Pendle Insider: PROFILE Pendle & Clitheroe Candidate #6: Syed Hashmi (The Workers Party of Britain)

WHO IS SYED HASHMI?

Syed Hashmi is the Workers Party of Britain candidate for Pendle & Clitheroe in the 2024 UK General Election. Syed is 53, from Pakistan and lived in Luton until 2017 when he moved to Bury, Manchester where he resides today. Syed is a journalist and Property investor and runs a YouTube channel called ALM News. He also is currently a Director of Imam Bury Helping Hands Ltd., Britshouse Move Ltd. and Inv3st Ltd.

Syed has been a director of many companies since 2012:

Rose and Garnet Ltd 2012-2015

BritAsian News Ltd 2014-2021

Medic Simple Ltd 2017-2018

Doctor&Medics Ltd 2019-2020

Akhbar Almuarif Ltd 2020-2023

Imam Bari Travel and Tours Ltd 2023-2024

Imam Bari Helping Hands Ltd April 2023-August 2023

Peer Abdul Aziz Gillani Helping Hands Ltd 2023-2024

Syed previously stood unsuccessfully in the 2024 Local Elections:

Local election

2024 Bury East: Bury Workers Party of Britain

WHAT DOES HE SAY?

"My name is Syed Muarif Hashmi and I am a prospective Member of Parliament for the Workers Party of Britain. I am deeply committed to the principles and values of our party, and I am dedicated to serving the people of our community.

My political philosophy is rooted in the 10-point plan of the Workers Party of Britain. I believe in the importance of public ownership of key industries, the provision of decent housing for all, and the protection of our NHS. I am committed to fighting for workers’ rights, advocating for a living wage, and ensuring that everyone has access to quality education and training opportunities.

In line with the manifesto of the Workers Party of Britain, I am dedicated to promoting peace and cooperation on the international stage, and I am opposed to imperialist wars and interventions.

I am Syed Muarif Hashmi, and I am ready to represent you and fight for a fairer, more equitable society."

PENDLE INSIDER Q&A:

1. Firstly, can you tell us a little bit about you, your history, what you do and how you formed your political beliefs?

"My family background isn't political. I've done an MBA in Management and Marketing, I've done Economics and I've done my Religous Study as well. I used to be with the Labour party, but have been with the Worker's Party since last year. I fought for a Council [seat] a month ago for the Worker's party, and they have given me a ticket for MP this time, so I'm just contesting for Pendle & Clitheroe.

I am a journalist, I have my own news - ALM News, it's a YouTube channel. That's what I do normally, yes."

We've seen your YouTube channel and it looks like the last video was from last year.

"I do it sometimes."

What do you for work day-to-day?

"Well we have a property office in Bury as well. I do property business and a freelance journalist."

Who do you write for and what topics?

"Anything current affairs regarding politics, regarding local issues as well."

2. I believe you currently live in Bury. Why did you choose to stand in Pendle & Clitheroe and if you win, would you move to the area?

"I live in Bury, yes. Yes, definitely. If I win I will definitely move to the area because the people have chosen me from that particular area so what would be the best idea is that I would have to move there and live there and solve all these problems that my constituency have to be honest, because this decision was made by my leadership and they've given me a ticket for Pendle & Clitheroe so definately I would move over there."

3. Many people are familiar with George Galloway of the Workers Party of Britain, but not so much their policies. Could you lay out what the party stands for and your key policies that would affect Pendle?

"Well George Galloway's policies always sought the betterment of Britain and for a better Britain to be honest, because we have to sort the manufacturing as well, and most probably our leader, George Galloway, is focusing on the major issues we are facing at the moment which is the NHS, waiting, plus transportation, plus the Housing Association, and all the major issues in this country, especially the young boys, they are not going to school and colleges, instead of this we have a lot of knife crime and drug issues as well.

So George Galloway always talks about those and they are prominent, all these issues we face at the moment, these are the challenges. But this is why we have joined the Worker's Party, because George Galloway's vision is very broad and his vision is very straightforward - he wants to do something, he wants to do the best because we are in predictable politics of Labour or Conservative, Labour or Conservative, Labour or Conservative, but that's why he wants to change that. I wish I could do something for them."

4. Job opportunity is limited in Pendle and it is ranked as one of the most deprived areas in the country. What will you do as our MP to encourage more businesses to setup in Pendle and provide more opportunity and better pay for residents?

"Well absolutely we will have some meetings with the local lads, we're going to sit down and we can talk about the issues we are facing in Pendle & Clitheroe, especially - a lot of people were asking about this when I went to my boss, saying and asking, normally we talk about the issues of the crimes, especially we would like to reduce the crime. Knife crime, drugs, any other issues especially all these big issues like the jobless. Yeah definitely, we're going to do this."

5. The election has been dubbed the Immigration Election by some, with polarised views from both the Left and Right. What is the your and your party's position on immigration and policies to control it?

"Regarding the immigration policy I think my leader George Galloway has already said that they are going to look in to it quickly, so if we're going to be in the Parliament, we're going to reform all this thing."

Do you know what this reform looks like? People want to know what your ideas are.

"This obviously, we are not in the government at the moment but definitely we should be the voice of that and if anything like this we will have some sort of we'll make a policy then we should have a policy-maker, then we're going to implement this thing of the immigration and especially the people are coming from the other routes to this country. So yeah we will definitely."

Do you know what your party's policy is or if you even have a policy at all?

"Well we will discuss all of this when we become, when we make some sort of, we're going to sit down and chat about it. And definitely we will do it, yes."

6. Child poverty is double the national average in Pendle and has been a major criticism of the incumbent MP, Andrew Stephenson. What would you and the Worker's Party of Britain do to address child poverty in Pendle?

"I believe that George Galloway has spoken about the child poverty and he said we're going to reduce this one because obviously this is a major issue we are facing at the moment."

Do you know how you would do that?

"We're going to implement the policy to fix the child poverty, we're going to obviously fund it, we have some sort of budget for this. Definitely, yes."

7. There is a lack of faith in our police to deal with crime and anti-social behaviour, what would you do to improve policing and ensure low-level crime is dealt with properly?

"I think we'll make sure local police go on specific trainings to eliminate all these crimes. We're going to focus on the special training, special issues like that."

8. Some people will consider the Worker's Party of Britain opportunist and only interested in two issues - the Gaza war and Muslim interests - how would you respond to that suggestion?

"Well I don't think so to be honest. Being a journalist I know that. If we go back to 25 or 26 years back, still George Galloway was talking about this and our party, we are not against anybody, never, but we are against the killing of anyone. We are against the war actually, people think 'oh they're talking about Gaza, they're talking about things that they want to vote for the war,' no, we want peace. We are not against anyone, we are against the one who is killing innocent people."

So it's not a religious thing then?

"No, no. No, not at all. We're against the war actually."

So when Hamas killed a lot of people, that was wrong, do you condemn that?

"Yes we did. Even I have written an article on this."

WHAT ELSE DOES HE SAY?

"I have spoken to the independent candidate (Zulfi Khan) and said 'if you have a vision, if you would like to do something then you go, and I'll withdraw, if you wish to, but get the party ticket - this is important, that you have a party, and you can be the voice of anybody, but standing as an independent is dispersing the vote and it's splitting the field."

"From Luton, editor in chief akhbar al muarif and you tube channel ALM news and BRITASIAN NEWS LTD investigative journalist
I have completed my MBA from Preston university in management and sales marketing i have huge experience in sales and management i have done a lots of courses in crises management including (ROAD TO SUCCESS) the most expensive course
I do write as well on current affairs i have lots of my videos on current affaires at ALM news channel you tube
Member of national union of journalist . Director imam bury helping hands"

Jewish News reported - A video of a speech delivered by a candidate standing for George Galloway’s Workers Party in the Bury East ward also raised concerns.

Syed Muarif Hashmi was recorded telling locals:

“I can’t hold a sword. I am not trained. But I can do jihad with my pen.”

POLICIES:

Public Ownership: I pledge to advocate for the public ownership of key industries and services, to ensure they are run for the benefit of all, not the profit of a few.
Decent Housing: I pledge to fight for the provision of decent housing for all, recognizing that everyone has a right to a safe and comfortable place to live.
Protect the NHS: I pledge to protect our National Health Service, ensuring it remains free at the point of use and is fully funded and staffed.
Workers’ Rights: I pledge to stand up for workers’ rights, advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to organize and strike.
Education for All: I pledge to work towards providing quality education and training opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.