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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka registers 197 fresh Dengue cases, 1 dead in the last 24 hours
Bengaluru: Karnataka on Monday logged 197 fresh Dengue cases, and on death from Mysuru district in the past 24 hours.
According to the Health Department, 46 people have been admitted to the hospital and are being treated.
In total, 892 people were tested across all districts of the state. Among them, one child aged 0-1 year, 63 children aged 1-18 years, and 133 individuals above 18 years of age developed dengue fever.
On Monday, 115 people were tested under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits and 95 people tested positive for dengue. Ten people are hospitalized. In Bengaluru urban district, which is not covered by BBMP, four people were tested, and all were confirmed to have dengue, with two admitted to the hospital. In Shivamogga, 16 people were tested, all confirmed to have dengue, with nine admitted to the hospital for treatment.
ALSO READ: Present situation doesn't call for declaring dengue a medical emergency in K'taka: Dinesh Gundu Rao
In Vijayapura, 46 people were tested, and three were confirmed to have dengue. In Bagalkot, 18 people were tested, and three were confirmed to have dengue, with one being treated in the hospital. In Uttara Kannada, three people were tested, and all were confirmed to have dengue, with one being treated in the hospital. In Kalaburagi, 178 people were tested, and 15 were confirmed to have dengue, with one being treated in the hospital.
In Koppal, 17 people were tested, and one was confirmed to have dengue. In Chamarajanagar, 147 people were tested, and 33 were diagnosed with dengue, with nine undergoing treatment at the hospital. In Udupi, 68 people were tested, and one person was confirmed to have dengue and hospitalized. In Chikkamagaluru, 236 people were tested, and 17 were diagnosed with dengue, with nine people undergoing treatment in the hospital.
Since January, 55,712 people have been tested in the state, and dengue has been confirmed in 7,362 people. Currently, 303 people are undergoing treatment in the hospital. Seven people have succumbed to dengue disease.
