In a London council by-election held on Thursday, a pro-Palestinian independent candidate defeated the Labour Party, suggesting that the ruling party has not recovered the support it lost due to its policies on Israel since the election last July. This election result may foreshadow the need for Labour to reflect on its related policies.
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04-01, 2025In the Mayfield ward by-election in the Redbridge district of northeast London, Noor Jahan Begum of the Redbridge and Ilford Independent Party defeated the local Labour candidate (who received 663 votes) with 1,080 votes. The ward has a large Muslim population, making the election result even more significant.
Prior to the election, several key Labour figures, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, campaigned in the area. Despite the support of such heavyweights, Labour still lost, which undoubtedly sounded an alarm for the party. This defeat highlights the challenges Labour faces in regaining trust in diverse communities.
This by-election indicates that British policy on Israel continues to influence electoral politics in certain areas of the UK, which may concern the Labour leadership. Begum, a local magistrate, campaigned on local hot-button issues such as council tax, crime rates, and housing, as well as "justice for Palestine and Ukraine."
The issue of Gaza played a significant role in the campaign, with leaflets received by voters adorned with the Palestinian flag. The party also capitalized on the recent scandal involving local Labour councilor Jas Athwal, whose resignation from the Mayfield ward last month triggered the by-election. In 2024, the BBC revealed that several rental properties owned by Athwal had pest infestations and black mold, leading to calls for his resignation.
Waseem Ahmed, chairman of the Redbridge and Ilford Independent Party, said on Thursday evening that "ordinary working-class people have rejected a party that no longer represents them." He described Athwal as a "rogue landlord" and said that the councilor and the Labour Party thought they could "get away with this heinous behavior."
Ahmed also emphasized Britain's support for Israel: "A Labour Party that thinks it can arm and support Israel to commit genocide in Gaza with impunity is not a party of peace and internationalism." The Labour government implemented partial restrictions on arms export licenses to Israel last September but has since maintained that Israel is an important ally of the UK, despite criticizing its renewed attacks on Gaza this month.
Since taking office, Labour has lost more than 40% of council seats in by-elections, and its vote share has declined in over 80% of by-elections. The recent by-election suggests that this trend is continuing, and that the UK's support for Israel in the Gaza attacks remains a significant political issue for some voters. These results indicate a need for Labour to re-evaluate its stance on international affairs.
