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Defecting Ukip MEP tried to stand for Respect

THE MEP who sparked a right-wing row by defecting from Ukip to the Tories at the weekend was once a candidate for George Galloway’s Respect party.

Chancellor George Osborne was grilled yesterday about whether the Tories should have welcomed Amjad Bashir amid allegations of impropriety.

It came after Respect revealed on Sunday evening that Mr Bashir had been a member and was even fleetingly selected to stand in Bradford council elections in May 2012.

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