Former Lib-Dem in Euro seat bid (From This Is Lancashire)

News RSS Feed

Former Lib-Dem in Euro seat bid

11:34am Monday 17th March 2008

THE future of a north west MEP, who controversially switched from the Liberal Democrats to theConservatives, is under the spotlight.

Blackburn-born Sajjad Karim is bidding to become one of the Tory group's candidates in Brussels, as the party's Euro MP selection procedure begins.

In November, the former Pendle councillor defected from the Lib-Dems to the Conservatives claiming that the latter had made 'huge progress' under leader David Cameron.

Mr Karim, 37, a former lawyer with two specialist practices in the North West, once had his constituency office in Manchester Road, Nelson.

Now he is based in Chorlton, south Manchester, following his defection.

Party members in the north west have been issued with ballot papers and must return them over the next few weeks.

Veteran Tory MEPs Den Dover, the party's regional development spokesman, Sir Robert Atkins and David Sumberg, a member of the foreign affairs committee, are also in the running.

An announcement on the successful candidates is expected in early April.

Mr Karim was first elected to Pendle Council in 1994 and held a number of posts at Nelson Town Hall during his eight-year tenure.

He joined the European Parliament as a north-west MEP in June 2004 and served on the parliament's international trade committee.

Print article » Email to a friend »

Your Say YourThis Is Lancashire

Lancastrian, Lancashire says...
2:05pm Mon 17 Mar 08

The article states that he is a former lawyer when in fact he has opened another law firm in Manchester under his own name SajjadKarim Solicitors...wonder how he plans on carrying out constituency work & running his law firm simultaneously in a fully committed manner.

The guy is not even worth commenting on and whilst he is lapping it up in South Chorlton...his former lib dem colleagues are knocking on doors in pendle for the forthcoming elections without his support.

Report this post »

Lucy, says...
4:51pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Well I like him!

I get the impression LibDems are very bitter about him leaving even today...

Report this post »

Nelsoner, Nelson says...
6:46pm Mon 17 Mar 08

His old office in Nelson Town centre, which is an old shop. Is sat empty will loads of rubbish inside. Who is paying the council tax for this building. It is a complete eyesore, it still has his name along with the lib dems across the front.

Report this post »

vikingpower, blackburn says...
7:59am Tue 18 Mar 08

Do any of our local councillors actually have faith in their convictions anymore?.How can a liberal suddenly decide hes a conservative?its because of opportunists like this that the electorate are turning their backs on mainstream politics in droves

Report this post »

nelsoner, nelson says...
8:38am Tue 18 Mar 08

Lucy you may like him,but I bet you wouldn't be saying that if you were one of his former employees at the lib dem office,some of whom he sacked by text message I hear. This guy has no back bone and is a pure opportunist...if he had any backbone he would have remained with the Lib-Dems who helped establish him, not jump ship just cos they wouldnt give him the first ticket for the forthcoming MEP elections even though he knows that Chris Davies is ticket holder number 1 who has been in the job a lot longer.

Report this post »

lucy, says...
3:28pm Tue 18 Mar 08

That's politics for you!

It's the same with all jobs in politics...

Saj is not a bad guy even if he did jump ship.

Report this post »

Ahmad, NELSON says...
2:22pm Wed 19 Mar 08

This so called councillor, so called Member of European Parliament needs to be banned from all Government involvement.His deception is not just to his former party but to the whole of the Community, he has made a mockery of the people who voted for him. There was no justification to the people who backed him and supported him through his ups and downs for votes. I attended many events with Sajjad Karim and cannot recall a moment where he physically made efforts to approach people/residents (made sure his seat kept warm) for local issues/concerns. This reflected on his previous party too, i can recall many councillors that he nominated, who once elected took a back seat. MR KARIM You're not wanted and neither your ex parties councillors !! A very Irrate Voice from a broken community

Report this post »

Ahmad, Nelson says...
2:25pm Wed 19 Mar 08

PS. Lucy with all due respect. not just you but many thought he was a nice and tactile person. But im afraid Many would not agree with you now !!

Report this post »

Nelsoner, Nelson says...
3:30pm Wed 19 Mar 08

Too true Ahmad, too true.

Report this post »

Chris, says...
11:25am Thu 27 Mar 08

Wonder if Saj will join Labour if he comes second in the ballot.

Report this post »

Joe, says...
11:31am Thu 27 Mar 08

Tony Greaves did all he could to help Saj and other Asian Lib Dems). Saj left because he came second in the ballot to Chris Davies and feared (wrongly in my view) he would not get re-elected.

Report this post »

brierfielder, brierfield says...
11:33pm Mon 31 Mar 08

the guy (saj) has got brains. he was alwaying cunning and using people. he has no feelings-for him the only way is up.

Report this post »

Dave, Nelson says...
4:51pm Sat 17 May 08

I was an employee of Sajjad Karim and the only thing he did was be a fat over grown peice of meat and sit in his office and do no work at all thats on days he came to the office. He was meant to be the first muslim MEP but the guy was not even fasting in Ramadan which is part of thier faith.

I think this shows you what kind of guy he is

Report this post »

Carol, says...
5:14pm Sat 17 May 08

I am from the constituency from where this MEP is from and also i live local.I just wanted to say i have not seen this local MEP around my area never he has never visited places and how does he expect to get are votes of he doesnt introduce himself and come to are area and meet and greet local people even though someine is busy you still can take out time for the people of your constituency for example i have seen MP gordon Prentice and he has visited locally and for this MEP i have never see him they arrange partys that you hear about but you dont even recieve a single invite how so why should the people give him the vote and also why can`t he come to his constituency and visit local people.

Report this post »

CHERYL, says...
12:30pm Sun 25 May 08

I am from the constituency from where this MEP is from and also i live local.I just wanted to say i have not seen this local MEP around my area never he has never visited places and how does he expect to get are votes if he doesnt introduce himself and come to are area and meet and greet local people even though someone is busy you still can take out time for the people of your constituency for example i have seen MP Gordon Prentice and he has visited locally and for this MEP i have never see him they arrange partys that you hear about but you dont even recieve a single invite how so why should the people give him the vote and also why can`t he come to his constituency and visit local people.

Report this post »

Comments are closed on this article.

BRUSSELS AIM: Sajjad Karim

In this section

Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices » Schools » Crime » Hospitals »

Contact us

News RSS Feed