Dr Zahid Chauhan seeking Labour’s nomination for the seat of Rochdale

GP Dr Zahid Chauhan – seeking Labour’s nomination for the seat of Rochdale

Dr Zahid Chauhan is seeking Labour’s nomination for the seat of Rochdale - with a promise to try and restore the town’s reputation as a hub of industry, diversity and prosperity.

Dr Chauhan is a local GP who also works for a not-for- profit social enterprise offering out-of-hours health care.

The GP wants to convince voters that Labour is the only party that can save the NHS, close the gap between rich and poor, provide affordable housing, and create better environments.

Pakistani- Kashmiri by birth and "British by heart", Dr Chauhan says he is also determined to fight for the right Brexit deal for Britain – a country he now calls "home" and whose values he "proudly shares".

He said: “After long discussions with my family, I have decided to put my name forward to be Labour’s candidate for Rochdale.

“There are many reasons for this, not least my desire to help Labour repair the damage austerity has done to the country and my belief that as an effective communicator I can stand up for everyone in Britain – with a bias towards the vulnerable.

"What really decided me to stand in this constituency is the people I have served as a doctor. Genuinely, they deserve better than to be discarded by this Government and have their communities divided by right wing dogma. I want Rochdale to be a strong, united Labour town – a beacon to the rest of the nation where everyone matters.”

A current councillor in Oldham, Dr Chauhan is a local constituency party chairman of Oldham West and Royton and has been chief whip of Oldham Labour group and confidant and campaign manager to senior Labour politicians including the late Michael Meacher.

As a GP, Dr Chauhan has defended junior doctors and spoken out against the early and inappropriate discharge of patients from hospitals. His commitments on improving social care, holding sensible non-racist dialogue on immigration and enabling the poorest paid to climb out of poverty will, he believes, resonate with residents in Rochdale.

He added: “Make no mistake, this is a massively important election for Britain and Rochdale.

"I believe that when the people of our great borough hear our policies – especially on the NHS – they will support Labour, help us into power and bring a sense of hope and renewed impetus to places like Rochdale, who have been so ignored by this Government.

“I have been an advocate for patients sometimes facing their biggest challenges and at their lowest ebb. Now I want to speak up for the people of Rochdale and make sure that our community stands proudly as a place of unity, prosperity, compassion and optimism.

“Rochdale deserves to be represented by an MP with roots in the community and real life experience of the issues affecting local people. At a time when the public are cynical about career politicians, it must be Labour that leads that grassroots renewal.”