BURY could soon have its very first female Muslim Asian MP after a Manchester councillor was selected as Labour Party's prospective parliamentary candidate.
Maryam Khan, who became the youngest councillor to be elected onto Manchester City Council in 2006, was selected to represent Bury North with 'overwhelming support' on Saturday.
If elected the 27-year-old solicitor, who currently represents the Longsight ward, will not only become the first Pakistani Muslim female MP, but also the youngest in Greater Manchester.
She will also replace the current Labour MP David Chaytor who is stepping down in the wake of the expenses scandal.
Mr Chaytor who has been an MP since 1997, admitted making an 'unforgivable error' in claiming £13,000 for a mortgage he had already paid on his London flat.
Said Maryam: "I am honoured and privileged to have been selected by the members of Bury North and I can’t wait to get started and get out and hear what issues matter to people on the doorstep.
"The next election will be a big choice about the change we want for Bury.
"You only have to look around Bury - our new health centre, children’s centres, schools and the redevelopment of the town centre - to see what a Labour Government has achieved.
"Only a Labour Government will continue to make a real difference here in Bury – investing in the economy and jobs, health and education."
Chair of Bury North Labour Party, Martin Hayes said: "Maryam received overwhelming support from the local Labour Party and I am delighted she has been selected to join our hard working councillors and party members.
"Labour offers change for the many - the Conservatives offer change to benefit the privileged few, a change you can't afford.
"I’m sure Maryam is the best possible candidate to get this message across."
Maryam's proud dad, Cheetham Hill Councillor, Afzal Khan, who was also the city's first Muslim Pakistani Lord Mayor, said: "I'm really proud of Maryam.
"She's worked really hard and is passionate about her work.
"If elected she will make the people of Bury very proud."
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Showing comments 1 to 8 and replies | View All
Asian.Sensation (24/11/2009 at 12:50)
Steinbrock, Bury (24/11/2009 at 14:48)
This poor girl will have to go through the rigmarole of losing, quite heavily, to the Tories and will always be a second rate candidate in her future. Nobody follows Labour anymore, nobody truly knows why they exist, who they stand for, what they stand for.
Blair kept the show on the road by keeping the Tories at bay and I really think this really is it for them now.
Shamas (25/11/2009 at 10:59)
May be Daddy has a final say, if to or not.
Dzenko, Manchester (25/11/2009 at 13:33)
Mr JL McNeil, Tottington (29/11/2009 at 16:55)
Using daddys name is the perfect way to pave the way!!
Good luck to Bury, i beg you use an initiative to vote for anyone BUT Labour. They are an utter shambles!!
gulliblenotme, bury (05/02/2010 at 21:12)
Maurice Dickson (11/03/2010 at 16:35)
An all female short list? There's 50% of the population ruled out of the race right there...so much for Labour's Equal Opportunities policy!
She isn't even from Bury...Is there no one capable of representing the town who actually comes from Bury?
What life experience has she actually got? How many jobs has she had since she left University? Does she support our Armed Forces in Afghanistan? She has no kids, no experience of raising a family...
What are her opinions on Immigration? What is her track record in getting things done in Longsight? Last time I was there it wasn't exactly a tourist destination..
A vote for Labour this time will be a wasted vote I'm afraid.
alan quinn (31/03/2010 at 16:40)
As someone who's been on the doorstep in Bury North, I can tell you there is no attraction for the Tories. Considering the recession, a third term sitting government, the tories should be polling in the 50% area: they aren't because they have no policies (apart from making millionaires richer), no substance and made the wrong call on every big decision.