IMAGE CREDIT: British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaks during Prime Minister’s Questions, at the House of Commons in London, Britain,
Despite a massive parliamentary triumph, Britain’s Labour Party lost major elections in Muslim-majority communities on Friday due to unhappiness about its Gaza policy.
In seats with more than 10% Muslim population, the party, which has historically relied on Muslim and other minority support, lost 10 points on average.
Jonathan Ashworth, who was anticipated to join Keir Starmer’s Labour cabinet, lost to independent Shockat Adam, one of four pro-Gaza candidates. Several Labour candidates almost lost.
Adam added, “This is for the people of Gaza,” holding up a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf at the conclusion of his Leicester South victory speech.
Labour finished second in Blackburn and Dewsbury & Batley to pro-Gaza independents. Labour lost Islington North to veteran left-winger and pro-Palestinian campaigner Jeremy Corbyn, who campaigned as an independent.
Some of Britain’s 3.9 million Muslims, 6.5% of its population, are angry because Labour wants the Gaza conflict to halt but supports Israel’s right to defend itself.
Starmer was criticized for progressively pushing for a truce. While the party has pledged to recognize a Palestinian state, it has not established a timeline.
Last month, Savanta reported that 44% of Muslim voters regarded the conflict as one of the top five topics and 86% would consider supporting an independent.
“The Muslim Vote” campaign encouraged voters to choose pro-Palestine independents or smaller parties like the left-wing Workers Party, which fielded over 150 candidates. Independence candidates increased by 230 since the 2019 election.
After Labour withdrew its candidate over a tape supporting Israel conspiracy theories, George Galloway won a by-election in March for a vacant parliamentary seat in Rochdale, a Muslim-majority area.
Other Labour legislators were challenged by pro-Gaza candidates and barely kept their seats.
In Ilford North, Labour’s health chief and senior member Wes Streeting defeated British-Palestinian Leanne Mohamad by 528 votes.
After defeating Workers Party candidate Jody McIntyre by 693 votes, Jess Philipps struggled to deliver a statement amid pro-Palestinian boos.
Philipps was one of many “shadow cabinet” members to resign over Gaza policy.
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