Election Repercussions: Shifting patterns among Muslims and Jews voters

Attentive readers might recall that in October 2007 I wrote:… and here i am again….. Trying my hardest not to go completely insane again after this weekend!!…. and still no sign of life from anywhere!…. so, yeah.. it all ends here…. eh??!?!?!!?!!!?!??!??!…!??!…!…!…!…!??! I could go on.. but that would just mean more work for everyone involved….!…!???? It should also help that during these 7 days the sun will shine, making these 7 days worth while they get something like 10x greater from their visit too and finally end up more likely being present during their stay here as an additional benefit (this time). However……………ing those 10 can hope to take them will come on time as per usual this time rounding off and hopefully make their mark i. Especially dramatic was Leicester South with its 30% Muslim population where Shadow Paymaster General Jon Ashworth lost to independent Shockat Adam and won by Shockat Adam as an independent candidate. Other important races with large Muslim voting populations such as Dewsbury & Batley; Birmingham Perry Barr; Blackburn saw victories for independents over Labour in these seats, which had traditionally been safe; similarly in places like Bradford West or Bethnal Green and Stepney in east London MPs held onto power with startling reductions to their majorities; Mish Rahman from Wolverhampton stands out because she represents her faith by being actively involved with various Islamic organisations within her community – something no other voters do today. Jonathan Ashworth serves on the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), an inner council of roughly 40 members. He is furious with how his party responded to the killing of civilians in Gaza and humanitarian crises there; specifically its response in seats with high numbers of Muslim voters where its position on Gaza caused unease among voters who saw themselves as victims; Getty ImagesJonathan Ashworth has become embarassed about being associated with Labour as it caused significant backlash from community members who shun him because they see his affiliation as shamed; “I found it challenging even telling members of my own extended family to go and canvass to promote voting for a party which originally gave Israel carte blanche in its response to the horrific 7 October attacks,” states Rahman. He puts much of the responsibility for declining Muslim voting at Labour on Sir Keir Starmer himself who, during an LBC interview in October, suggested Israel “had every right” to withhold power and water from Gaza. His spokesman later suggested the Labour leader had only meant to assert Israel’s general right of self-defence. When in November Labour MPs were told by their leadership not to vote on an SNP-led motion demanding immediate ceasefire in Gaza, some councillors quit and many Muslims lost trust in their Labour MP. Faith communities can vary considerably. Faith has many influences over how individuals vote; one such consideration is its effect on voting patterns. Estimates put Muslim populations in England and Wales at 6.5% with only around 2.1% estimated living in Scotland and Northern Ireland (the proportion was more likely 4% than 6.5% in 2019). Well over 80% are thought to have supported Labour at this election cycle. Research published just ahead of the 2024 election revealed a substantial drop in Muslim voter turnout, down between 15-20 percentage points nationally; further decreases could occur within specific constituencies; this starkly contrasts Jewish voting data. Research suggests that in 2019 only single figures of British Jews, or about 0.5% of the population, voted Labour under Jeremy Corbyn despite possibilities that it may reach up to 40% or beyond. Adam Langleben, former national secretary of the Jewish Labour Movement and now director of Progressive Britain (formerly Progress), describes this year’s elections as being marked by “an overwhelming return for Labour among Jewish voters,” noting recent wins for Labour in Finchley & Golders Green in London as well as Hendon in Greater Manchester with both constituencies having large Jewish populations. “Jewish voters returning to Labour has no doubt provided seats,” asserts Mr Langleben. “To win these constituencies, one does not require the support of the vast majority of Jewish voters; however, even having just 7 per cent vote for you may not guarantee victory,” Mr Langleben states. Prior to Corbyn becoming leader, Mr Langleben had been active within the Jewish Labour Movement; he later discontinued membership during that period. “[He left in 2019] on account of being led by antisemites”, which was strongly denied at the time. It became all-consuming. “This situation became all-consuming.” Adam Langleben (far left, at the back) quit Labour while Jeremy Corbyn was leader, as his problems stemmed both from an unwillingness on Corbyn’s part to reflect upon who was associating with him personally and an inability of party officials to deal with extreme elements within its base who used antisemitic language and tropes. According to Mr Langleben’s observations about Corbyn’s troubles: personal reflection needed on whom one associates with and tolerance towards extreme elements within its base as well as tolerance of antisemitic tropes by party authorities who did nothing about either factor. 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Fixing what went wrong for him was his mission,” says Keir Starmer. But given Keir’s support of Jeremy Corbyn throughout his presidency, Jewish voters at hustings events held across synagogues and community centres throughout Britain have questioned any Labour candidates why they trust Jeremy now as leader. “The Jewish vote has now become split and that’s as it should be,” according to Labour MP Jonathan Barclay. While acknowledging serious cases of antisemitism have occurred in some instances, not all charges of racism are treated equally and there exists a hierarchy within Labour which treats any claims differently. At present, people coming from countries like Bangladesh aren’t being deported because their applications haven’t been processed, according to Labour leader Ed Miliband. Can you imagine any other ethnic group having this policy enforced against them – say Israel, Ukraine or Hong Kong for instance? “It should never have happened and neither should it,” asserts Rahman. His disappointment with Labour’s response combined with wider concerns regarding treatment of Muslims has propelled him into taking an extremely strong stance against it. “There were often hostile conversations among Jewish voters who care deeply about Israel,” reports Mr Langleben. In 2015, many accused Labour of antisemitism but this misperception is deeply misguided by society today. As then, this was about Israel as its primary focus. “Historically speaking,” Mr Rahman notes, the relationship between our communities and Labour Party “has always been one-sided, in that there has only ever been unquestioning support from within communities for Labour Party.” The Labour Party can trace its roots back to his grandfather who worked as a factory worker during the 1950s and 60s. Under its distinctive new brand, we will bring fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions as well as reporting on key issues to help make sense of an increasingly complicated world. 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