Labour has forfeited the Muslim vote
Where in the past the community had been defined by its ethnicity - Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Arab - when the most difficult time for Muslims came, this generation has defined itself by its religion. "Generation M" it has been termed, describing those born and brought up here, claiming this society as their own, but not needing to sell out on their faith. For example, many believe the headscarf was imported from abroad. However, my parents' generation did not wear it at all when they migrated here. We have seen the rise of it during the 1990s as Muslims came more to the roots of their faith, ditching the culture from abroad, and practising their religion based on its core principles while being relevant to this society.
The alliance between Muslims and the left in Britain has been a significant phenomenon. Nothing can better illustrate the compatibility of Islam and the west than the diversity of people marching side by side for peace and justice.
This partnership with the left has replaced the Muslim community's traditional association with the Labour party. After the start of the war, the feeling among the Muslim community was that we had demonstrated, we had lobbied, we had boycotted, and now it was time to use our votes. Labour was shattered in September at the Brent East byelection, losing one of its strongholds to the Lib Dems. It was no small coincidence that the constituency houses thousands of Muslims, who saw their alternative not with the pro-war Tories, but with an anti-war candidate.
This seismic shift away from Labour should not be underestimated. Bill Miller and Asifa Hussain of Glasgow University showed in research released last month that Muslim support for Labour was as high as 73% in the general election of May 2001. By May 2003, at the Scottish elections, it collapsed to 27%.
You do not need to be a WMD scientist to work out the reason for this. There were high hopes for Tony Blair on his election in 1997. Muslims had invested a lot in the Labour party over decades, and had felt frustrated, particularly in foreign policy, by the Tories. For Blair to have lost the Muslim community in such a short space of time is a remarkable achievement.
With large regions, low voter turnout and a PR system to work with, we are likely to see the Muslim vote making a huge impact at the Euro polls. We are also seeing credible, articulate and representative Muslim candidates coming forward, not least Anas Altikriti, who stood down as MAB president to top Respect's list in his home region Yorkshire. Only two Muslim MPs sit in Westminster, when by proportion of population there should be around 20. Parties are going to have to be imaginative to reach out to the generation of talented young politically aware Muslims.
In the general election, expected next year, many Labour MPs will be heavily affected by the Muslim vote, like Oona King and Mike Gapes. Of chief interest will be Jack Straw in Blackburn, who couldn't have done more to upset 12,000 of his constituents in the past few years.
Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2004/may/25/labour.religion
The alliance between Muslims and the left in Britain has been a significant phenomenon. Nothing can better illustrate the compatibility of Islam and the west than the diversity of people marching side by side for peace and justice.
This partnership with the left has replaced the Muslim community's traditional association with the Labour party. After the start of the war, the feeling among the Muslim community was that we had demonstrated, we had lobbied, we had boycotted, and now it was time to use our votes. Labour was shattered in September at the Brent East byelection, losing one of its strongholds to the Lib Dems. It was no small coincidence that the constituency houses thousands of Muslims, who saw their alternative not with the pro-war Tories, but with an anti-war candidate.
This seismic shift away from Labour should not be underestimated. Bill Miller and Asifa Hussain of Glasgow University showed in research released last month that Muslim support for Labour was as high as 73% in the general election of May 2001. By May 2003, at the Scottish elections, it collapsed to 27%.
You do not need to be a WMD scientist to work out the reason for this. There were high hopes for Tony Blair on his election in 1997. Muslims had invested a lot in the Labour party over decades, and had felt frustrated, particularly in foreign policy, by the Tories. For Blair to have lost the Muslim community in such a short space of time is a remarkable achievement.
With large regions, low voter turnout and a PR system to work with, we are likely to see the Muslim vote making a huge impact at the Euro polls. We are also seeing credible, articulate and representative Muslim candidates coming forward, not least Anas Altikriti, who stood down as MAB president to top Respect's list in his home region Yorkshire. Only two Muslim MPs sit in Westminster, when by proportion of population there should be around 20. Parties are going to have to be imaginative to reach out to the generation of talented young politically aware Muslims.
In the general election, expected next year, many Labour MPs will be heavily affected by the Muslim vote, like Oona King and Mike Gapes. Of chief interest will be Jack Straw in Blackburn, who couldn't have done more to upset 12,000 of his constituents in the past few years.
Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2004/may/25/labour.religion
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