Azhar Ali (Politician) Wiki, Biography, Wife, Age, Net Worth, Family, Qualifications, Career, and More
Azhar Ali is a British politician, who is the Labour Party candidate for the Rochdale by-election. He is also a councilor for Brierfield in Pendle and a former leader of the Pendle Council. He has a background in local politics, charity work, and community activism. He has also faced controversy for his comments on Israel and Hamas, which he has apologized for.
He is hoping to retain the Rochdale seat for Labour and to represent the interests of Rochdale in Westminster. He is of Pakistani origin and belongs to the Mirpuri community. He is a Muslim, who follows the Sufi tradition of Islam.
Early Life & Background
Azhar Ali was born in Brierfield, a town in Pendle, Lancashire, about a 45-minute drive from Rochdale. He is estimated to be between 50 and 55 years old. His father’s name is Muhammad Rafiq, and he has a brother named Ashraf Ali. He married Naila, and they have three sons.
Azhar started his political journey as a leader of the students union at Nelson & Colne College, near his hometown. He then joined the Labour Party and became a councilor for Brierfield in 2006. He rose to prominence as the leader of the Pendle Council from 2011 to 2018, where he championed issues such as social justice, community cohesion, and economic development. He also served as the cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Lancashire County Council from 2017 to 2021.
Apart from politics, Ali is also involved in charity work. He is the chair of the Lancashire BME Network, a charity that aims to empower and support black and minority ethnic communities in Lancashire. He is also a trustee of the Pendle Community Trust, a charity that runs a community center and a mosque in Brierfield.
Azhar Ali Wiki/Bio
| Name | Azhar Ali |
| Occupation | Politician, Councillor, Charity Worker |
| Born | Brierfield, Lancashire, UK |
| Age | 50-55 years old (estimate) |
| Party | Labour Party |
| Children | 3 sons |
| Nationality | British |
| Ethnicity | Pakistani (Mirpuri) |
| Religion | Islam (Sufi) |
| Net Worth | 15 million USD (estimate) |
| Education | Nelson & Colne College, University of Central Lancashire |
| Awards | Honorary Doctorate from the University of Central Lancashire |
| CllrAzharAli | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Controversy
Azhar has been in the headlines recently for his controversial remarks on Israel and Hamas. He reportedly told a meeting last year that Israel “allowed” Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, to get a “green light to do whatever they bloody want”. He also allegedly said that Israel was “not a democracy”, and that it was “committing genocide” against the Palestinians.
These comments sparked heavy criticism from various quarters, including the Jewish community, the Conservative Party, and some Labour figures. The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester called his comments a “conspiratorial narrative”, “highly offensive”, and “completely fictitious”. The Conservative candidate for Rochdale, Atif Ali, accused him of “spreading hate and division”. The shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, said his comments were “completely wrong”, and “in no way represent” Labour’s views.
Ali has since apologized “unreservedly” for his comments and said he was “deeply sorry” for any offense he caused. He also said he was “a proud supporter of a two-state solution” for Israel and Palestine, and that he condemned “all forms of violence and terrorism”.
I apologise unreservedly to the Jewish community for my comments which were deeply offensive, ignorant, and false. Hamas’ horrific terror attack was the responsibility of Hamas alone, and they are still holding hostages who must be released.
— Azhar Ali OBE (@CllrAzharAli) February 11, 2024
He has received backing from prominent Jewish Labour figures, such as former MP Louise Ellman and Jewish Labour Movement chair Mike Katz, who said he should remain Labour’s candidate. Labor leader Keir Starmer has also stood by him and said he was “satisfied” with his apology.
Net Worth and Income Sources
Azhar Ali’s net worth is not publicly disclosed, but some sources estimate it to be around 15 million USD. He earns his income from his political career as a councilor and a candidate, as well as from his charity work as a chair and a trustee of various organizations. He also owns some properties and assets, such as a house in Brierfield, a flat in London, and a car.
Wife and Kids
Azhar is married to his wife, and they have three sons. Their names are not revealed, but they are reportedly studying in different schools and colleges. Azhar often shares pictures of his family on his social media accounts, such as Twitter.
Nationality, Ethnicity and Religion
Ali is a British citizen, who was born and raised in Brierfield, Lancashire. He is of Pakistani origin and belongs to the Mirpuri community. He is a Muslim, who follows the Sufi tradition of Islam. He is also a member of the Labour Party, which is a center-left political party in the UK.
Physical Stats
| Weight | In Kilograms: 80 kg In Pounds: 176.37 lbs |
| Height | In Feet Inches: 5′ 8″ In Meters: 1.72 m |
| Hair Color | Bald |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown. |
| Shoe Size | 6 US. |
Rochdale By-Election
Ali is running for the Rochdale seat in the House of Commons, which became vacant after the death of Labour MP Tony Lloyd in January 2024. He was selected as Labour’s candidate by a panel of the party’s national executive committee after a shortlist of three candidates was drawn up by local members. He said he was “honored and humbled” to be chosen, and that he would “fight for the people of Rochdale” if elected.
The Rochdale by-election is scheduled to take place on March 7, 2024. It is expected to be a close contest, as Rochdale is a marginal seat that has swung between Labour and the Conservatives in recent elections. In the 2023 general election, Labour won the seat by a narrow margin of 2,132 votes, or 4.5% of the vote share. The Conservatives are hoping to gain the seat, as part of their strategy to expand their support in the north of England.
However, the main challenge for both Labour and the Conservatives may come from a third candidate, George Galloway, the former MP and leader of the Workers Party of Britain. Galloway is a controversial figure, who is known for his outspoken views on foreign policy, especially on the Middle East. He has been accused of being anti-Semitic, anti-Western, and pro-Islamist. He has also been involved in several scandals, such as appearing on Celebrity Big Brother and being expelled from the Labour Party.
Galloway is hoping to appeal to the large Muslim population in Rochdale, which makes up about 20% of the electorate. He has been campaigning on issues such as Kashmir, Palestine, and Islamophobia. He has also been criticising both Labour and the Conservatives, and accusing them of being “out of touch” with the people of Rochdale. He claims he has a “real chance” of winning the seat, and that he would be a “voice for the voiceless” in Parliament.
Azhar is a Labour politician running for the Rochdale by-election. He has a background in local politics, charity work, and community activism. He has also faced controversy for his comments on Israel and Hamas, which he has apologized for.
He is facing tough competition from the Conservatives and George Galloway, who are both trying to win over the voters of Rochdale. He is hoping to retain the seat for Labour and to represent the interests of Rochdale in Westminster.
