BRADFORD, England (AP) – Naz Shah is running for Parliament, but she is hardly a typical British politician. She grew up in poverty in a Pakistani-immigrant family, fled a teenage forced marriage and campaigned to free her mother, imprisoned for murder after poisoning an abusive partner.
Her rival, George Galloway, is a Scottish left-wing firebrand who has denounced U.S. senators, saluted Saddam Hussein and once appeared on a reality-TV show pretending to be a cat.
Anyone who thinks Britain’s election is dull hasn’t been to Bradford West, the campaign’s wildest race, where debate ranges from local schools and services to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and high-flown rhetoric collides with character attacks.
Caught in the middle are residents of one of Britain’s poorest areas, who desperately want a representative who will create jobs and revive a downtown dominated by vacant buildings and discount stores.
“Our city center is ruined,” said car salesman Wahid Ali. “People used to come from all over to shop in Bradford. Now they run.”