Sending a message to Labour was one of the priorities for a lot electorates and candidates this year Labour had won this election before it started, which gave Keir Starmer comfort knowing he didn’t have to appease the Muslim vote in this election.
However, he’s had a wake up call. Just like the Tories lost voters to Reform, Labour lost out to the muslim vote and took the scalp of one of Keir’s closest allies in the process.
This was a unique election in many ways; the biggest defeat for the Tories, Labour got the largest majority despite gaining less votes than 2017, and the largest contingency of Independent candidates took the chance.
Ironically, Sunak saved Starmer’s blushes
After 14 years of exile Labour finally won an General Election and it was a landslide but there blushes were spared by the former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sudden general election announcement.
Had there been a longer notice period, Labour’s huge majority would have been smaller.
Dented by Independents led most notably by The Muslim Vote; whose aim was to unify and provide a support mechanism for Independent candidates that stood for the people of Britain, not the corporations or the lobby’s.
Sending a message to Labour
Spurred on the duplicity of our leaders, infuriated by the ongoing genocide in Gaza and specifically the lack of accountability within government muslim voters were determined to send a message to Labour.
The idea was anoble one, promote a cohesive and decisive action plan to unify the Muslim voice and that represent British values in the House of Commons.
And it worked, especially in Islington North – a red seat, and despite the efforts Labour, they could not displace the hugely popular Jeremy Corbyn, the one they really wanted. If they had won that, it would have been okay, but now he has some allies in the Commons and together they will make some noise.
There were signs before the election that Labour were losing voters, but Labour remained confident and didn’t pay any attention to it. But leading up to the local elections Labour councillors were resigning from the party in Lancashire 11 Labour Councillors resigned on the same day.
Labour’s huge majority could have been smaller
This inspired human rights activists, social campaigners and Journalists like Yvonne Ridley, who stood in Newcastle, Katie Parker who stood in Suffolk Leanne Mohamed who stood in Ilford as did so many more.
If you analyse what they achieved, it was nothing short of remarkable. Not many people can appreciate what it takes to change someone’s mind when it comes to voting, but the adage ‘better the devil know’ expresses it aptly.
Data analysis shows if they had continued there growth in the same way for another 6 to 8 weeks, then most would have won or at the very least they would have kept Labour honest.
In the past Muslims were mostly Labour voters
Historically, the majority of Muslims have been labour voters. However, since the Brexit referendum, which coincided with collapse of the Liberal Democrats, some had switched to the Tory party. nevertheless the numbers were still in Labour’s favour by about 70%.
In Muslim-heavy areas Labour felt the wrath of that backlash, there traditional voters displeased with Starmer’s support for Israeli Genocide in Gaza has threatened their dominance, and spawned so many independent candidates, to take the gamble and stand.
The shock of the night went to Shockat Adam who dethroned former Labour shadow minister Jonathan Ashworth in the Leicester South in Thursday’s general election.
5 independents won
5 independents won from Blackburn to London sending a shockwave to Labour HQ.
- Jeremy Corbyn, Islington North
- Shockat Patel, Leicester South
- Ayoub Khan, Birmingham Perry Barr
- Adnan Hussain, Blackburn
- Iqbal Hussain Mohamed, Dewsbury & Batley
There were also major wins for Lib Dems and Greens both of whom who benefited strategic voting and the growing anti-Labour sentiment around the country.
Huge majorities slashed for Wes Streeting, Roshanara Ali, Jess Phillips, and Keir Starmer who lost about 17% of the vote. Ironically, in this election the Labour Party received fewer votes than they did in 2017 and won a larger majority, makes you question our political system.
The majorities that were slashed in 2024
- Bethnal Green and Stepney from 37,524 to 1689
- Ilford North has become marginal with 500 votes in it
- Birmingham Yardley has become marginal – 12720 to just 700 votes
- Birmingham Ladywood – 28582 to just 3400
This could have been so much worse for labour, in a lot of constituencies the muslim vote was divided which literally split the vote, a consequence of the sudden election announcement.
Although this was not a total unification of the muslim vote and certainly wasn’t limited to just muslims, communities came together to make their vote count.
The Muslim Vote made a difference
Labour have secured a landslide. But what The Muslim Vote showed, was even with a limited budget and a handful of volunteers, in six months they achieved something completely unprecedented.
This seems like the beginning of something special. The precedent has been set. Communities have gained a voice, they can empower themselves by nominating and supporting independent candidates, even if they don’t win, they will definitely take votes from others.
Can the major parties afford to ignore the ethical and muslim voters? Perhaps, but we will see in the future whilst sending a message to Labour today.