Pro-Palestinian independent British politicians, Shockat Adam and Adnan Hussain, have won significant victories in the UK general elections, defeating Labour Party candidates and highlighting the impact of Labour's stance on the Gaza conflict.
Adam, 51, unseated Jon Ashworth, Labour's Shadow Cabinet minister, in Leicester South, while 34-year-old Hussain defeated Labour's Kate Hollern in Blackburn. Adam declared "this is for Gaza" after securing 14,739 votes against Ashworth's 13,760, winning by 979 votes. Hussain won by a slim margin of 132 votes, garnering 10,518 votes to Hollern's 10,386.
Leicester South, traditionally a Labour stronghold, saw a shift due to Adam's strong opposition to Israeli actions in Gaza. Both Adam and Hussain attributed their victories to their vocal stance against what they termed the Israeli genocide in Gaza and Labour's support of Israeli policies.
Adam emphasized the importance of the Palestinian cause to the community, criticizing the Labour Party for its lack of a distinct voice on the issue. Similarly, Hussain, backed by former Labour councilors, highlighted the significance of Gaza alongside other critical issues like poverty and healthcare.
Craig Murray, running for the Workers Party, and Jeremy Corbyn, former Labour leader, also showed strong pro-Gaza support in their campaigns, with Corbyn winning as an independent candidate for Islington North.
These election results underscore a growing political divide over the Gaza conflict within the UK, reflecting broader sentiments among voters regarding foreign policy and humanitarian issues.
