Tulip Siddiq’s determined campaign

In what is believed to be the constituency heading for one of the toughest contests of the May 7 UK polls, Tulip Siddiq of Bangladesh origin is attracting attention of all sections of voters—whites, blacks, Asians.

Mainstream British media is closely following the campaign of Tulip Siddiq, the Labour Party's candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn constituency in London for the May 7 UK polls.

In 2010, this seat was won by Labour's candidate actress Glenda Jackson—the margin of victory a mere 42 votes.

After Jackson retired from politics, Labour decided to field 32-year-old Tulip Siddiq from Hampstead and Kilburn.

Tulip's grandfather was the founding father of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the current Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina is her auntie.

But her grand Bangladeshi family legacy does not guarantee her a position in  British politics. Tulip knows that and is working very hard during the campaign, trying to reach out to all sections of voters in Hampstead and Kilburn.  Mainstream UK media is closely focussing on this constituency.

Newspapers like Independent, Guardian, Evening Standard, Daily Mail and Sunday Times have run reports and cartoons on this constituency and opinion polls are finally giving Tulip a slight edge in what promises to be a tough contest.

The Sunday Times has described Tulip as one of the 'rising stars' of the Labour Party.

Top British celebrities have already campaigned for Tulip.

On Saturday, this correspondent caught up with Tulip Siddiq at Kilburn's High Road, while she was busy distributing party leaflets to voters.

Some voters were also seen approaching the young candidate on their own.

"Education, health and housing are the top priorities of the Labour Party," Tulip told bdnews24.com in a short interview during the campaign.

She said the Labour Party wants economic growth to trickle down to the grassroots and not just benefit the creamy upper layer of society.

Referring to housing problems of lower-income residents of Hampstead and Kilburn constituency, Tulip said that people are often keen to know how her party would address the issue.
 
She echoed Labour leader Ed Miliband’s promise of building 20 thousand new homes and said her party will create new funds for healthcare if elected.
 

“Another priority is minimum wage, which is very low now and people find it hard to make both ends meet. Ed  Miliband has said he would introduce a London-living wage. Everyone will get paid 8.80 pounds per hour.”

Tulip urged all to exercise their democratic right on May 7.

“We want the Labour in government and Ed Miliband as the prime minister. And I want to raise my constituency’s issues in Parliament,” said Tulip Siddique.

A total of 12 British-Bangladeshis have got nominations from different parties for the May 7 election.

Of them, Labour candidate of Bethnal Green and Bow and current MP Rushanara Ali and Labour candidate of Ealing and Acton Rupa Huq seems to be ahead of their contenders.

The local Bengali community, however, has high hopes on Tulip Siddiq, considering her family’s political legacy.

“Tulip Siddiq understands local issues. She is credible to the Labour Party’s top leadership. We will be proud if she’s elected,” Taj Uddin, a resident of Hampstead and Kilburn, told bdnews24.com.