ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd twˈɛlv, hiː wʌzɐ pətˈɛnʃəl kˈændᵻdˌeɪt fɚðə bɹˈædfɚd wˈɛst baɪᵻlˈɛkʃən bˌʌt lˈɔst ðə nˌɑːmᵻnˈeɪʃən tʊ ɪmɹˈæn hˈʌseɪn, hˌuː wʌz dᵻfˈiːɾᵻd baɪ ɹᵻspˈɛkt pˈɑːɹɾi kˈændᵻdˌeɪt, dʒˈɔːɹdʒ ɡˈæləwˌeɪ.
In 2012, he was a potential candidate for the Bradford West by-election but lost the nomination to Imran Hussain, who was defeated by Respect Party candidate, George Galloway.