his final appearance as the key protagonist within Prime Minister's Question Time. It was an event that proved emotional not only for those present but undoubtedly millions across the country. Reactions to which I believe will manifest across the entire human emotional spectrum from negative to positive.
However, I would like to believe that the majority of people will like me, have a genuine appreciation for the fact that up until the last moment, he remained dignified, astute, forever able to deliver a suitable response to a unique situation and of course, a pleasure to observe.

I have met Mr Blair in person on numerous occasions over the last few years. From those interactions the impression I took away was that he was a man committed to doing what he believed to be right at the time. Unwaveringly.

Despite all the spin, internal innuendos within the party and of course Iraq, he remained staunchly dedicated to the people of Great Britain and for this he has my firm admiration.

I do not want to use this space to write Tony Blair's political obituary or provide comment and analysis on each of his many political milestones nonetheless, I would be hard pushed not to draw attention to his following achievements:

Peace in Northern Ireland;
Minimum Wage; and
Work time regulations.
The very fact that he was given a standing ovation from most quarters within the House of Commons, friend and foe, was testament to the impact he made during his tenure as Prime Minister. If I were to call upon my limited vocabulary to sum up his feats in one word it would be remarkable.

Cllr Gurcharan Singh meets with Prime Minister Tony Blair 26/06/2007

Comments perhaps?

IN MEMORY OF PIARA KHABRA
Wed, 20 Jun 2007 08:41:07

I first met Piara in 1972, the year I arrived in the UK from India. In my first interaction with him, I was impressed by his burning desire to help create a fair and just society coupled with his steely determination to fight discrimination. Piara was a role model to many, and considered a general force for good amongst the majority of our community.
He will be remembered for the many achievements listed to his credit such as becoming the first Asian Sikh MP. Also the countless efforts he made for the betterment of his constituents. His presence will be greatly missed not only by his peers but also by those whom he served so well and tirelessly.

I pray for his soul and my thoughts are with Beaula and other members of the family in these trying and difficult times.

With respect,

Cllr Gurcharan Singh

Comments?

This was his first post:
INTRODUCTION FROM THE WEBMASTER
Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:12:13

Hello and welcome to Gurcharan Singh Online. This blog has been created to provide the general public with access to the Ealing Southall Councillor.
Over the next weeks, we will be developing additional sections to this site. These include:

A contact form;
Details of future advice surgeries;
An online resume;
A multimedia section containing previousley released press material; and
Links to relevant websites.
We are always happy to hear any suggestions that you may have regarding the site design and features. Please forward these to

webmaster@gurcharansingh.co.uk

Kind Regards,

Webmaster

Gurch' the Lurch has replaced them all with a convoluted, CCHQ-assisted, attempt at self justification. Fisked very expertly by young Luke Akehurst. Under the suitable title - and a concept Luke knows something about himself! - Self Serving Drivel. (Sorry Comrade, I just couldn't resist).

UPDATE: Shortened by removing the repetition.

Gurcharan Singh: Musical Chairs to a Bhangra Beat! Patriarch to Tories, Just Too Late

Luke Akehurst carries a post this morning saying Gurcharan Singh, a 30-year Labour member, 25-year Councillor, and former Labour Mayor has defected to the Conservatives. Above GS bigs up British accountability.

That chain of his has also I'm told travelled to Paris to represent (?) the people of Ealing in interfereing with French secularisation. I'm told he is also at the sharp end of the British Sikh ex-pat pro-Khalistan (see below) campaign, already lost 10 years ago in the Punjab.


[Piara Khabra told The Sikh Times no less that this 'Khalistan' homeland was 'ridiculous' and 'illogical'.]

The chain wasn't round Gurcharan's neck when he (allegedly, so I'm told, back in the pre-Google day) famously celebrated the assassination of an Indian Prime Minister. "A great day for India!" he is alleged to have said joyously. There was an interesting 2005 discussion strand on events in 1984 (when Indira Gandhi effigies were burnt and hotheads revolted) at the Tapobahn Phorum. Related to a Sikhs in the Square commemoration event on Sunday 6 November 2005.

[Historical note: Following the assassination of Mrs Indira Gandhi in October 1984 there was a reign of terror in Delhi which is reckoned to have taken 3,000 Sikh lives.]


Back to 2007. The combative, secessionist, maverick, visible, controversial, partying, turbaned Sikh who, like another ante post favourite Sonika Nirwal, did not earn a place in the final shortlist has thrown his toys from the pram. And taken four of his buddies across the floor with him. This is a terrible advertisement for the accountability and loyalty of his tendancy.

Luke's source at Pickled Politics was taken down for 30 minutes or so, but it's now back with a vengeance. The enthusiastic message is "Rejoice! Rejoice! Five Trouble Makers sent to Cameroon". Quite a different reaction than that of Iain Dale who is cock-a-hoop. Which is a grave mistake. Perhaps one of the five is any sort of loss at all. Clues available by request. Meanwhile the Tories have famously lost swathes of Sikh and Conservative Association support themselves. Musical Chairs to a Bhangra Beat!

With Phoney JIT* some might have thought there were already one too many careerist carpet baggers in the Ealing Southall Conservatives. But hey ho, hell no. Iain is rarely wrong.

Pickled Politics also pick out one of the Independent Candidates Jasdev Rai as being uncomfortably close, one degree removed, to the Khalistani terrorist org ISYF. Khalistan being the independent Sikh state which forms the third strand in the visible-Sikh-at-all-costs-irrespective-of-political-masters-tendancy which dubs Labour communalist for NOT picking a Sikh. What delicious irony!

The late Piara Khabra MP stood above all else for a secular social democratic politics for the whole of the community in Ealing Southall. Shame on those who would undo his good work. Virendra Sharma is the best qualified candidate to continue Khabra's work in and for the constituency. Let's hope that people of goodwill and good sense from all communities will realise that.

* JIT = Just In Time. As well as being an infectious guitar pop from Zimbabwe.

Ealing Southall Communalism: Some Clarification

My posts about the non-selection of Cllr Gurcharan Singh have attracted considerable attention, some sinister, from communalists of several stripes. So here is a brief clarification of my position on the subject:

1. I don't know Cllr Gurcharan Singh personally from adam. But as soon as this by-election was called I did begin to collect information on the likely proponents. Gulcharan's history is and was extensively documented for the post-Google years, and is old in song and story from back in the day;
2. My belief was that Cllr Singh could win selection but that his baggage could make him a rotten candidate and a rotten MP if he survived the storm. So I was pretty pleased that he was carved out of the selection. As pleased about that as Gurch' himself was pleased that none of the women candidates made the cut. That was his consolation. And this was mine.
3. After Cllr Singh's defection, and presumably before the local government by-election that follows as he gives the people a chance to back him or sack him as a Tory, I gave a run down of these issues as a generous gift to his new masters, or slaves as may be.
4. This exposition attracted attackage from Sikh hotheads, and also unwanted supportage from other hotheads, Hindu hotheads I'll be bound, pointing out various robust Sikh interest websites and making unsupported generalised, dare I say racist?, assertions about both Sikhs and Muslims.
6. For the record I am dead set against the communalism of the Sikh Federation and its dire threats of electoral retribution if a visible Sikh (that is a man from Uncle) were not selected. I am also dead set against the communalism of all other sectarian ultras. I am set dead against the communalism of Nick Griffin and the BNP too. Not so different.
7. When our local Lib Dems kicked out their sitting candidate Yasmin Zalzala in favour of the weak and wilful John Leech I was among those protesting the loudest and the longest at the rationale in some quarters that as a black, asian, muslim, woman she could never be elected. What rotten bad eggs they all are in the Lib Dems.
8. And when it comes to the mayoral chain thing? Yes, indeed, my Sikh sock puppets, why should not Gurcharan Singh support Sikh brethren in Paris in protesting against French Secularism? That is not the issue. The issue is whether the Mayor of a London Borough has any mandate to wear his chain of office in such a protest. Ditto a Jewish Mayor, or a Muslim Mayor, or a Hindu Mayor, or a Christian Mayor, or even a Secular Humanist Mayor getting communalist with their chain of office.

Communalism. I'm agin it.

Meanwhile a blog friend has fingered the likely source of some of the interference:

Your anonymous spammer has an IP that traces to Dulles VA, which puts them as most likely an employee of the Washington DC-based Khalistan Affairs Committee. Professional lobbyist/propagandist a la GIYUS.

So there you go. Sectarian spooks in Washington, DC and Dulles, VA are taking an interest. We are indeed blessed.

Sikh Sangat Suicide Gate: Who is Behind This?

This is a poster from Dr Rai. He is the agreed candidate of the bearded, turbaned, visible Sikh community who felt upset and underrepresented when Gurcharan Singh and two other long listed candidates in their niche communal grouping were not shortlisted. But what's going on?

- Why did Gurcharan and two other turbaned Sikh's defect and support Dave-id Cameron's secular and unsympathetic Tony Lit? What has been promised?
- Why have the Sikh Federation, Sikh Sangat and fellow travellers who insist they are interested only in getting a visible Sikh (man) selected and elected punished the Labour Party - who have done the most BY FAR to advance their cause as representatives, Exec Members, Mayors - and backed a party which has done nothing? Which didn't even have a selection process? What has been promised?
- Why did Sikh Sangat publish a most scurrilous story - claiming that the champion of their cause, Dr Rai, had hanged himself, associating this claim with various false and highly defamatory claims, accusations of racism, calls to remember an assassination in 1984 and the killing that followed it, and naturally plugs for Tony Lit - when they are out to see backing for a bearded, turbaned, visible Sikh, like Dr Rai, and not some cross-dressing trans-political millionaire?
- What involvement, if any, has Grant Shapps, or his agents and allies, had in this ridiculous, malicious, communalist carry on?

Ealing Southall: Down, Down, Deeper and Down

The body language from Gurcharan Singh in proximity to Tony Lit is amusing. Their lack of any sort of statements in this "meet the Dave-id" session is hilarious. The Tories don't realise what they are getting. Caveat Emptor! as Southall Trading Standards might opine.

Ealing Southall By-Election: Some Hot Spicey Gossip

As mentioned earlier the comments on LOL's Ealing Southall story have been interesting. Here's a taste:

Gurjeet Singh of the Sikh Federation pointed out Rod Liddle's diary piece in Sunday's Times on KKK Tourette's Syndrome. Afflicting Geoffrey Robinson.

Then anonymous Gurjeet Singh returned and pointed out three things:

1. Most if not all MPs that have come from all-women short-lists for the last ten years, since the 1997 election have been white. LOL comment: This is true, and in by-elections under Open lists only two (white) women have been picked these last ten years.

2. The Sikh Federation want an Open not AW shortlist in such constituencies as they feel this is more likely to deliver a BME candidate. LOL think this is rather spurious and disingenuous in this particular case. Ealing Southall near 100% to select BME whether AWS or Open.

3. We think Sonika Nirwal, Jasbir Anand, Gurcharan Singh etc. should all be on the short list so local members of the Labour Party can make a choice.
Our preference is for a visible Sikh as we have none in the Commons or Lords. This is why Gurinder Singh, Dr Harkirtan Singh etc. who are all believed to be in the running are also options.
'Visibility' for a Sikh is critically important - practising and non-practising Sikhs know the significance of this.

Then we have a Tory troll who claims:
Walked down the broadway today (Sat) and the place is covered in Tony Lit posters with pic of him.

This is swiftly rebutted:
For God sake do not lie. You must have seen posters at Tory campaign Headquaters Not a single poster can be seen in Southall Broadway.

Then we have news that the Tory candidate Tony Lit - whose father stood as an Independent in 2001 but supported Labour on the GLA in 2004 - has reached the Tories only after a rebuffed approach to the Lib Dems who have inevitably picked their 2005 candidate for another tilt.

Ealing Southall resident Dr Sherlock Huq and therefore LOL scoops Dr Watson's revelation that Tories are careless, even getting their own Council leader's name wrong.

And then there is a V Sharma hat tip to a story reporting a defamation suit against Cllr Jasbir Anand, another local candidate. From someone who had allegedly assaulted her.

Ealing Southgateall Result: From Horse's Mouth

Nigel Bakhai, Liberal Democrat 10,118
John Cartwright, Official Monster Raving Loony 188
Sati Chaggar, English Democrats 152
Salvinder Dhillon, Respect 588
Sarah Edwards, Green 1,135
Kuldeep Grewal, Independent 87
Tony Lit, David Cameron's Conservatives 8,230
Yaqub Masih, Christian Party 280
Jasdev Rai, Independent 275
Kunnathur Rajan, UKIP 285
Virendra Sharma, Labour 15,188 *****
Gulbash Singh, Independent 92

Labour hold. Turnout 43% (2005 56%). 2005 Majority 11,440. This time 5,070. Menzies Campbell 8 visits, Dave-id Cameron 5 or 6 visits. Including two cocktail parties.

Grant Shapps MP is on. As bad as Greg Stone. But no glasses. He is full of it. All sorts of bogus stats. Bogus glee. He's just bogus bogus bogus. 1989 since Lib Dems have not won a by-election where they started second he says. God, he's full of it. The Tories cannot fight a ground war says the reporter. Still he's full of it. Sadly the picture breaks up at this point.

Tony Lit arrives. Shakes hands with lots of Tory boy blog muppets and the like. Where is Gurcharan Singh? Oh dear, not here.

Results added at 02:30

BBC Results and analysis

Ealing Southall: Miscellaneous Odds and Sods

Lib Dem Voice, being Lib Dems, are familiar with dirty campaign tactics, innuendo and hoaxes. Now they are guilty of psychological projection in accusing Tom Watson of trying to smear them, or being wrong.

Not guilty on both counts. Tom reports police being called to some party political argy-bargey involving unnamed oppositionists. Absolutely true. According to the LDV account Tories (one party) were scrapping with Supporters (not Labour, so at least two parties) and Lib Dem activists were involved only by arriving at the scene as this kicked off (so two or three parties in all).

There are nominally ELEVEN strands of Opposition in Ealing Southall, even discounting two folded independents there are NINE. Methinks these Lib Dems protest too much in this case. Why do they try to smear Tom by claiming he meant the Lib Dems rather than permutations of the other eight? Guilty feet, no rhythm etc etc.

This has also been a day of speculation on whether the outing of Tony Lit even further as an opportunist could come back to bite Labour by driving votes to the Lib Dems. It seems to me that, having had the info for four weeks Labour have played this beautifully.

The calculation for "why now?": anti-Labour element of PVs on balance may have gone to Lit who is of course a Sikh and a smoothy. However if Lit's war position is known - there's quite a chance he was all for it, I don't know - the Libs will also get a fair run in PVs. But perhaps the Tories will be ahead of the two as the bookies have had them.

Then all this beautifully timed Lit-bashing puts the 2nd and 3rd back together at say 25% and leaves Labour safe at say 40%. Greens and Respect a few points down, sharing 10% or so with the Independents. Great timing IMO from Watson.

Political Betting also seem worried about this but thinking Lit could benefit by showing he has influence across several parties.

It boosts Lit's profile certainly. As an opportunistic rogue though. Is that the image the Tories want to press home? What with the single issue hothead Gurcharan Singh and the Hounslow "defectors" who crossed to the Tories via a community party standing for "Total Democracy" and founded by a former NF organiser and ABH jailbird it is surely the Tories looking all wrong here?

Every now and then some wag will reel out the joke about the age old cliff top dilemma:

There is a Tory opponent and a Lib Dem opponent standing on the proverbial cliff top.

Which do you push off first?

Chorus: The Tory!

Why?

Business before pleasure!

Make no mistake Tom Watson's eyes are set on Dave-id Cameron himself with this latest development.

The polls are running for Labour. All this defection trouble is showing up Cameron more and more by the minute. And having some by-election smarts TW has waited until the voting is almost over! There are a high proportion of votes in most constituencies now that are executed by post. They aren't usually wait-until-the-last-minute types. Most will already be in the box.

The timing of this intervention will turn off some tribal Tories for the walk up vote. But many of them, in a three-way fight, still have enough self respect to back their hearts or not vote at all. They won't back the Lib Dem.

Nearby Nigel may get some swings at this stage but I do think this will be fairly limited. The whole thing must be looking a bit confused all round. Which favours the incumbent. Sharma is the closest to Piabra in style and approach. A safe bet with 25 years of delivery in the Borough.

He will win with a sound majority. At the next General Election - particularly if it is June 2009 - he may even stand aside having had his short but sweet ten minutes.

Then we will have an All Women Shortlist and more fun and games.

Tapestry has been commenting left, right and centre on this story I think. But the home blog doesn't cover it. Instead it is about shooting down the Europhiles - before it's too late. Deselecting them. Driving them away. Managing to combine a "nothing against gays" line, with the idea that "gay" names like Quentin (and John and Ken?) can help sniff 'em out ... Cuddly Nu Tories. Don't you just love them?

Ealing Comedy: Hustings Heckling Hustle Bustle

LOL have now identified most of the "shortlist of all the talents" assembled by, I think, Tom Watson MP (as agent); Keith Vaz MP, Mike Griffiths and Norma Stephenson (as NEC Members), Julian Bell (Piara Khabra's RHM, as local advice) and possibly Regional Director Ken Clark ensuring "fair play". Thanks to Unity for fingering the NEC people.

Vivender Sharma and Jo Sidhu clearly. Who will I think face a witheringly small turn out at today's members' ballot. Sonika Nirwal and Jasbir Anand, natch. Tom's man from Sandwell. One Tony Singh, another carpet bagger. Inderjeet Nijar an ex-Cllr. And Gucharan Singh, again natch.

So eight not ten. 100% Indian (and I'm hearing a narrow miss for one or two Muslims - too racey). 6/8th local. 7/8ths Sikh. And something like 3/8 visible Turbaned Sikh.

Regional Director Ken Clark (no relation) was introduced to Chair the hustings and heckled mercilessly from the off. Mostly from the followers of Gucharan Singh. Things like: "Giants have been left out!"

Their hero? Traced, turban and all to a Punjab Time watering hole - The Indian Workers' Association - where he was simultaneously rejoicing that Sonika had also not made the cut and manfully drowning his own sad separatist sorrows.

Sharma repeated quote of the day:
"I'm very sad and disappointed about ..." whatever was raised by a questioner.

Sidhu (41) charm offensive:
"Vote for the Future, not for the Past" and the messianic "I am this community. I am your Son."

Why did this outcome occur? Many would have expected at least Sonika and Gurcharan to make the final shortlist. My impression is that both were quite popular and could have won.

But both might be viewed as a potential liability.

In the face of hostile media attention. And in the face of hostile campaigning that we have already seen from the Yellow and Blue Tories. The only way to eliminate the risk was to spike them at shortlisting stage. But of course that decision has its own risks attached.

Clearly there are two ways it could go now! The long established Hindu gentleman. Or the up and at 'em Sikh youth of 41. Latter would only win on the face of it if all disappointed candidates get their tribes out to vote down the other fella. On the other hand I'd probably pick him of the two if I had a vote. And he is the local party's son. That should count for something.

Future Sonika: Ealing Southall is Two Man Shortlist

BLINK has an account of the shortlisting for Ealing Southall. Labour sources had set a hare running that the unity candidate would be an outsider from Birmingham - within campaign organiser Tom Watson MP's orbit. But that always looked like a ruse.

Sonika Nirwal has been working determinedly on this patch and will be very disappointed. She might well have carried the popular vote tomorrow had she been allowed through.

Messrs Sidhu and Sharma (L-R above), have been shooed through to tonight's hustings. The former is a new name as far as I'm concerned. An Oxbridge lawyer. Without knowing the background I'd guess that he will get Sonika's gang and also Gucharan's (below), who will surely not favour his old rival.

There seems to have been a lot of disingenuity from Asian men - including Keith Vaz MP and the representative of the Sikh Federation - in pressing for an Open Shortlist to increase the chances of a BME candidate.

This is old school sexist shenanigans as far as I'm concerned. Ealing Southall would NOT have picked a white woman in an AWS. And the Sikh community and others would have been pleased to vote for a woman in this by-election. Labour has by far and away the best record on Equality. But in by-elections this has been less good as Antonia pointed out recently.

Another veteran Ealing councillor, Gurcharan Singh, didn't make the cut and some think he may run as an independent. Tom Watson MP will fix that in my opinion. I reckon it'll be Comrade Sidhu. But I have been wrong on this selection as recently as this afternoon. There's no telling.

David Cameron's Conservatives: Yet Another Ealing Comedy

Reports Dr Rupa Huq. They've only gone and ditched the millionaire and so-called (can't be true) playboy Tony Lit for the leader of the Labour defectives, turbanned Sikh, and Khalistan nationalist Cllr Gulchuran Singh (bottom left).

Sure to be popular with the local association ... at least the one that pre-dated the sulky one's defection. And surely good news for Virenda Sharma (top right).

The Conservative Club in Ealing didn't even carry posters for David Cameron's Conservatives during the by-election, or for Boris Johnson as it was. But Mr Singh has started yet another blog, this time Tory-stylee. And he's on Facebook, Twitters and YouTubes too.

Gurch has become a right old Iain Dale on the QT. The LOL Gurcharan Singh Archive.