5 July 2024: Five independent pro-Palestine candidates, including former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, have secured victories in the United Kingdom general elections. The ongoing conflict in Gaza emerged as a pivotal issue for voters.
In addition to Corbyn, the other successful independent candidates are Shockat Adam in Leicester South, Ayoub Khan in Birmingham Perry Barr, Adnan Hussain in Blackburn, and Iqbal Mohamed in Dewsbury and Batley.
Both the Conservative and Labour parties, which were soundly defeated in this election, have expressed a desire to see the fighting in Gaza end. However, their support for Israel’s right to defend itself has angered many pro-Palestine and Muslim voters.
Labour leader and incoming Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced chants of “Free Palestine” both at his polling station and during the announcement of his victory in Holborn and St Pancras.
Corbyn, 75, who has represented Islington North for over 40 years, defeated Labour’s Praful Nargund by 24,120 votes to 16,873. Corbyn stated that his supporters are seeking a government dedicated to peace on the global stage and an end to the dire conditions in Gaza.
In his victory statement, as stated by Al Jazeera, Corbyn highlighted the result as a “glimpse of a different future” prioritizing the interests of the many over the few and warned the new government that dissent cannot be suppressed without consequences. He reaffirmed his commitment to representing his constituents and advocating for a kinder, fairer world.
Shockat Adam unseated Labour frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth in Leicester South, while Iqbal Mohamed, focusing on a Gaza ceasefire, defeated Labour’s Heather Iqbal in Dewsbury and Batley. In Blackburn, Adnan Hussain triumphed over Labour’s Kate Hollern, pledging to address voters’ concerns about Gaza in his online statement.
Corbyn’s tenure as Labour leader saw the party shift from the center and energized its base. Despite outperforming expectations in the 2017 general election, Labour’s poor performance in 2019 led to his resignation. Corbyn’s leadership was marked by internal divisions, with his policies overshadowed by negative media coverage and controversies over Brexit, anti-Semitism allegations, and his appeal in traditional Labour strongholds. Suspended from the party in 2020 for his stance on a rights watchdog’s findings on anti-Semitism, Corbyn ran in this election as an independent advocating for equality, democracy, and peace.
