On the 5th of July, it was disappointing to see that far from sending the Labour Party into oblivion, UK voters allowed Keir Starmer a huge majority in Westminster. I was asked by PressTV how I felt – I said “despairing”. Keir Starmer had made it abundantly clear that he was an “Israel First” politician.
And within the first 3 weeks of his regime, that has been very evident. Building a large Holocaust memorial – previously shelved for a decade – next to Parliament was in the King’s speech. I suspect the significance of that location will not be understood by most. His regime will also bring forward the Holocaust Memorial Bill which will scrap parts of a 1900 Act thus removing the legal obstacles used previously to protect the public park from development. Special rules for only one group. The cost? A staggering £139 million is the revised cost for this project. The Israeli shill as I called him has also committed further war crimes within days of coming to power – without any recourse to the UK Parliament (as bad as that is) – by bombing a sovereign country. Yemen’s Hodeidah port – a civilian target and entry point of the aid for the impoverished civilian population – was hit by UK/US and Israeli missiles – they killed several civilians in addition to injuring about 90 people. Compare that to Yemen’s restrained humane actions designed to end the Gazan genocide. So who’s the terrorist? Starmer invited fellow war criminal, Zelensky, to sit at a UK cabinet meeting (unprecedented) and has signalled that Ukraine could strike Russian targets with British Storm Shadow missiles – which would be a declaration of war that Russia would have to respond to. Meanwhile, his Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared that £3 billion needed to lift UK children out of poverty was not possible.
So this charlatan and war monger is who the people of Britain elected. Ignorance is not an excuse. They say turkeys wouldn’t vote for Christmas but British turkeys clearly do.
I stood in the UK parliamentary elections as an Independent candidate in the Bradford South Constituency, my reasons being previously explained. I knew the seat was winnable – and I should have won. I counted on there being 14 000 Muslim votes (i.e. 17% of the Constituency) and that the vast majority of these “Muslims” would be as equally incensed over the Holocaust occurring in Palestine – what a naïve fool I was. I also counted on there being many decent non-Muslims – who make up the majority of the protesters fortnightly in London – who would vote on principle and the message.
I gained 10.1% of the vote, 21 votes behind the Green Party – no mean feat given there was under 5 weeks to run a campaign from scratch. The local election results in May must have galvanised them to ensure that the Independents had the least amount of time to inflict electoral damage – certainly, few hustings were held protecting sitting MPs from scrutiny. I didn’t believe the election was called because there was a small economic improvement – this was simply a handover to Keir Starmer and five years of what will be one of the most repressive regimes we will witness in the UK.
I was interested in how that vote compared. I was told I’d done “well”. My response? Not well enough. I don’t care to lose. Not when the issues at stake were so momentous.
The UK Houses of Commons produced a spreadsheet of results across 650 constituencies. The “Muslim Vote” website listed 93 constituencies where the Muslim population was 10% or above and the Worker’s Party of Great Britain (WP-GB led by George Galloway) ran candidates in 152 constituencies so I evaluated these – i.e. a total of 186 constituencies (there was overlap). Across these 186 constituencies there were a total of 343 Independents/WP-GB candidates – including 5 candidates from the Independent Network (3), Independent Oxford Alliance (1) and Newham Independents Party (1). I excluded candidates standing for e.g. Heritage Party, Yorkshire Party, English Democrats etc – in which case, my “achievement” would be even better – none of them took over 10% of the vote in any case so doesn’t affect the analysis below.
Of those 343 candidates that I analysed, only 36 did better than I did.
Some will be obvious: Chris Williamson (WP-GB) got 13.90% in Derby South – he’s been a previous Labour MP from 2010 – 2015 from Derby North and 2017 – 2019 with a role in the Shadow Cabinet (2010 – 2013). There were 15 266 Muslim votes – had they mobilised, this strong Pro-Palestinian voice would have been back in Parliament. In Islington North, Jeremy Corbyn stood as Independent and won with 49.2% of the vote – fortunate for him that the Muslims only made up 10% of his Constituency. Claudia Webbe had been a Labour MP for Leicester East from 2019 until 2021 when she sat as an Independent until the 2024 election. She was the only member of the 2019 Parliamentary cohort to be unseated by a Conservative (despite their dreadful polling nationally). The Hindu majority in Leicester East (37.5% of the constituency) however organised to unseat a Pro-Palestinian voice (and a sane voice over the Leicester riots) – Shivani Raja receiving 14 526 and Labour’s Rajesh Agrawal took 10 100 votes (a 29.3% decreased Labour vote) yet there was a 21 919 Muslim votes in that constituency – so someone with a conscience was defeated. George Galloway surprisingly lost the Rochdale seat despite having been elected a few months earlier – 21 273 Muslim votes were available yet only 11 587 voted for him.
The failure of the Muslim vote continued in other constituencies. In Bethnal Green and Stepney, where the sitting MP Rushanara Ali had abstained on the Palestine ceasefire vote, still won; 15 896 (34.1%) votes to Ajmal Masroor’s 14 207 (30.5%) in a constituency with 41 390 “Muslims” (or 40%). He had stood before in 2017 – but then for the Liberal Democrats. Personally – Mohammed Akunjee who dropped out to avoid splitting the vote was much more eloquent and had less “baggage”. But there’s no accounting for egos. Egos led to the loss of the Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley seat – together the Independents took 32.0% of the vote vs Labour’s 30.8% – potentially an Independent could have won.
Toqueer Shah won 11.3% of Luton North’s vote with a WP-GB rival taking 10.1% – yet there was 24178 “Muslim” votes (27%) and the story was similar in Luton South with Attiq Malik taking 14% of the votes yet there were 25 028 “Muslim” votes (26%), Ilford South with Noorjahan Begum taking 9643 votes (23.4%) of a possible 36 887 “Muslim” electorate, East Ham where Tahir Mirza took 6707 (17.7%) of 42 606 (43%) “Muslim” votes, Gorton and Denton where Amir Burney took 3766 (10.3%) with a potential 21 018 “Muslim” votes. Oldham West was another story of split votes and a potentially winnable seat on the “Muslim” vote. Slough, Walsall and Bloxwich, Walthamstow, West Ham and Beckton were seats where the “Muslim” vote could have flexed its muscle but failed miserably.
James Giles, of the WP-GB, could have won in Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North – he gained 9089 votes vs Labour’s 10 655 in a constituency with 29 868 “Muslim” votes. Ditto with Jody McIntyre in Birmingham Yardley who gained 10 582 votes (29.30%) vs Labour’s 11 275 votes (31.2%) where there were 32 034 “Muslim” voters.
In addition to the disunity of the Muslims (largely Kashmiris), we had the unsavoury “baradari” system play out. Blackburn had Craig Murray standing – an ex-diplomat of repute and someone who had exposed – at personal cost – the human rights violations in Uzbekistan. He had stood in Blackburn before in 2005 against the war criminal Jack Straw responsible for the deaths of millions of Iraqis. Jack Straw had still been voted in by the “Muslim” community – perhaps Craig Murray should have realised how utterly useless Blackburn Muslims were? The same community now backed Adnan Hussain (the victor) – whose campaign manager was Ibrahim Master – he’d also managed Jack Straw’s campaign. Of course that would just be a coincidence? Coincidence also, I’m sure, that 2 months after Jack Straw stated that Craig Murray had “no cause” to stand in Blackburn, Ibrahim Master produced an “Independent”. So instead of a courageous ex-diplomat with decades of experience who had opposed the Iraq war, been one of the few to call for a grass roots movement supporting the Palestinian armed struggle (recognised under international law but often an aim subverted in the “Pro-Palestinian” camps), who had supported Julian Assange and been recently detained under the UK’s draconian “terrorism” legislation and well capable of holding his own we have a “Muslim” lightweight. Well done Blackburn. Hopefully you don’t choke on the visas you’ve been promised…
In Manchester Rusholme, Afzal Khan held onto his seat. He received a reduced 15 054 votes with the WP-GB candidate getting only 3660 or 12.60%. There were 25 121 “Muslim” votes that could have removed the coward who apologised (!) simply for having a picture taken next to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign stall. He then called Hamas a “terrorist organisation” – although that designation was an abuse of UK legislation at the behest of Israel lobby groups and internationally Hamas is the legitimate government of the Palestinian people. Thank you to those “Muslims” in Manchester who voted in this pathetic man.
Then we come to Birmingham Ladywood where Labour’s Shabana Mahmood kept her seat – she abstained on the ceasefire vote and has been quiet as children have been slaughtered. The Independent candidate, Akhmed Yakoob, came in second place. He garnered 33.2% of the vote (12 137) compared to her 15 558 votes or 42.5% share. He certainly generates his own publicity with a sizeable following on social media – apparently a lawyer with flashy cars and given much attention by 5Pillars – an online UK-based Muslim news site. But am I seriously the only one wanting eloquence and real substance from Muslim representatives?
In Bolton South and Walkden, a Jack Khan stood for the WP-GB securing 12.7% of the vote. I actually spoke to him in 2022 after I was given his details – being told he would help on the justice campaign – after ridiculous messages and boasts of his standing (with Imran Khan) and messages like “wish you had social media you may have had a sniff of who I am”) …and after other very patronising rude messages, he admitted that he would not put the case on social media as he would be standing as an independent candidate (and yes I have kept those messages). Nice guy? Perhaps George Galloway should vet better?
Let’s move to my hometown Bradford. Bradford West and East should have been winnable constituencies for the Independents.
In Bradford West, an individual backing his father standing as a labour Councillor barely six weeks earlier now stood as an Independent – Naz Shah was allowed back in by a mere 707 majority as Akeel Hussain vied with Muhammed Islam, the 20-year-old newly elected Independent Councillor taking a valuable 3547 votes. One candidate would have won. And should have won – if they had been the right candidate. I don’t expect there to be any reflection in that camp apart from “it was all Akeel’s fault” because there was – and is – a prevailing mob-like mentality. Only Bradford West had a hustings and I saw no punches being landed on Naz Shah at all – a sitting duck. Even her Gaza Report contained lies – yet she got away with it. None of these candidates I suspect read that report or analysed her record to debate her properly but they think they are suitable for the role of an MP? I did meet a number of people who wondered about the suitability of a 20-year-old who’d been a local councillor for only a month but that camp wouldn’t countenance a unity candidate. So…were they fighting for Palestine or themselves? Well done for allowing Naz Shah back in.
The campaign in Bradford West was ugly – so much so that Murtaza Ali Shah of Geo (presumably no relation of Naz Shah) wrote a lengthy piece allowing Naz Shah her usual complaints of “baradari” and misogyny despite taking votes of Muslim men but then they the lack the self-respect to take offence at her insulting remarks. She failed to mention that her relative Zaf Shah – who lives in Bradford West – stood in Bradford South at short notice. Wasn’t that “baradari” politics? My view is that if she can’t handle the heat, she should get out of the kitchen. Naz Shah is disliked because she is a terrible MP. She’s the same woman who told my sister “not to expect justice” over my brother’s assassination yet campaigned for an earlier release of her mother who actually was a murderer who killed her partner.
Bradford East was also ugly. But here it was all pathetically about “baradari” – who cares about a Hindu caste system that’s un-Islamic anyway? And you are fighting an election in the UK to represent everyone? Their independent campaign had over 100 – 200 volunteers – which begs the question as to what on earth were they doing?
Bradford South in comparison was much more civilised. The local press didn’t attend the campaign launch (I don’t think that was a coincidence), 5pillars steadfastly ignored me as did “The Muslim vote” (who bizarrely endorsed the Green Candidate). I had some of the “baradari” actually acting against me (why should I not point it out?). One idiot actually said, “but she doesn’t speak Urdu!”. It was pointed out that there isn’t much need for Urdu in the Houses of Commons – but being able to read, write and speak fluent English (and better than those they’d elected in the past) would surely be an advantage?
So I was an “unknown” politically speaking. I was not part of a major party (I would never sign up to those supporting terrorism abroad), had not joined the ridiculous local political (read partisan) scene, had no “team” initially but what I did have was a passion and absolute belief on the issues I raised in my manifesto. There is no denying that we ran the cleanest, most professional, most ambitious and most daring campaign in Bradford – and in terms of daring, probably in the UK. Is that just sheer chutzpah? I don’t think it is. No one else dared call out usury – prohibited in both Christianity and Islam, very few called for the dismantling of the Israeli entity and an extension of the PREVENT programme for Jewish extremists supporting the slaughter of kids. No Muslim candidate (I’m happy to be corrected) called for a First Amendment equivalent to ensure that “hate speech laws” were effectively binned. These laws are frequently abused to punish UK citizens – and as the White Community is finding out, they are not just targeting Muslims. They’re coming for all of you.
When I was asked for my thoughts – it’s this: I found the result galling. Judith Cummins, the re-elected Labour MP, got 11 833 votes. Reform were the biggest winners nationally – they took 7441 votes in Bradford South and I suspect (looking at the other constituencies) they mainly came from the Conservatives – that means the Muslim community contributed to a significant portion of Cummins’ vote. Had that vote come to me, it was likely that I’d have won. Two Labour “Kashmiri” councillors (I call them “chaiwalas”) did their Party’s bidding even as kids were being slaughtered in Gaza. “Muslims” voted for a Labour Party supporting a genocide of Muslims and some Christian Palestinians. I feel an utter sense of revulsion – many of these would be the pious, 5 prayers a day type or the “Inshallah Brigade” as I call them but they handed a vote to a party supportive of the terrorist entity called Israel. Muslims? No – I do not think anyone who indirectly supported Israel can be called a Muslim. I do not think the next few years will be pleasant under Labour – perhaps their own family members returning in coffins (if conscription does happen) might bring their own folly home to them – or probably not as that would require self-reflection and a conscience. And their souls are rotten.
Of course there were mistakes in my campaign. There were good people who helped for hours with leafleting (30 000 leaflets distributed ourselves), with social media, those that put flyers, banners and boards, those who distributed leaflets through their businesses and of course those who voted for me – they understood that election flyer and its boldness. The media that I had was organic – people who got in touch with me, liking my message. But there were many others who promised help and never showed up. “Tomorrow Inshallah” they said. “Inshallah you win” I heard a lot. That’s not how Allah (SWT) works. There is nothing without effort. There were those protesting a genocide but no assistance on a campaign with the most pro-Palestinian manifesto and some then voting Labour! I get the apathy on most elections but this election? – when there was an ongoing Holocaust was it right to say “I’m busy”, “I have kids” and “I work” – no one works 24 hours. I had a Kashmiri activist tell me the election was mere “trivia” – the same person had approached an MP previously on Kashmiri issues. There was silence when I pointed out that hypocrisy.
I’m not upset or distraught. This was an election – it was nothing compared to losing my brother Farooq in March 2022. I was attacked by UK Jewish organisations lobbying for Israel – a foreign entity working against British interests – during and after the election (more soon). My brother was assassinated at Ramada by Wyndham in Islamabad. Do they think I care about smears? I’m told by some “next time inshallah” – they really didn’t grasp why I stood at this time or why it was so important to speak out against the unspeakable crimes being orchestrated by Israel – these are unmatched in history because it’s a 2 million Palestinian population, almost half of whom are children, living on a mere 25 mile by 2-mile strip called Gaza – an open air prison camp – and facing the most heinous of crimes by the Occupation Forces who instead of fighting the men of Hamas target women and children. The green benches – many occupied by immoral, cowardly, treacherous individuals (some are even war criminals) – was never an attraction in itself. Palestine and Pakistan/Kashmir were always close to Farooq’s heart and he knew about the 1%/the globalists/the bankers a long time ago. I’m not sure if he’d approve of me standing in what is the most corrupt political system in the world but I felt I had no choice. When I was asked how could voters be sure that I would not betray them, well the answer is simple: I could never betray my own brother or the moral code by which he lived.
So this is not “sour grapes” – far from it. If I had stood in an unwinnable seat, I would not be saying these things but to turn a blind eye to the Palestinian Holocaust beggars belief. I don’t believe in “God’s Chosen” but if I had to pick a people worthy of that accolade, it would be the Palestinians. To endure what they have but to resist with dignity even when every dignity is being denied them (even graves are desecrated), says everything about a People that must live. I expect better from Muslims – so whilst some voted in line with Islamic principles of humanity, to those who voted for parties supporting the slaughter of children I say only this: I sincerely hope you reap what you sow.
Dr Rehiana Ali is a Cambridge-educated Consultant Neurologist and has a PhD from Imperial College London. Her beloved brother Farooq, a Biochemistry postgraduate of Imperial College London, was a Patriotic Pakistani-Kashmiri and a freelance journalist and political intellectual. His family allege he was assassinated at Ramada by Wyndham on 11 – 12th March 2022 – the case has been at the Sessions Court in West Islamabad (Judge Sikandar Khan) since August 2023. Dr Ali stood as an Independent Parliamentary Candidate for Bradford South in the UK Elections on 4th July 2024. She can be followed on X @rehiana1980 and the social media campaign led by her sister Yasmin can be followed @Justice4Farooq
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Views expressed in this Op-ed and following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the TLTP.
