Neil Kinnock Joins Rupa Huq's Re-election Campaign Launch
Tory defector Mark Logan also on hand to give his support
Lord Kinnock with Rupa Huq at Ruskin Hall this Saturday
June 5, 2024
The campaign to re-elect Rupa Huq as MP for Ealing Central and Acton began in earnest this Saturday (1 June) with a rally at Ruskin Hall in Acton.
Over 100 party activists were in attendance to hear speeches from a range of supporters including former Labour leader Lord Kinnock and Mark Logan, who was the Conservative MP for Bolton North East up until last Thursday.
Neil Kinnock, who lived in Ealing until he moved to north London to be near his grandchildren, said it was great to be back in the area.
He delivered a wide-ranging speech covering the bonds of community, generation gap, the difference he says that Labour has made in power. Chiswick resident Ann Liebeck commented that it was “stunning” and he has a “magnificent voice”. Rupa Huq called it “a tour de force” and Ealing councillor Grace Quansah said it was “an absolute privilege to hear Lord Kinnock”.
Virendra Sharma, who is bowing out of politics this general election, was warmly embraced by Kinnock under whom he served at Labour party HQ as the party’s ethnic minorities officer.
Mark Logan, who defected from the Conservatives to Labour last week, made his first public speech since his move. He said that part of the reason for his defection was the kindness of those on the Labour benches particularly Rupa Huq and the thanked everyone for such a warm welcome.
Also taking to the stage was Rupa Huq’s sister TV presenter Konnie Huq. She said her sibling had been a lifelong local dedicated to Ealing and described one of her early forays into broadcasting: while at Notting Hill and Ealing Girls’ School she interviewed Neil Kinnock during the 1992 General Election but after the cameras were off gushed how she hoped he’d win.
Rupa Huq added, “Neil Kinnock saved the Labour party from the brink of extinction and when I was a spotty teenager only interested in pop music got me into politics by doing an interview that made the cover of the NME (pop mag)”.
She cited the pro-EU stance Kinnock took and internal party democracy introduced by him as well as the breakthrough of BME MPs including Diane Abbott as positive changes he’d made in politics and society.
Labour Party activists outside Ruskin Hall
After posing for photographs a portion of the crowd went canvassing in local Acton streets including ex-Ealing mayor Cllr Hitesh Tailor and ex-leader of Ealing Brough Julian Bell.
Rupa Huq said afterward, “After three times as an MP this election presents one where we were in touching distance of electing a Labour government. It was an honour and privilege to have Neil Kinnock launch my bid for re-election as well as Virendra, Konnie and Mark – bravely making his first appearance as a Labour figure to a Labour audience.”
She will be defending a majority of 13,300.
Mark Logan (right) joins Rupa Huq's campaign
The following candidates have so far been announced for the Ealing Central and Acton constituency:
Conservative: James Windsor-Clive
SDP: Stephen Balogh
Green: Kate Crossland
Labour : Rupa Huq
Workers Party: Nada Jarche
Liberal Democrats: Alastair Mitton
Reform UK: Felix Orrell
The General Election takes place on Thursday 4 July.
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