"I need more time to listen, learn and find my political home"
Former England cricketer Monty Panesar has withdrawn as a candidate for George Galloway’s political party just over a week after announcing he was standing.
On April 30, 2024, Panesar announced he would be standing to be an MP candidate in Ealing Southall for the Workers Party of Britain, led by Mr Galloway.
On LBC, Mr Galloway told Nick Ferrari:
“I’ll present 200 of them outside Parliament this afternoon, including – you’ll like this – Monty Panesar, the ace Indian cricketer, former England international cricketer, who will be our candidate in Southall.
“Monty, of course, was a great left-arm spinner and so we could do with him.”
At the time, Monty Panesar stated that he was sick of watching the “average Joe” in society struggle the most under Conservative and Labour leaderships.
He added that “it is time for a change”.
Panesar told Daily Mail: “They are not getting fair treatment and I’m tired of seeing the poorest people in the country being affected the most.
“They are people and their voices are not being heard.
“I want to stand for the working class people, the workers of our country, to make their lives easier.
“I am confident I will win and I’m looking forward to it.”
However, Panesar said he has now realised he needs more time to “find my political home”.
He said: “I realise I need more time to listen, learn and find my political home, one that aligns with my personal and political values.
“I wish The Workers Party all the best but look forward to taking some time to mature and find my political feet so I am well prepared to deliver my very best when I next run-up to the political wicket.”
During an interview, Monty Panesar appeared to get confused about one of the Workers Party’s pledges to leave the NATO military alliance.
He suggested NATO’s role was related to immigration policy and British membership was making it harder to control its borders.
Panesar told Times Radio: “I think the reason our party is saying it is because we don’t really have control on our borders.
“We have illegal migration and then what ends up happening is some of these illegal migrants go into the poorer, deprived areas, and then the resources get strained.
“And it affects, you know, the ordinary people, our working people in this country.”
“I think that’s one of the reasons, you know, our party wants to maybe, you know, have a debate about is it really necessary to be in NATO or not.”
When asked what NATO is, Panesar replied:
“I don’t have a deep understanding of NATO.”
He also said he would leave the issue of Gaza to Mr Galloway after the Workers Party leader re-entered British politics in March following a shock victory in the Rochdale by-election.
Mr Galloway won the by-election after focusing his campaign on the war in Gaza.
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