Monty Panesar resigns as candidate for Ealing Southall – EALING.NEWS – The Voice of Ealing 7 towns

Just nine days after announcing he would stand for George Galloway’s Labor Party as a candidate in the Ealing Southall constituency, legendary cricketer Monty Panesar has called it quits.

Mr Panesar was revealed as a non-Westminster candidate on 30 April 2024.

On May 8, 2024 and via X (formerly known as Twitter), he said: “I realize I need more time to listen, learn and find my political home.”

In a series of three posts, he said:

“I am a proud Briton who has had the honor of representing my country at the highest level of cricket. Now I want to do my part to help others, but I admit that I am at the beginning of my journey and I am still learning about how politics can help people.

“So today I stand down as a general election candidate for the Workers’ Party. I realize that I need more time to listen, learn, and find my political home, one that aligns with my personal and political values.

I wish the Labor Party all the best, but I’m looking forward to taking some time to mature and find my political feet, so I’m well prepared to give it my best when I next run for political office .”

Responding to the announcement, Labour-led Ealing Council councilor leader Peter Mason posted on X: “A wise and dignified decision. Ealing voted Labor last Thursday. They know that when it comes to crisis, Labor is really on their side.”

The Labor Party is set to announce a new candidate as it will field people in all Ealing constituencies for the upcoming general election. The three constituencies of Ealing Southall, Ealing North and Ealing Central and Acton are currently held by Labour.

In Ealing Southall, his new candidate will be up against MP Virendra Sharma and Sameh Habeeb, who previously stood as an independent for Ealing North, will take on MP James Murray.

A candidate for Ealing Central and Acton, which is currently held by Dr Rupa Huq, is to be announced.

At the last general election in 2021, Mr Sharma retained his seat in Ealing Southall with a majority of 16,084 to the Conservatives.

In the Ealing North by-election, Mr Murray retained his seat with a majority of 12,269 over the Tories.

Speaking to EALING.NEWS, Mr Habeeb said: “Ealing families are facing unprecedented challenges. The cost of living has skyrocketed, access to basic healthcare has become a struggle and our children are growing up in poverty – all under the watch of a government and local Labor MP who have repeatedly failed us.”

Mr Habeeb added: “Our current MP, who is expected to be a strong voice for us in Parliament, has instead become a puppet for the Labor leadership, ignoring serious issues such as the hidden child poverty crisis in Ealing, rising housing costs and , most shockingly, , not showing up to vote against unfair welfare cuts. It is unacceptable that in one of the richest cities in the world, over 12,000 children in Ealing North live in poverty.”