This general election has, more than any before, dramatically exposed the absurdities of the UK’s skewed electoral system, with Labour securing a landslide 65% of the seats despite obtaining the lowest share of the votes—just 34%—in 20 years.
Amid this historic backdrop, the election also saw a record number of first-time Muslim candidates win parliamentary seats, marking significant gains for both Labour and Independent candidates.The total number of Muslim parliamentarians has increased to 24, up from 20 in the 2019 general election. This includes 18 from Labour (mostly incumbents), four independents, and two from the Conservative Party.
The election also revealed a notable shift in voting patterns in Muslim-majority areas, with significant consequences for Labour. Historically a stronghold for Labour, these constituencies saw a marked decrease in support, with Labour’s share of the vote dropping by an average of 15%.
Labour’s support collapsed in constituencies with higher Muslim populations. Of their seven losses, five occurred in seats where over a quarter of the population was Muslim, according to the 2021 census. In other constituencies, such as Ilford North, Birmingham Ladywood and Birmingham Yardley—represented by cabinet members Wes Streeting, Shabana Mahmood and Jess Phillips—Labour incumbents narrowly retained their seats against pro-Palestine independent challengers.
For the first time, four independent Muslim candidates won in a general election. This historic achievement was largely fuelled by the record turnout of Muslim voters, driven by intense anger and grief over the deaths of thousands of women and children in Gaza at the hands of Israeli forces. They felt deeply betrayed by Labour, a party they had supported for decades, as it had ignored their calls to vote for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further senseless loss of innocent lives.
The situation was further aggravated when Labour Leader Keir Starmer told LBC that “Israel has the right” to effectively impose collective punishment on Palestinians by withholding power and water. This stance proved to be the final straw for Muslims, prompting them to withdraw their support for both Labour and its candidates, be they Muslim or not.
It’s important to clarify many Muslims voted for Labour, many non-Muslims did not. Additionally, Muslims chose to support independent candidates—both Muslim and non-Muslim—running in Labour constituencies. The decline in support is attributed to growing dissatisfaction with Labour’s stance on international issues, particularly concerning Palestine, and a perceived disconnect between the party’s leadership and Muslim communities.
To regain the trust of the Muslim community, Labour must overcome a failing that eluded its Tory predecessors: the tendency to dismiss Muslims as extremists simply for advocating equitable domestic and foreign policies. Labour must also not mistake a majority achieved through a skewed electoral system for genuine public endorsement.
With only 34% of voters’ support, claiming a “strength of mandate” is both misleading and a sure path to complacency. Additionally, over 70% of the population backs an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo against Israel. Given this significant public sentiment, it’s uncertain whether the government or Labour will seriously address the urgent concerns of British Muslims.
The crucial lesson from this election for the current and future governments is that the UK’s burgeoning Muslim communities are not bound to a single party and that their votes must be sought rather than assumed.
Photo: Relatives grieve at Al-Aqsa Martyr’s Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, on July 15 for Palestinians lost to Israeli attacks (AA) Inset: Newly elected Independent pro-Palestinian MPs Adnan Hussain, Shockat Adam, Ayoub Khan, and Iqbal Mohamed who defeated Labour candidates in the UK general election.
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