The Labour Party has a problem with Islam. Nowhere was this clearer than in the Gorton and Denton by-election, where the Greens won significant support from ethnic minority voters who had previously backed Labour.
Gaza remains at the heart of this shift. Labour’s response after Israel began its assault on Gaza was widely viewed as weak, mirroring the Conservative government’s unconditional support for Israel following the attacks of October 7, 2023.
MPs, councillors and members who spoke out were reprimanded, and motions critical of events in Gaza were blocked. Councils remained largely silent - something that caused anger in areas with large Muslim communities.
Many began to feel the leadership was far more focused on tackling antisemitism than Islamophobia. Both are evils that require equal attention, yet the perception of imbalance took hold.
This alienation was plain to see at the general election. Independents were elected as Muslim voters abandoned Labour in large numbers. Locally, in Ilford North, Wes Streeting held his seat by just 500 votes against Independent candidate Leanne Mohammed - down from a majority of more than 5,000.
In Ilford South, Jas Athwal saw Sam Tarry’s former majority of 24,000 slashed to 6,894, with Independent Noor Begum in second place. Begum later won Athwal’s vacated council seat - previously one of the safest in Redbridge.
The problem has not gone away. Senior Labour figures acknowledge a serious issue, yet it remains unclear what is being done to fix it.
The Labour government has been more critical of Israel than its Conservative predecessors and has recognised Palestine as a state, but it was slow to act on weapons exports to Israel.
With local elections approaching, this unresolved rift could have major consequences. Some politicians who were silent for months have now found their voices but claims after the Gorton and Denton by‑election that Green voters were “extremists” only inflamed matters further.
If Labour wants to rebuild trust with the Muslim community, much more is needed.
Honesty about Gaza - what the party got right and wrong - would be a start. So would reassuring Muslims and other ethnic minorities that Labour still values and welcomes them and stepping back from ‘Reform‑like’ rhetoric on immigration.
Failing to confront these issues will only widen the divide.
The May regional and council elections will be an early test - and many councillors may pay the price for their long silence on Gaza.
What happens next rests with the Labour Party itself.
- Paul Donovan is Labour councillor for Wanstead Village ward, Redbridge Council and a blogger (paulfdonovan.blogspot.com).
