Pro-Gaza candidates secure key victories in UK Elections
In a surprising turn of events, several independent candidates campaigning on pro-Gaza platforms have won significant victories in the recent UK elections, taking over several former Labour strongholds.
One of the most notable upsets occurred in Leicester South, where Shockat Adam unseated shadow minister Jonathan Ashworth. Adam secured his win by 979 votes and dedicated his victory to Gaza, emphasizing the influence of pro-Gaza sentiment in his constituency, where around 30% of the electorate are Muslim.
In Ilford North, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting saw his majority drastically reduced from over 9,000 to just 528 votes, nearly losing to independent candidate Leanne Mohamad, who is the granddaughter of Palestinian refugees.
Labour's performance was notably poor in areas with large Muslim populations. In Birmingham Perry Barr, Khalid Mahmood was defeated by independent Ayoub Khan by 507 votes. Dewsbury, Batley, and Blackburn, all previously held by Labour with substantial majorities, were also taken by independent candidates focusing on the Gaza issue.
In Leicester East, the Conservatives benefited from votes drawn by independent candidates, including the area's former Labour MP Claudia Webbe, an outspoken pro-Palestinian campaigner. The Tories won her former seat by 4,426 votes, with Webbe's vote count exceeding the margin of victory.
In other areas with significant Muslim populations, senior Labour figures narrowly retained their seats. Coventry South's newly elected Labour MP Zarah Sultana criticized her party's stance on Gaza, calling it a "stain on its record" and acknowledging the need for improvement.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer faced heckles of "Free Palestine" at his own count, where his majority was reduced, and pro-Gaza independent Andrew Feinstein came in second with 7,312 votes.
In Birmingham Ladywood, shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood held off independent candidate Akhmed Yakoob, though her majority fell from over 32,000 to 3,421. Similarly, Jess Phillips saw her majority slashed from 13,141 to 693 votes in a campaign she described as "the worst election I have ever stood in," citing intimidation against her activists.
In Bethnal Green and Stepney, shadow small business minister Rushnara Ali narrowly defeated independent Ajmal Masroor by 1,689 votes.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn retained his Islington North seat as an independent, beating the Labour candidate by more than 7,000 votes. Corbyn was suspended from the party over his response to a report on antisemitism within Labour.
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Rape accused's mother murdered by victim's brother in MP's Shivpuri
Shivpuri (PTI): The 60-year-old mother of a rape accused was killed allegedly by the victim's brother in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district, a police official said on Saturday.
The incident took place on Friday, Rannod police station house officer (SHO) Arvind Chauhan said.
"An anganwadi worker returning from a hospital was offered a lift by one Inder Gurjar, who took her to a secluded spot and raped her. She called up her brothers to narrate the ordeal. One brother of the victim along with two associates went to Gurjar's house and assaulted him. When Gurjar's mother Sirkunwarbai (60) intervened, she was attacked with a sharp weapon. She died on the spot," he said.
Based on a complaint filed by the deceased woman's daughter-in-law, three persons were booked for murder. One of them was held on Saturday, the official added.
A separate case has also been registered against Gurjar for rape, he said.
Police personnel have been deployed in the area in view of tension following the incident, the official added.
