Mirror columnist Paul Routledge on last week’s local elections, and the so-called ‘Gaza factor’ where dozens of pro-Palestinian activists were elected
The most intriguing aspect of last week’s local elections wasn’t the Labour landslide. You could see that coming a mile off.
But nobody predicted the scale of “the Gaza factor”. Dozens of pro-Palestinian activists were elected, mainly in the North.
And in the West Midlands, an Independent Muslim candidate polled 69,621 votes – 11.7% of the total, a turnout that almost ensured the survival of a Tory metro-mayor.
Behind this Labour boycott by British-Asian voters is a remark on radio by Sir Keir Starmer seven months ago. He told an interviewer Israel had the right to cut off water and electricity to civilians in Gaza, and refused to back an immediate ceasefire, calling instead for a “humanitarian pause”.
This incautious quote has been played countless times over social media, fuelling an anti-Labour surge among some voters, particularly in constituencies with a high Asian population.
Following last week’s poll, Muslim Vote, a grassroots campaign, has tabled 18 demands for Labour to win back support. They include an apology from Sir Keir, a promise to cut military ties with Israel, freedom for Muslims to pray in schools, scrapping Michael Gove’s definition of extremism and recognition of a Palestinian state.
The Muslim manifesto also includes sharia-compliant pensions in every workplace, a duty on insurers to end discrimination against someone called Muhammad and other religion-based demands.
Implicit here is a threat to switch support from Labour to other parties, which could decide the results in marginal constituencies. Unlikely, say the pollsters, but that isn’t the point. This sudden escalation of -religion-based politics is an unwelcome development in what today, with the exception of Northern Ireland, is a largely secular society.
Not all these demands are wrong, though some are clearly impracticable, but mainstream political parties cannot be held to ransom by religious groups, however well intentioned. That includes Christian churches. Sir Keir will have his work cut out upholding this principle, but he has to do so for the good of the nation as a whole.
