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

Seven Slough Labour councillors 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 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.”

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