A pro-Palestine independent candidate beat Labour in a London council by-election on Thursday, signalling that the ruling party has not regained the support lost over its Israel policy since last July’s election.
Noor Jahan Begum of the Redbridge & Ilford Independents won a Mayfield council by-election with 1,080 votes against the local Labour candidate, who secured 663 votes, in the north-east London borough of Redbridge, which has a large Muslim population.
The result comes after high-profile Labour figures, including health secretary Wes Streeting, whose own constituency is nearby, were seen campaigning in the area ahead of the vote.
The by-election signals that UK policy on Israel continues to impact British electoral politics in some areas, which will likely be a cause for concern for the Labour leadership.
Begum, a local magistrate and the winning candidate, campaigned on hot-button local issues – including council tax, crime levels and housing – as well as on “justice for Palestine and Ukraine”. …..more
