Corbyn Hails Pro-Gaza MPs as 'Comrades' Despite Campaign Controversies

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Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, has referred to the newly elected pro-Gaza MPs as "comrades," despite the increasingly toxic nature of their campaign. This insurgent wave, which made significant inroads in Birmingham, managed to secure seats while significantly reducing previously large majorities. The movement, which mirrors the political impact of Nigel Farage's campaigns albeit with a different focus, saw five MPs elected on a pro-Gaza platform, matching the number won by Reform UK.

 

At a pro-Palestinian rally in London, Corbyn stood alongside Iqbal Mohamed, the newly elected MP for Dewsbury & Batley in West Yorkshire. Mohamed, echoing the movement's sentiments, declared, “Our democracy has been hijacked by a corrupt, racist, brutal, apartheid and genocide-supporting elite.” In Birmingham, the political upheaval was particularly evident. An insurgent candidate took one inner-city seat and substantially cut down Labour's large majorities. This intense political contest led to warnings from two female MPs about threats to their personal safety, the safety of their campaign teams, and broader implications for British democracy.

 

 

Jess Phillips, MP for Yardley, was re-elected with a drastically reduced majority of 693, down from 10,659, after facing a strong challenge from Jody McIntyre of George Galloway’s Workers Party. Shabana Mahmood, who won in Birmingham Ladywood, saw her majority plummet from 32,000 to 3,421. Phillips recounted incidents of harassment and intimidation during her campaign, including an incident where a young woman delivering leaflets was filmed and screamed at by an older man. Phillips described her campaign as being marred by a “politics of humiliation,” with male opponents frequently filming her and her team. She explained that these actions were intended to generate content that could incite further intimidation. Reflecting on the Labour party's evolving stance on the Gaza conflict, Phillips noted that the party's position had cost her votes despite her resignation from the Labour front bench to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza in November.

 

 

In Birmingham Perry Barr, where 38% of the population is Muslim, the independent pro-Gaza candidate and barrister Ayoub Khan defeated the Labour incumbent, Khalid Mahmood, by 507 votes. Khan, who had left the Liberal Democrats in May, attributed his campaign's intensity to widespread passion and frustration across Birmingham. He condemned any violence but defended the right to protest and demonstrate, highlighting the increasing activism within the Muslim community as beneficial for democracy.

 

 

Local perspectives on the election aftermath were poignant. Adil Parker, an outreach worker at the Masjid Al Falaah in Perry Barr, praised Jess Phillips as a diligent worker but criticized Labour MPs for neglecting Muslim voters' concerns since the Gaza conflict began. Abdul Roghey, Parker’s colleague, stressed that the vote was not just a protest but a response to broader issues like poverty and social neglect in Perry Barr.

 

Shabana Mahmood narrowly retained her seat after independent candidate Akhmed Yakoob garnered significant support. Mahmood condemned the campaign's "harassment and intimidation," describing it as an "assault on democracy itself." Yakoob, facing his own allegations of harassment, denied any wrongdoing and suggested his volunteers were the ones harassed by Labour campaigners.

 

In constituencies with significant Muslim populations, Labour's vote share saw an average decline of 11 points compared to the 2019 elections, reflecting a broader dissatisfaction with the party. Despite Labour's overall landslide victory, the surge in support for independent candidates in Muslim-heavy seats indicates a shifting political landscape. The group "The Muslim Vote," established to support candidates opposing the Conservative and Labour leadership's stances on Gaza, celebrated the increased support for independents, predicting further changes in future elections.

 

Credit: Sunday Times 2024-07-08

 

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[cncltd1973]

I fear for England welcoming Islamic males into politics. They are muslim first and above all and will work to change your country to one whose freedoms won't offend their religion. Listen to ex-muslims warn the west, there are plenty of youtube videos

[JonnyF]

No surprise. Lefty anti-semites don't change their spots.