There has been much focus in recent weeks on Reform’s potential impact on British politics. But a rival quintet of insurgents has been quietly making their own plans too. In July, four independents were elected to parliament on a staunchly pro-Palestine ticket: Shockat Adam in Leicester South, Ayoub Khan who took Birmingham Perry Barr, Adnan Hussain won Blackburn and Iqbal Mohamed, victorious in Dewsbury and Batley. They have since formed an ‘Independent Alliance’ with Jeremy Corbyn, who stormed back in Islington North, and are referred to as ‘the Gaza five.’
Supporters are now understood to be stepping up their efforts to strengthen ties between members of the group. In the new year, paperwork is expected to be filed with the Electoral Commission to formally register a new political party. The as yet unnamed-entity will need to make clear that it has nothing to do with the ‘Independent Alliance (Kent)’ which currently boasts two seats on Tonbridge Borough Council. Adam, Khan and Hussain are understood to be the MPs most supportive of such a move, which aims to build on the momentum of the general election result by fielding candidates in May. Corbyn – with his 40-year membership of Labour – is likely to be more reluctant.
A country where they are free to do this 🤷?
But why set up a party about somewhere that’s not even in the UK and that the UK has no control over?
The fact these people won seats because Muslims care more about somewhere they’ve never even been to, rather than their home is bizarre.
Because this is a subject they are passionate about and feel parliament in the UK can do something about. Whether that’s formal recognition, diplomatic pressure on other countries, or aid. That’s hardly “no control”.
Climate change is (largely) not in the UK but affects our global population but there’s a party specifically set up to care about it. The UK has limited means to solve climate change but it has some influence.
That’s generally how voting works. A candidate picks a subject they wish to run on and people who are interested in that subject vote for them. It is that simple. That that the subject is one away from home isn’t relevant, surely. The Ukraine war is away from home but if some people wanted to form a specific party to pressure for better outcomes for the people of Ukraine and they got elected would that be an issue for you?
And again, we live in a country where it is perfectly allowable and right for a comical bin faced clown to stand for parliament or a bunch of monster raving loonies. If people want to vote for them, that’s cool. And if enough people want to vote for them such that they get elected that’s also cool. You shouldn’t police who people want to vote for or what people want to run for (as long as it’s not doing anyone else harm of course).