Seven Labour councillors quit party over Gaza stance and 'institutional racism'

Seven Labour councillors in Slough have resigned citing the party’s treatment of candidate Faiza Shaheen and MP Diane Abbott and the leadership’s stance on Gaza.

In an open letter to the party leader Keir Starmer on Monday, councillors Zaffar Ajaib, Sabia Akram, Haqeeq Dar, Mohammed Nazir, Naveeda Qaseem, Waqas Sabah and Jamilia Sabah expressed “disillusionment and anger” at the Labour leadership.

The councillors from the Thames Valley town, west of London, pointed to the deselection of Faiza Shaheen as the candidate of Chingford and Woodford Green and the tussle over Diane Abbott’s candidacy as examples of the party’s “institutional racism”.

“The main issue is Gaza,” former councillor Haqeeq Dar told Middle East Eye. “But I think the breaking point was over the weekend - the treatment of long-serving Labour members like Diane Abbott and Faiza Shaheen.”

The letter also highlighted that Slough Constituency Labour Party members, many of whom are from ethnic minorities, have faced threats of deselection for criticism of Israel.

“It’s getting to the stage where if any Muslim member says anything [about Israel] they’re pulled up for antisemitism,” Dar said. 

'We, the rank-and-file members, are left with no option but to resign. We must stay true to our values, even if the party we once believed in has abandoned them'

- councillors' statement

“So many party members have [spoken] against Muslims, but nothing seems to be done about it…this is not the same party we joined.”

The letter also raised concerns about Labour MP Tan Dhesi, who they said had been “imposed” on them. Dhesi accused independent candidate, Azhar Chohan, who is endorsed by The Muslim Vote (TMV), an initiative backed by dozens of Muslim organisations in the UK, of trying “to toxify the town and divide our multifaith diverse community”.

“We, the rank-and-file members, are left with no option but to resign. We must stay true to our values and conscience, even if the party we once believed in has abandoned them,” the councillors wrote.

“The Labour Party we have dedicated over four decades to now stands unrecognisable….We must remain strong, independent voices for our wards and residents.”

Supression of free speech

This follows the resignation of twenty Labour councillors in Lancashire in April, over claims of bullying and attempts by the leadership to “suppress” free speech.

In October and November, Starmer’s refusal to back a ceasefire and his comments endorsing the collective punishment of Palestinians, prompted a slew of councillor resignations, leading to the party losing control over Burnley and Oxford city councils. 

Prior to the recent local elections, Labour also lost control over Hastings and Norwich councils, losing Oldham and Kirklees councils during the elections, with candidates citing cuts to local services and the leadership’s stance on Gaza as driving factors.

According to a report in May, the party lost a third of its vote share in areas with a Muslim majority during local elections, likely driven by its stance on Israel's war on Gaza.

Independent candidates focused on the issue of Gaza are expected to run against Labour in several areas of the UK in the upcoming general election.

That includes Ilford North, where British-Palestinian activist Leanne Mohamad is running against Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting.