Labour needs to address its problems with Islam and specifically Gaza

The Labour Party seems to have a problem with Islam. Nowhere was this clearer than in the recent Gorton & Denton by-election, where the Greens picked up many ethnic minority votes, from those who would previously have voted Labour. On Gaza, the party was feeble in its approach, once Israel began it's onslaught. The approach being one of unquestioning backing for the Conservative governments unconditional support of Israel and all it did - following the attacks of 7 October on that country. The party responded harshly towards MPs, councillors and members, who stepped out of line. Motions condemning what was going on in Gaza were blocked. Councils remained largely silent. This, particularly, did not go down well in areas with large Muslim populations. There was a growing perception that the leadership was far more concerned about anti-Semitism than Islamaphobia. They are twin evils. The alienation of the Muslim population from the Labour Party was clearly evidenced at the last general election. Independents got elected, as the Muslim electorate left Labour. Locally, Ilford North MP, Wes Streeting scraped home by 500 votes - up against Independent Leane Mohammed. His majority cut from over 5,000. In neighbouring Ilford South, former council leader Jas Athwal saw the majority of 24,000 won by his predecessor Sam Tarry, cut to 6,894. The runner up was Independent, Noor Begum, who subsequently took Athwal's vacated council seat - one of the safest in Redbridge. The problem continues to fester. Senior Labour figures recognise a problem but it is difficult to see what is being done to address it. The Labour Government has certainly been better than it's Tory predecessors on Gaza, condemning much of what has gone on and recognising Palestine as a state. However, the government was slow to do anything about weapons being supplied to Israel. Adding to all of the problems the party has at present, the estrangement of so many voters over the issue of Gaza is likely to badly impact in the upcoming council elections. Some politicians who remained silent for so long seem to have found their voices on the issue. But the recent suggestion following the Gorton & Denton by-election that those who voted Green were extremists did nothing to help. The Greens did address Muslim and others concerns, communicating sensitively with some communications in Erdu - a major reason why they won. A lot more needs to be done, if the Labour Party is to heal the rift with the Muslim community. Some honesty on Gaza about what the Party got right and wrong would help. Also, to reassure Muslims and other ethnic minorities that the Labour Party still welcomes them. Less Reform light, especially on immigration. Failure to address these problems will see the split with these groups grow ever wider. And the electoral cost, especially in areas where Labour majorities were substantially reduced at the last general could prove catastrophic. The May regional and council elections offer an early test, where many councillors seem likely to pay the price for their long term silence on Gaza. What happens next is up to those in the Labour Party.