'Bloody battle' for Labour as independents target MPs over Gaza

Pro-Palestinian candidates are working together in London to unseat politicians who did not support a ceasefire, reports Rachael Burford

LABOUR is facing a brutal battle in its London heartlands as a growing number of independent candidates seize on anger over its response to the Gaza crisis. They have vowed to work together to unseat MPs who did not support a ceasefire vote in Parliament, with shadow health secretary Wes Streeting’s Ilford North seat at the top of their target list.

British Palestinian Leanne Mohamad has been selected to stand for the Redbridge Community Action Group against the Labour frontbencher, who has been tipped as a future leadership candidate. The independents hope that Mr Streeting’s relatively small majority (5,218) and a sizeable Muslim population in his constituency will work in their favour. But critics argue the independent campaigns will only cause “more community divisions” and are fuelling a wave of abusive protests against sitting MPs.

Ms Mohamad has appeared at pro-Palestine protests in recent weeks and made clear that she is standing on a “no ceasefire, no vote” ticket.

The 23-year-old has refused multiple interview requests from the Evening Standard. But her political allies argue that Labour will face challenges across the capital.

“We will never forget that the Government gave the green light to these war crimes,” she told a campaign rally in Whitechapel. “And never forget that the Opposition agreed, the Opposition who we thought once represented us but are no longer a viable option for any of us ... It’s time to bring the power back to the people, exactly where it belongs.”

Councillor Mehmood Mirza, the leader of Newham Independents, said his party had begun selecting candidates to stand against shadow foreign minister Lyn Brown in a new Stratford seat and Stephen Timms in East Ham.