The Labour Party is practically faced with a dilemma: either-or! The Muslim Vote, a pre-election group representing a significant part of the Muslim community in the UK, has issued an extensive list of demands to the Labour Party, aimed at restoring trust and regaining voter support ahead of the upcoming general elections. This document is a response from The Muslim Vote to Keir Starmer’s ambiguous position regarding Israel’s campaign against HAMAS in Gaza.
The demands, totalling 18, not only call for a review of the Labour Party’s stance on the Gaza conflict but also for addressing a wide range of issues affecting the Muslim community in the UK. The list begins with a call for Starmer to publicly apologise for what the group perceives as silent endorsement and “coverage of genocide,” and for ignoring proposals for a ceasefire in October-November 2023.
Furthermore, The Muslim Vote demands specific actions to “correct injustices.” For example, imposing sanctions on companies operating in Israeli-occupied territories, recognisingPalestine as a sovereign state, and banning visits to the UK by Israeli politicians involved in the continuation of “illegal occupation.”
The issue of military cooperation with Israel is particularly contentious: The Muslim Vote calls for an immediate cessation of such ties and emphasizes the responsibility of British politicians for fuelling conflicts abroad. In addition, the list includes a range of domestic issues that define the lives of the Muslim community, including the demand to repeal the extremism definition introduced by Michael Gove, adopting a new definition of Islamophobia, and addressing socio-economic problems such as funding for deprived areas, payment of pensions in accordance with Sharia norms, and diverting a portion of pensions from public sector employees into Islamic funds. Thus, The Muslim Vote advocates for systemic changes in public life that go beyond the immediate context of the Gaza conflict.
The influence of The Muslim Vote should not be underestimated: the organisation represents a significant portion of the Muslim electorate and enjoys support from various segments of society. Its demands reflect the collective mood of a large portion of voters and the determination to pressure political leaders to change the status quo for Muslims in the country. For Keir Starmer and the Labour Party, the task is not only to acknowledge these demands but also to take concrete steps to address them. Otherwise, Labour risks alienating Muslim voters and undermining the party’s credibility on issues of social justice and international solidarity.
So, the ball is now in Starmer’s court. Whether he can handle the serve remains to be seen. Here is the full list of demands from The Muslim Vote to Keir Starmer:
