THE sister of a Bolton councillor who died last year is hoping to carry on her legacy by standing for election to replace her.

The death of Crompton councillor Sufrana Bashir Ismail — who lost her battle with cancer in October at the age of 47 — has prompted a by-election which will be held on February 11.

Labour has announced that Cllr Ismail’s sister, Bilkis, will be contesting the election for the party after being chosen by members in the ward.

The 42-year-old barrister had been working in Dubai until last year when she quit her job and moved back to Bolton to help look after her sister during her illness.

She said she had not considered getting involved with Bolton politics until she realised the impact her older sister had made during her nine years as a Crompton councillor.

She said: “After Sufrana died, a multitude of visitors came to the family home to pay their respects. Meeting them made me realise how much of an impact Sufrana had made on people's lives, both with her council and charitable work — it made me feel humbled.

“It made me think I wanted to give something back to Bolton, where I was raised, and quite a few people who knew Sufrana suggested I stand — in many ways I am doing this for her.”

This is not Ms Bashir Ismail’s first brush with politics, she worked for Bolton North East MP David Crausby as a researcher for a period in 1998 and again between 2003 and 2004.

She qualified as a barrister and a charted tax advisor. She worked for KPMG from 1998 to 2002 and as a civil servant in London from 2003, before starting to work with a law firm in 2007, which sent her to Dubai in 2009.

After returning to her native Bolton, she is working to set up her own chambers — but will do this on a part-time basis if she is elected as a councillor.

She said: “I came back to Bolton to care for Sufrana but also to look after my parents — because she did so much for them.

“It has been very difficult for all of us since Sufrana died, she was a private person so she hadn’t told us how bad things were until quite late on because she didn’t want us to worry.

“But I do have more time on my hands and I thought the best thing to do would be to try and carry on her considerable legacy.”

Ms Bashir Ismail, who has five siblings and three half-siblings, grew up in the Crompton ward and attended the former Wolfenden Street School.

She said: “I have very fond memories of Bolton and while I did move away, I have always come back here on any holidays I have had — all of my family are here.”

She added: “I believe that the work I have done — including in politics — has given me a diverse skill set that means I will be able to help the people of my local area.

“I am nervous but excited and will be out campaigning and speaking to as many people as I can.”

The Bolton News will be featuring all the candidates standing in the Crompton By-election in the run-up to the vote.