Monty Panesar has decided to step back from politics just one week after announcing his candidacy as a parliamentary representative for George Galloway’s Workers Party of Great Britain. Panesar, 42, who was introduced by Mr. Galloway at a media event in Westminster, was set to run for the Ealing Southall seat in West London during the upcoming general election. This seat is currently held by Labour with a majority of 16,084 votes.
Panesar withdraws from politics
“I’m a proud Brit who has had the honour to represent my country at the highest level of cricket,” Panesar stated in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “I now want to do my bit to help others, but I recognize I am at the beginning of my journey and still learning about how politics can help people.” He added, “So today I am withdrawing as a General Election candidate for The Workers Party. I realize I need more time to listen, learn, and find my political home, one that aligns with my personal and political values.”
Panesar, whose full name is Mudhsuden Singh Panesar, became the first practising Sikh to play for England in 2006, during the first Test in Nagpur on England’s tour of India. After his cricketing career, he pursued a sports journalism course at St Mary’s University in London.
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What prompted Panesar to join politics
At the time of his announcement, Panesar wrote in the Telegraph about his political aspirations, expressing a desire to be “the voice for the workers of this country.” He even mentioned that his long-term goal in politics was to one day become Prime Minister. However, after encountering a series of challenging media interviews, including one with Times Radio where he struggled to articulate a stance on the UK’s continued membership in NATO, he decided to withdraw from the race.
While Panesar’s initial entry into politics was brief, he concluded his statement with a hopeful outlook, indicating that he intends to continue learning about politics and could potentially return in the future. “I wish The Workers Party all the best,” he said, “but I 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.”
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