Labour Faces Ongoing Threat From Gaza-Backed Independents in Local Elections

[Social Media]

 

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Labour Faces Ongoing Threat From Gaza-Backed Independents in Local Elections

 

Muslim voters have long been a crucial part of Labour’s support base, but a deepening sense of disillusionment, exacerbated by the war in Gaza, is now fueling concerns within the party that this support may be slipping away permanently. Many Muslim voters turned to independent candidates in last year's general election, and with local elections approaching, Labour figures worry this shift is becoming a permanent feature of British politics.

 

Much of the attention heading into the upcoming local elections has been on Reform UK, with Nigel Farage’s party tipped to gain hundreds of council seats from both the Tories and Labour. Yet in towns like Burnley, Lancashire, another narrative is quietly taking shape: the rise of Gaza-focused independent candidates threatening Labour’s traditional stronghold in Muslim communities.

 

 

Although Labour leader Keir Starmer secured a resounding victory last July, the party suffered shocks in areas with large Muslim populations. Jonathan Ashworth, a former shadow cabinet minister, lost his Leicester South seat to independent candidate Shockat Adam, while Health Secretary Wes Streeting saw his majority in Ilford North slashed from over 9,000 to just over 500 votes. Senior Labour insiders believe this shift is not a one-off, with some convinced that independent candidates will continue to erode Labour’s Muslim vote.

 

Burnley offers a clear example of where Labour could be vulnerable. Despite celebrations for Burnley Football Club’s promotion to the Premier League, the town struggles with severe deprivation, with government statistics revealing record numbers of young people living in poverty. Rob Ford, a politics professor at the University of Manchester, told PoliticsHome that "the general level of discontent in the Muslim communities is very high." He added that the war in Gaza has become a “lightning rod” issue, encouraging Muslim voters to turn away from Labour.

 

One Labour MP warned, “People in the party are putting their focus on Reform, which I get, but also at the expense of this threat,” adding, “these are real extremists.” Independent candidates like 18-year-old Maheen Kamran are stepping into this space. Motivated by the situation in Gaza, Kamran aims to improve school standards, public cleanliness, and promote gender-segregated public spaces. "There’s a big aspect of free mixing,” she said. “Muslim women aren’t really comfortable with being involved with Muslim men. I'm sure we can have segregated areas, segregated gyms, where Muslim women don't have to sacrifice their health."

 

Another independent, Usman Arif, is running in Burnley North East after leaving Labour over its stance on Gaza. He regularly posts about the war on his Facebook page and is campaigning on local issues like potholes and public safety. In Preston, too, Labour fears a dent in its support after pro-Gaza independent Michael Lavalette came second in last year’s election.

 

Lord Hayward, a Tory peer and pollster, predicted that this realignment of Muslim voters could have a “lasting effect.” He told PoliticsHome, “I don’t see Labour being able to resolve this issue with the Muslim community in places where there are large Muslim populations,” adding that the ongoing conflict in Gaza will make it even harder for Labour to win back disillusioned voters.

 

A Labour source spoke of an “unravelling of the social fabric” in areas where support for independents is surging. "There are strong divisions in these seats on the fault lines of class and religion. But what unites those communities is a general disillusionment with politics and government, and disappointment at the decline of public services."

 

Former Labour candidate Khalid Ahmed, who resigned from the party over its Gaza stance, is now working with Ayoub Khan, an independent MP, to expand their influence. However, a lack of formal coordination among independent candidates remains a hurdle.

 

Ali Arshad, a Kirklees councillor elected on a pro-Gaza platform, even described the Reform UK manifesto as "brilliant," except for its stance on the European Convention on Human Rights, indicating the complexity of the new independent movement. Meanwhile, Khalid Mahmood, Labour’s former MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, warned that Labour must stand against "Islamist" interests, saying, “While some Islamist organisations continue to pressure the government under the guise of combating Islamophobia, their demands are rarely about genuine inclusion. They are political and often incompatible with liberal democratic values.”

 

Labour’s strategy is to improve public services to win back voters across all communities. Yet, as the local elections loom, it seems clear that the challenge posed by independent, pro-Gaza candidates is one Labour cannot afford to ignore.

 

  Adpated by ASEAN Now from Politics Home  2025-04-29

 

 

 

[blaze master]

11 minutes ago, Social Media said:

Labour figures worry this shift is becoming a permanent feature of British politics.

 

Should of been worried 15 to 20 years ago. Too late now. 

[JonnyF]

I wonder how long before there is a new official Muslim/Islam party in the UK. I know we have the Islamic Party of Britain but they seem a bit old hat having been founded in the late 80's. 

 

In the current political climate maybe it's time for a new one? They could call it BRAMAS or BREZBOLLAH or something similar. The party colours could be red, white, green and black. Maybe Ricky Jones could head it up with some sharp, "cutting edge" policies, with Humza Yousaf "scooting around" in the DEI Department.  

 

It might be good to split the left wing vote. 

[newbee2022]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

pro-Gaza candidates is one Labour cannot afford to ignore

And what should Labour do?😳

[JonnyF]

14 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

And what should Labour do?😳

 

Labour will keep pandering to the Muslim voter base in the hope that it's enough to get them 4 more years at the trough. 

[newbee2022]

31 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Labour will keep pandering to the Muslim voter base in the hope that it's enough to get them 4 more years at the trough. 

Well, in this case they would have to accept greater influence on the party. I'm not sure that it is their intention.

[JonnyF]

4 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Well, in this case they would have to accept greater influence on the party. I'm not sure that it is their intention.

 

Are you insinuating they have principles of some type?

[newbee2022]

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Are you insinuating they have principles of some type?

Don't know what you try to express?