A PARLIAMENTARY candidate is calling on politicians of all parties to back calls for a new inquiry into the Bradford City fire disaster.

Bradford West Respect candidate George Galloway said questions raised in a new book about the 1985 tragedy must be answered.

"We're in an election period and I am acutely aware that accusations of seeking advantage can be raised so I am calling on all candidates, present and former councillors and Members of Parliament, fans groups and fans, anyone who has an interest to come together to agree that the issues raised must be answered and the only way to do that is through a new inquiry, perhaps through a judicial review," he said.

Mr Galloway said he had not wished to become involved while the election was running but had changed his mind after hearing Sir Oliver Popplewell, who led the initial inquiry into the fire, talking on television.

Meanwhile, a group set up to safeguard the former Odeon building has responded to claims by Mr Galloway that he saved the landmark.

At a hustings at the University of Bradford last week, Mr Galloway said thanks to his work, the Odeon and the National Media Museum had both been saved, and Westfield had started to build its shopping centre.

He said: "Some people don't like to hear it, but everyone in Bradford knows it is the case."

But the Bradford Odeon Rescue Group (BORG) has responded by saying the Odeon was saved thanks to its own campaigning work, alongside the efforts of "many hundreds and thousands of people in Bradford".

Its statement said: "At no time during our successful campaign to save the Odeon did we promote any particular political view, nor did we court support from only one political party.

"One of the reasons we were successful was because the people of Bradford, like ourselves, put to one side political views and concentrated, instead, on what we could achieve under one banner and for the benefit of the city."

It called on Mr Galloway to withdraw his earlier claims.

Other candidates standing in Bradford West are: Harry Boota (Ukip), George Grant (Con), Alun Griffiths (Lib Dem) and Celia Hickson (Green Party), Therese Hirst (English Democrats - Putting England First), James Kirkcaldy (Independent) and Naz Shah (Labour).